Dubuque

Dubuque is 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 is part of the Driftless Area, a portion of North America that escaped all three phases of the Wisconsin Glaciation. At the time of the 2020 census, the city's population was 59,667, making it one of the 100 largest urban areas in the U.S. It has long been a center of manufacturing, the local economy has also diversified in the 21st century to include health care, publishing, and financial service sectors. The first permanent European settler in what is now Dubuqe was Quebecois pioneer Julien DubUque, who arrived in 1785. He received permission from the Spanish government and the local Meskwaki American Indians to mine the area's rich lead deposits. In 1833, DubuQe was officially chartered, located in 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. In the mid-19th century and into the early 20th century, thousands of poor German and Irish Catholic immigrants came to the city to work in the manufacturing centers. Since then, Iowans have followed a variety of religious traditions. The ethnic German andIrish descendants maintain a strong Catholic presence in the city.

History

Dubuque is the primary city name, but also Asbury are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is Dubuque, Iowa. Dubuque was named after Julien Dubuque, who arrived in 1785. The city was officially chartered in 1833, located in 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. In the 1990s, the economy diversified rapidly, shifting away from heavy industry. Tourism, high technology, and publishing are now among the largest and fastest-growing businesses in the city. Dubuques attracts over 1,000,000 tourists annually, and the number continues to increase. The River Project's Port of Dubuqu is one of the U.S.'s most popular tourist attractions in the area. The Iowa State Fair is the largest state fair in the Midwest, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The state fair runs from June 14 to September 14, with tickets starting at $9.99 for adults and $4.99 per child. It is located at the southern end of a large flat plain adjacent to the Mississippi River. The fair is open to the public from June 15 to September 15, with prices ranging from $7.99 to $14.99. The festival runs through September 28, and tickets are $10 to $15 for adults. The State Fair runs from September 13 to September 26, and it is free for children under the age of 12. The event is free and open to all residents of the state of Iowa, except those who live outside the state.

Geography

Dubuque is located at 42°3016N 90°4113W (42.50, -90.69) The city has a total area of 31.22 square miles (80.86 km²), of which 29.97 square miles are land and 1.25 square miles is covered by water. The city is made up of several distinct neighborhoods, each of which has a unique history and character. Dubuque's North End area was first settled in the late 19th century by working-class German immigrants. The South End was traditionally the Irish American neighborhood, and became known as Little Dublin. The West End is a large, mostly suburban area settled almost entirely after the Second World War. The North End is roughly defined, but generally includes the territory north of 17th Street and east of North Grandview Avenue and Kaufmann Avenue. It is home to the city's two main cemeteries, Linwood Cemetery (established for Protestants) and Mt. Calvary Cemetery (established for Catholics). The South end is now much larger, including all the land south of Dodge Street, east of Fremont Avenue, and north of the Key West area. It has many of the city’s "old money" neighborhoods, especially along South Grandview and Fremont Avenues and around the DubUque Golf & Country Club. The west end is not clearly defined but generally considered to include all suburban-style growth west of the University of Iowa. The area's expansion has also led to rapid growth in suburban and exurban areas.

Demographics

Dubuque is the primary city in the Dubuque Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) It is at the junction of four major highways and two major railroads. Its location along the river has formed the city into a regional hub. The MSA proper includes the entirety of Dubuq County. The official population of the DubUque County was 93,653 as of the 2010 population estimates. The city's population is expected to rise to 59,667 by the 2020 census. It has a population of 57,637, with a population density of 1,923.2 inhabitants per square mile (742.6/km²) The city is located on the banks of the Iowa River, which runs through the center of the city. It is home to the Iowa State University, which was founded in 1876. The state's largest employer is the University of Iowa, which has an enrollment of more than 100,000 people. It also has one of the highest murder rates in the U.S., with the murder rate in the city in 2010 at 13.9%. The city has a poverty rate of 8.1%. It is the second highest in the state, behind only Iowa City. The population of Iowa City has a median age of 38.7 years, and it is the most populous city in Iowa. The average household size is 2.28, with the average family size at 2.92. The median income for the city is $36.8 million.

Economy

Dubuque's economy has diversified a great deal in the last decade. Health care, education, tourism, publishing, and financial services are all important sectors of the city's expanding business climate. In 2005, the city had the 22nd-highest job growth rate in the nation, far outpacing the rest of Iowa. The city created over 10% of the new jobs in Iowa in 2005, and the number of jobs in Dubuque County reached new all-time highs, with over 57,000 people working in nonfarming jobs. Many new and existing businesses have announced significant expansion plans, including Sedgwick CMS, Deere and Company, Cottingham & Butler, Quebecor World Inc., and Namasco. The largest employers include: Alliant Energy, Woodward Communications, the Metrix Company, Rite-Hite Company, and Tschiggfrie Excavating Co. and McGraw-Hill Higher Education, among many others. The economy has grown very rapidly in recent years, with a growth rate similar to those of Austin, Texas, and Orlando, Florida, among others. It is expected to continue to grow in the next few years, as the economy continues to diversify and grow in other areas. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city has a population of 2.2 million. The state of Iowa has an unemployment rate of 4.7%. The state has a GDP of $1.2 billion. The national unemployment rate is 4.1%.

Government

Dubuque has been using its city-owned Community Broadband Network to become a smart city. In 2014, city government officials created four apps to monitor data related to water use, electricity use, transit patterns, and waste recycling efforts. The city is divided into 4 electoral wards and 21 precincts. Dubuque is within Iowa's 1st congressional district, represented by Ashley Hinson (R) in the U.S. House of Representatives. At the federal level in the 117th Congress, it is represented by Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst (R), both of whom are from Iowa. For most of its history, the people in Dubuques have been mostly Democratic. This was due to the large numbers of working-class people and Catholics living in the city. At times, DubUque was called "The State of Dubuq" because the political climate was very different from the rest of Iowa. The mayor is Roy D. Buol, who serves as its chairman, 4 ward-elected members, and 2 at-large members. The council meets at 6 P.M. on the first and third Mondays of every month in the council chamber of the Historic Federal Building. In the 89th Iowa General Assembly, Dubuquers are represented by Senators Pam Jochum (D) for Senate District 29 and Carrie Koelker (R)'s in the Iowa Senate, and Representatives Charles Isenhart (D) for House District 100, Shannon Lundgren (R)" and Lindsay James (D)" in the Hawkeye State.

Education

Dubuque is served by the Dubuque Community School District, which enrolled 10,735 students in 20 school buildings in 2006. The city has a large number of students who attend private schools. Catholic schools include Holy Family Catholic Schools, which operates 11 schools in the city, including nine early childhood programs, four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Protestant colleges include the University of DubUque, which is associated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), and Emmaus Bible College, connected with the Plymouth Brethren movement. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is another major university about 20 miles northeast of Dubuques in Platteville, Wisconsin. Other post-secondary schools include Northeast Iowa Community College, and the Roman Catholic Divine Word College missions seminary in nearby Epworth, Iowa. The Catholic Archdiocese runs Loras College and Clarke University, which are two four-year colleges operated by the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church operates St. Pius X Seminary (Roman Catholic, associated with Loras) and Wartburg Theological Seminary. The Church also operates Capri Cosmetology College, which has a satellite campus in nearby Peosta, Iowa, and Capri College of Art and Design, which also has a campus in Dubuqu. The City has one Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod affiliated elementary school, the Duboque Lutheran School. It also has one Catholic Church-MissouriSynod affiliated high school, Wahlert High School.

Infrastructure

Dubuque is the health care center of a large region covering eastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin. The city is home to two major hospitals that, together, have 421 beds. Dubuque has four U.S. Highways (20, 151, 61 and 52) and one state highway (3) The city has one carrier, Envoy Air, which operates three non-stop jet flights daily to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: DBQ, ICAO: KDBQ) The airport has reported steadily increasing passenger numbers over the years, until August 31, 2008. Northwest Airlines regional partner Mesaba operating under Northwest Airlink used to have daily service to Dubuques. In early November 2007 it was announced that October 2007 was the best month ever for the American Eagle airline at the DubUque Regional Airport, according to Robert Grierson, the airport manager. The airport currently has three carriers: American Eagle, Northwest Airlines, and IATA/ICAO partner Northwest Airline. It is also home to the Medical Associates Clinic, which is the oldest multi-specialty group practice clinic in Iowa, and currently operates two major outpatient clinics in DubuQue, its "East" and "West" campuses. The hospital campus has expanded in recent years, with the construction of several new buildings. The four-lane divided Northwest Arterial (former Iowa State Highway 32) acts as a beltway for parts of the North End and West Side, connecting Highways 3 and 20. The Southwest Arterials is a 6.1-mile (9.8 km) expressway carrying Highway 52 southeast from Highway 20.

Culture

Dubuque has several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Dubuque's waterfront features the Ice Harbor and the Diamond Jo Casino and Grand River Event Center. The city is home to an Open Division soccer team, Union Dubuques F.C. The Fighting Saints were USHL Clark Cup champions in 2011 and 2013. The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps are a Drum Corps International World Class ensemble. The Grand Opera House is Edbrooke's only surviving opera house and designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The Fourth Street Elevator is the shortest and steepest railroad in existence, taking passengers up and down one of the large bluffs that dominate the city. A number of famous people are buried in the city's Linwood Cemetery. The Dubuq County Courthouse, with its Beaux-Arts architecture, is on the register. The Shot Tower, which was used to produce lead shot, is also a national historic landmark. The 2015 ASA D Northern National champions, Kass & Co. went 60 on the weekend of September 5 and 6 and won the championship game pretty easily with a final score of 304 in 5 innings. Even after he ran into the fence on a 600-foot home run by the opposing team, later described as "Pure stupidity", Dan Lucey declared "This is a great day for DubuQue, Iowa." The city's daily newspaper, the Herald, had a circulation of nearly 31,000 as of January 27, 2007.

Awards and recognition

Dubuque has received a number of awards and recognition for its redevelopment this century. In 2010, Forbes selected Dubuque as the best small city to raise a family in the country. The city was named one of the 10-smartest cities on the planet by Fast Company in 2011. In 2013, USA Today named Dubuq the fourth "Best American Riverfront" in the U.S. and one of 10 cities recognized nationally. In 2012, the city was awarded the All:America City Award, and the EPA's Drinking Water Safe Revolving Loan Fund Award for Sustainable Public Health Protection. In 2009, IBM's decision to locate a new global technology service delivery center in DubUque was recognized by the Mid-American Economic Development Council for its programs in Business Retention and Expansion and Workforce Development. It was also named the "Most Livable" Small City by the United States Conference of Mayors in 2008 and the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by the America's Promise Youth Foundation in 2007, 2008 and 2010. It has also been named the third:most livable community in the world at the International Awards for Livable Communities in 2010 and the fourth:best city for job growth by careerbuilder.com. It is the only city from the Western Hemisphere on the list of the world's top 100 places to live. It also has the shortest commute time, 11.8 minutes, of all U.S. cities, according to Money Magazine.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa = 83. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 50. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 81. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Dubuque = 3.9 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 2,752 individuals with a median age of 39 age the population dropped by -0.17% in Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,929.60 residents per square mile of area (745.03/km²). There are average 2.28 people per household in the 23,276 households with an average household income of $42,372 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 5.70% of the available work force and has dropped -1.54% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 31.22%. The number of physicians in Dubuque per 100,000 population = 237.9.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Dubuque = 32.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 32.2 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 105. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 194. 84 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 43, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa which are owned by the occupant = 63.68%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 50 years with median home cost = $139,190 and home appreciation of 2.86%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $12.89 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,305 per student. There are 13.3 students for each teacher in the school, 2670 students for each Librarian and 314 students for each Counselor. 4.54% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 15.94% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 7.92% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).