Superior is a town in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 2,837. Superior was founded as a mining town for the Silver Queen and the later Magma mines. 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.
History
During the 1870s, at the height of the American Indian Wars; a company of Apache horsemen were ambushed by US cavalry. After losing 50 men; the Apache retreated up the mountain later named Apache Leap. Accepting defeat; the remaining 75 Apache leapt to their death rather than being captured by the US army. Superior was originally called Queen, then Hastings, and under the latter name was platted in 1900. 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. The Superior townsite was laid out in 1902, and named after the Lake Superior and Arizona Copper Company. The Superior post office opened on December 29, 1902.
Magma Mine
The origin of Magma Mine began on 22 March 1875, when Charles G. Mason and four companions found native silver, and staked the Silver King claim. On 29 March 1875, the Silver Queen vein was staked, and the Silver Queen Mining Company was organized in 1880. However, with the depletion of silver, the Silver Queen King shut down in 1893, and the Silver King in 1896. In 1910, William Boyce Thompson and George Gunn bought the Silver Queen mine, and organized the Magma Copper Company. A 300-ton-per-day concentrator was built in 1914. In 1915, a narrow-gauge railway connected Superior with the Southern Pacific Railroad, which was converted to standard gauge in 1923. A smelter was built in 1924. 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 . 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. 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 east of Phoenix and the same distance north of Tucson. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,254 people, 1,237 households, and 847 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,684.6 people per square mile. There were 1,470 housing units at an average density of 761.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 72.68% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 1.63% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 23.05% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. 69.08% of the population were Hispanic or 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 couplesliving 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 per capita income for the town was $12,490. About 22.5% of families and 27.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.
Places of interest
The Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is a 323-acre botanical collection that includes a wide range of habitats and a 1.5-mile walking trail. Founded in 1925, 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 with a low of 43 °F. In July, the average high temperature is 98 °F with a low of 76 °F. Annual precipitation is just over 18 inches, but is higher at greater altitudes. Despite its relatively high precipitation due to favourable aspect, Superior is too low for significant snow even in winter.
Transportation
serves Superior on its Phoenix-El Paso via Globe route.
