Superior, Arizona

Coordinates: 33°17′20″N 111°6′14″W / 33.28889°N 111.10389°W / 33.28889; -111.10389
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Superior
Town
Superior, Arizona
Superior from the air, looking north (2010)
Superior from the air, looking north (2010)
FIPS code
04-71300
GNIS feature ID34981
Websitewww.superioraz.gov

Superior (Western Apache: Yooʼ Łigai)[3] is a town in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. Superior, which is in northern Pinal County, is the oldest town in that county. According to the 2020 census, the population of the town was 2,407.[4] Superior was founded as a mining town for the Silver King and the later Magma mines; silver was mined at first, and then transitioned to copper.[5] Currently, exploitation of the huge Resolution Copper deposit is being explored.

History

Apache Leap cliff

Like nearby Globe, Ray, and Clifton, Arizona, Superior was once part of a huge Apache reservation, but after silver and copper deposits were discovered, those areas were withdrawn from the reservation and returned to the public domain.[6]

In 1872, at the height of the American Indian Wars, a band of raiding Apache horsemen were ambushed by a United States Cavalry force from Picket Post Mountain. After losing 50 men, the Apache retreated up the mountain later named "Apache Leap". According to local legend, the remaining Apache accepted defeat and leapt to their death rather than being captured by the cavalry, thus giving the mountain its name.[7][8]

Superior was originally called Queen, then Hastings, and under the latter name was platted in 1900.[9]

Queen had a population of around 100 circa 1880. There was a general store, 2 hotels, numerous saloons, and a post office. The Queen post office closed Sept. 15, 1881.[10]

The Superior townsite was laid out in 1902, and named after the Lake Superior and Arizona Copper Company (LS&A). The Superior post office opened on December 29, 1902.[10]

By 1950, before the

United States Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, schools in Superior segregated Anglo and Mexican students.[11]

Silver King Mine

The Siver King mine began on March 22, 1875, when Charles G. Mason and four companions found

smelter was built in 1924.[12]

After 71 years of production, the Magma mine closed in August 1982 due to high operating costs and declining copper prices. Operations resumed in September 1990, but the mine closed again on June 28, 1996. During its 86-year life (1910–1996). the Magma mine produced approximately 27.6 million short tons of ore averaging about 4.9% copper, recovering 1,299,718 short tons of copper, 36,550 short tons of zinc, approximately 686,000 ounces of gold and 34.3 million ounces of silver.[13]

The old Magma No. 9 shaft atop Apache Leap is being used to explore the huge Resolution Copper deposit below.

Geography

Superior is located approximately 70 miles (110 km) east of

Tucson. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 sq mi (5.0 km2), all land.[14]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19202,464—
19304,29574.3%
19604,875—
19704,9752.1%
19804,600−7.5%
19903,468−24.6%
20003,254−6.2%
20102,837−12.8%
20202,407−15.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of the

Latino
of any race.

There were 1,237 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,069, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $34,297 versus $21,607 for females. The

poverty line
, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

Places of interest

The

botanical collection that includes a wide range of habitats and a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) walking trail. Founded in 1924, the arboretum
is the largest and oldest botanical garden in Arizona.

Climate

Superior has a hot semi-arid climate. In January, the average high temperature is 61 °F (16 °C) with a low of 43 °F (6 °C). In July, the average high temperature is 98 °F (37 °C) with a low of 76 °F (24 °C). Annual precipitation is just over 18 inches, but is higher at greater altitudes.[17] Despite its relatively high precipitation due to favourable aspect, Superior is too low for significant snow even in winter.

Climate data for Superior, Arizona
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 81
(27) 		87
(31) 		91
(33) 		96
(36) 		105
(41) 		111
(44) 		112
(44) 		110
(43) 		106
(41) 		102
(39) 		89
(32) 		83
(28) 		112
(44)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 60.9
(16.1) 		64.1
(17.8) 		68.5
(20.3) 		76.4
(24.7) 		86.1
(30.1) 		95.6
(35.3) 		97.7
(36.5) 		95.4
(35.2) 		92.3
(33.5) 		82.5
(28.1) 		69.8
(21.0) 		61.6
(16.4) 		79.2
(26.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 43.2
(6.2) 		45.4
(7.4) 		48.2
(9.0) 		54.4
(12.4) 		62.7
(17.1) 		72.0
(22.2) 		75.7
(24.3) 		74.2
(23.4) 		71.2
(21.8) 		62.0
(16.7) 		51.1
(10.6) 		44.0
(6.7) 		58.7
(14.8)
Record low °F (°C) 20
(−7) 		20
(−7) 		24
(−4) 		29
(−2) 		38
(3) 		51
(11) 		59
(15) 		61
(16) 		50
(10) 		33
(1) 		29
(−2) 		19
(−7) 		19
(−7)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 2.00
(51) 		1.98
(50) 		2.02
(51) 		.80
(20) 		.34
(8.6) 		.26
(6.6) 		1.91
(49) 		2.80
(71) 		1.48
(38) 		1.18
(30) 		1.41
(36) 		2.11
(54) 		18.29
(465.2)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 inch) 5 5 5 3 2 1 7 8 4 3 4 5 52
Source: Western Regional Climate Center[17]

Transportation

Greyhound Lines serves Superior on its Phoenix–El Paso via Globe route.

In popular culture

Such films as U Turn by Oliver Stone, Eight Legged Freaks, How the West Was Won, Blind Justice, The Prophecy, Skinwalkers, The Gauntlet with Clint Eastwood, and Young Billy Young are set in Superior. In 2005, a sci-fi film named The Salena Incident, also called Alien Invasion Arizona, was filmed in Superior.

Gallery

  • The renovated and restored Hotel Magma
    The renovated and restored Hotel Magma
  • The Bob Jones House, home of Robert Taylor Jones, who became Arizona's sixth governor.
    The Bob Jones House, home of Robert Taylor Jones, who became Arizona's sixth governor.
  • Magma Arizona Railroad in Superior (1967)
    Magma Arizona Railroad in Superior (1967)
  • The riparian (river-associated) area of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. The Boyce Thompson mansion can be seen at the right.
    The riparian (river-associated) area of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. The Boyce Thompson mansion can be seen at the right.
  • World's Smallest Museum
    World's Smallest Museum

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Mila Besich-Lira promises to work hard to make Superior better on being sworn in as Mayor". CopperArea.com Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. ^ William J. de Reuse (2006), A Practical Grammar of the San Carlos Apache Language, Lincom Europa
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  5. ISBN 0-8165-1515-8
    .
  6. ISBN 0-8165-1515-8
    .
  7. ^ Chick, Art. "The Legend of Apache Tears".
  8. ^ Historical sign on site
  9. ^ "The History of Town Names In Southern Gila County". Gila County Industrial Development Authority. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ a b History of Mining at Superior by Gladys Walter & TG Chilton, 1991. Accessed 6/25/2018
  11. ISBN 0-8165-1515-8
    .
  12. ^ Hammer, Donald; Peterson, Donald (1968). Ridge, John (ed.). Geology of the Magma Mine Area, Arizona, in Ore deposits of the United States, 1933–1967. New York: The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum engineers, Inc. pp. 1282–1310.
  13. ^ History Of The Magma Mine, Superior, Arizona at Arizona Daily Independent, July 19, 2015.
  14. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  15. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ^ a b "SUPERIOR, ARIZONA: Period of Record General Climate Summary". Retrieved March 28, 2012.

Further reading

External links

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