Section 3: City of Superior Profile CITY OF SUPERIOR PROFILE Overview The City of Superior, the county seat of Douglas County, is located in the northwest portion of Wisconsin on the western shore of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. The City is bounded primarily by three Lake Superior bays; Allouez Bay, Superior Bay and St. Louis Bay. In addition, the City is bordered by the St. Louis River with its many inlets and bays, the Nemadji River, Pokegama River and numerous smaller continuous and intermittent streams. The City is approximately 42 square miles. Map 3.1: Hazard Mitigation Planning Area 3-1 City of Superior Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Section 3: City of Superior Profile Population & Demographics The City of Superior is home to 27,368 residents, according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau. The population density is 741 persons per square mile and is depicted in Map 3.2. Map 3.2: City of Superior Population Density by Census Block Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Table 3.1 City of Superior Census Population, 2000 Census Special Needs Population Total Population Elderly (65 & over) Individuals below poverty level City of Superior 27,368 4,114 (15%) 3,507 (13%) Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Population estimates from 1970 to 2009 and population projections from 2010 to 2030 are listed in Table 3.2 and in Figure 3.11, as provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Demographic Service Center. Over the past four decades (1970-2000) the population has decreased but the population projections (2010-2030) show a more stable population trend. 3-2 City of Superior Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Section 3: City of Superior Profile Table 3.2 City of Superior Population Projections & Estimates Year Population 1970 Census 32,237 1980 Census 29,571 1990 Census 27,134 2000 Census 27,368 2009 Estimate 27,100 2010 Projection 27,183 2015 Projection 27,216 2020 Projection 27,270 2025 Projection 27,218 2030 Projection 26,979 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 1970-2000 Wisconsin Demographic Services Center Figure 3.1 City of Superior Population Projections and Estimates 35000 30000 25000 20000 Population 15000 10000 5000 0 1970 1980 1990 2000 2009 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Year Source: Wisconsin Demographic Service Center Ethnicity In the 1970s, hazard research was driven by new interest in demographic variations and focused on racial, ethnic and socioeconomic differences in disaster responses. Research shows that minorities are less involved in pre-disaster preparation and are more 3-3 City of Superior Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Section 3: City of Superior Profile vulnerable to disasters. According to the 2000 Census, ethnic makeup of the City of Superior shows over 94% of the population listed their race as white and nearly 98% as born in the United States. Racial estimates for 2006-2008 indicate an increase in Black/African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native and Asian citizens. Table 3.3 City of Superior Estimated Ethnic and Racial Composition 2000 - 2008 2000 2006-2008 Numerical Percentage Ethnicity (27,368 total) Estimates Change Change (26,418 total) White 25,797 24,848 -949 -3.7 Black/ +58 186 244 +31 African American American Indian/ 611 663 +52 +8.5 Alaskan Native Asian 230 370 +140 +60.1 Other 544 293 -251 -46.1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Data Set 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates Age Table 3.4 depicts the 2000 U.S. Census population by age group and the 2006-2008 age group estimates. The age group with the estimated largest increase is the 35 to 44 year span. Table 3.4 City of Superior Age of Population in 2000 & 2006-2008 Estimates 2000 Census Percent of Percent of 2006-2008 City of Superior Population Population Population Estimates (27,368 total) (26,418) Under 5 years 1,651 6.0 5.8 5 to 9 years 1,647 6.0 5.5 10 to 14 years 1,790 6.5 5.4 15 to 19 years 2,216 8.1 7.6 20 to 24 years 2,425 8.9 9.6 25 to 34 years 3,579 13.1 15.0 35 to 44 years 4,047 14.8 12.7 45 to 54 years 3,743 13.7 13.5 55 to 59 years 1,162 4.2 6.1 60 to 64 years 994 3.6 4.6 65 to 74 years 1,748 6.4 6.2 75 to 84 years 1,694 6.2 5.3 85 years & over 672 2.5 2.6 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 & Data Set 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates 3-4 City of Superior Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Section 3: City of Superior Profile In 2000, the median age for persons living in Superior was 35.9 years with 22.7% of the population under 17 and 15% 65 and older. The percent of persons 65 and older is greater than the state of Wisconsin average of 13.1% and the U.S. average of 12.4%. The elderly are more apt to lack the physical and economic resources necessary to respond to a disaster. Education Public schools in the City of Superior include the following: Bryant Elementary, Cooper Elementary, Great Lakes Elementary, Lake Superior Elementary, Northern Lights Elementary, Superior Middle School and Superior Senior High School. Cathedral School (K-8) is a private Catholic school. The City is also home to the University of Wisconsin- Superior (UW-Superior) and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. Table 3.5 depicts the level of education in the City. Table 3.5 City of Superior Level of Education Percent with High School Percent with Bachelor’s Diploma or higher Degree or higher City of Superior 85.9 19.2 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Housing and Household Income According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 11,609 households in the City of Superior. Of these, 29.8% had inhabitants under the age of 18 years and 41.3% of the total number of households was comprised of married couples. Non-family households comprised 42.3% of the total and 25.2% were households with individuals 65 years and over. In 2000, the average household size was 2.26, while the average family size was 2.91. Table 3.6 and Figure 3.2 show the number of households in 2000 and projected number of households based on Census estimates. Table 3.6 City of Superior Household Estimates & Projections 2000 - 2030 Year Households 2000 Census 11,609 2005 estimate 11,887 2010 projection 12,166 2015 projection 12,380 2020 projection 12,524 2025 projection 12,575 2030 projection 12,541 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Data Set 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates 3-5 City of Superior Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Section 3: City of Superior Profile Figure 3.2 City of Superior Household Estimates & Projections 2000 - 2030 12,800 12,600 12,400 12,200 12,000 11,800 Number of Households Number 11,600 11,400 11,200 11,000 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Year Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Data Set 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates Low income people can be more vulnerable to natural disasters, due to factors such as type of residence, building construction and social exclusion. Additionally, people with low incomes tend to live in inadequately maintained housing. Manufactured or modular homes are more likely to be damaged by high winds or a flood than other types of housing. Table 3.7 profiles housing structures in the City. Table 3.8 shows income levels in the City of Superior from the 2000 U.S. Census. Table 3.9 depicts poverty status. Table 3.7 City of Superior Housing Structures Units in Structure Number Percent (Total Housing Units: 12,202) 1-unit, detached 7,643 62.6 1-unit, attached 147 1.2 2 units 1,037 8.5 3 or 4 units 811 6.6 5 to 9 units 748 6.1 10 to 19 units 460 3.8 20 or more units 792 6.5 Mobile home 534 4.4 Boat, RV, van, etc. 30 0.2 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 3-6 City of Superior Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Section 3: City of Superior Profile Table 3.8 City of Superior Household Income Levels Household Income Level (11,606 households) Number Percent Less than $10,000 1,364 11.8 $10,000 to $14,999 1,121 9.7 $15,000 to $24,999 2,063 17.8 $25,000 to $34,999 1,827 15.7 $35,000 to $49,999 2,129 18.3 $50,000 to $74,999 1,763 15.2 $75,000 to $99,999 889 7.7 $100,000 to $149,999 335 2.9 $150,000 to $199,999 65 0.6 $200,000 or more 50 0.4 Median household income $31,921 Number of households with earnings 8,771 75.6 Mean household earnings $39,965 Number of households with Social Security income 3,486 30.0 Mean Social Security income $11,831 Number of households with Supplemental Security 747 6.4 Income Mean Supplemental Security Income $7,063 Number of households with public assistance income 329 2.8 Mean public assistance income $1,403 Number of households with retirement income 1,853 16.0 Mean retirement income $13,718 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Table 3.9 City of Superior Number of Individuals & Families in Poverty Status Poverty Status Number Percent Number of Families 646 Percent below poverty level 9.6 With related children under 18 years old 543 Percent below poverty level 15.8 With related children under 5 years old 368 Percent below poverty level 27.1 Number of Single Parent Families 334 With related children under 18 years old 303 Percent below poverty level 31.2 With related children under 5 years old 200 Percent below poverty level 47.6 Number of Individuals 3,507 Percent below poverty level 13.4 18 years and older 2,504 3-7 City of Superior Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Section 3: City of Superior Profile Poverty Status Number Percent Percent below poverty level 12.4 65 years and older 298 Percent below poverty level 7.8 Related children under 18 years 955 Percent below poverty level 16.0 Related children 5 to 17 years 528 Percent below poverty level 12.2 Unrelated individuals 15 years and over 1,629 Percent below poverty level 24.2 Source: U.S.