SUPERIOR

city, seat (1854) of Douglas county, northwestern Wisconsin, U.S. It lies at the western tip of Lake Superior, opposite Duluth, Minn., from which it is separated by the St. Louis River estuary. A port of entry, it shares an extensive natural harbour with Duluth, forming the western terminus of the St. Lawrence Seaway. In 1655 the Jesuit Claude-Jean Allouez built a mission in the area. Later, fur-trading posts were established. Permanent settlement, started in 1853, produced three communities that were consolidated by incorporation (1889) as a city. Superior's growth was stimulated by the discovery of iron ore (1883) in the Gogebic Range. Grain, iron ore, copper, taconite, limestone, and coal are shipped. Crude oil for refining arrives from western Canada via a 1,127-mile (1,814-kilometre) pipeline. The port has extensive railway connections. Superior's industries include shipbuilding, heavy equipment manufacturing, wood conversion, and flour milling. Tourism is significant, and Manitou Falls, largest in the state, is 12 miles (19 km) south. The University of Wisconsin at Superior originated as a state teachers college in 1893. Pop. (1992 est.) 27,772.