This Superman statue was erected by Metropolis, Illinois to capitalize on the superhero's popularity.

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15. Superman Statue: Metropolis, Illinois

Metropolis, Illinois, with a population of 15,000 (including the city an­d the county), is not quite the Metropolis of DC Comics fame. But it predates Superman by a long shot, as it was founded in 1839.

In 1972, the town decided to capitalize on the association with the comic book hero and adopted the "Hometown of Superman" moniker.

A seven-foot statue went up in 1986, only to be replaced seven years later by this more impressive 15-foot bronze piece.

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