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Dubuque, IA

Frequently asked questions

Dubuque, IA

Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a region locally known as the Tri-State Area. It serves as the main commercial, industrial, educational, and cultural center for the area. Geographically, it is part of the Driftless Area, a portion of North America that escaped all three phases of the Wisconsin Glaciation. 

Dubuque is a regional tourist destination featuring the city's unique architecture, casinos, and river location. It is home to five institutions of higher education. Dubuque has historically been a center of manufacturing, the local economy also includes health care, publishing, and financial service sectors.

Spain gained control of the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi River following the 1763 defeat of the French; the British took over all territory to the east. The first permanent European settler in what is now Dubuque was Quebecois pioneer Julien Dubuque, who arrived in 1785. In 1788, he received permission from the Spanish government and the local Meskwaki American Indians to mine the area's rich lead deposits. Control of Louisiana and Dubuque's mines shifted briefly back to France in 1800, then to the United States in 1803, following the Louisiana Purchase. The Meskwaki continued to mine with the full support of the U.S. government until 1830 when the Meskwaki were illegally pushed out of the mine region by American prospectors.

The current City of Dubuque was named after Julien Dubuque, settled at the southern end of a large flat plain adjacent to the Mississippi River. The city was officially chartered in 1833, located in the unorganized territory of the United States. The region was designated as the Iowa Territory in 1838 and was included in the newly created State of Iowa in 1846. After the lead resources were exhausted, the city became home to numerous industries. Dubuque became a center for the timber industry because of its proximity to forests in Minnesota and Wisconsin and was later dominated by various millworking businesses. Also important were boat building, brewing, and later, the railroad industry. In 1874, the Diamond Jo Line moved its company headquarters to Dubuque. Diamond Jo Line established a shipyard at Eagle Point in 1878. Just two years later, the company was the largest employer in Dubuque, putting 78 people to work, 75 of whom worked at the shipyard earning their collective $800–$1,000 per week in wages.

Dubuque is located at 42°30′16″N 90°41′13″W (42.50, -90.69). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.22 square miles (80.86 km²), of which 29.97 square miles (77.62 km²) are land and 1.25 square miles (3.24 km²) are covered by water.

Dubuque prioritizes health and wellness, offering a range of healthcare facilities and recreational options. The UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital serves as a prominent healthcare provider in the city, offering comprehensive medical services. Midwest Athletic Club is equipped with state-of-the-art workout equipment and offers personal training and group fitness classes. The Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA provides a comprehensive range of fitness programs, including swimming, group fitness classes, and wellness coaching. For those interested in holistic health, the Body & Soul Wellness Center offers yoga, massage therapy, and nutritional counseling. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the scenic trails at Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, perfect for hiking and bird watching. For a unique fitness experience, Vertical Jump Park offers trampoline-based activities that are both fun and physically challenging.

Top sites in Dubuque, IA are National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and Eagle Point Park.

Population: 58,987 (2024). ZIP codes: 52001–52004, 52099. Area code: 563. Elevation: 617 ft (188 m). Area: 32.01 sq mi (82.90 km²).

FAQs

What is Dubuque, IA famous for?

Dubuque has also long been a historical and cultural center with its numerous historic sites, architectural Historic Districts with well-preserved buildings and homes, a revitalized main street, history and art museums, live theaters, ballet troupes, a symphony, three private colleges, two seminaries, a Bible college, libraries and a local history research center, recreational and sports venues, beautiful parks, a state park and nature interpretive center, miles of hiking and biking trails, and the great Mississippi River. While significant progress has been made in the recent past, Dubuque is poised to continue in the tradition of the first pioneers who settled among its bluffs. Recent recognitions include being named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People, the Most Livable Small City, and an Iowa Great Place, as well as having been named a five-time All-America City. Dubuque, Iowa is truly a “Masterpiece on the Mississippi.”

What are the demographics of Dubuque, IA?

Dubuque, IA is home to a population of 98.8k people, of which 98.2% are citizens. As of 2022, 2.85% of Dubuque, IA residents were born outside of the country (2.82k people). In 2022, there were 30.2 times more White (non-Hispanic) residents (88.5k people) in Dubuque, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.93k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.57k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

What is the crime rate in Dubuque, IA?

The crime rate in Dubuque is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 23 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Dubuque is 1 in 44. Based on FBI crime data, Dubuque is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Iowa, Dubuque has a crime rate that is higher than 94% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Dubuque

Data USA

Neighborhood Scout

National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Eagle Point Park

UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital

Midwest Athletic Club

Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA

Body & Soul Wellness Center 

Mines of Spain State Recreation Area

Vertical Jump Park

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