Dubuque, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
| Nicknames: "The Key City", "City of Five Flags", "Masterpiece on the Mississippi" | |
| Motto: "Showing the Spirit" | |
 Location in the state ofIowa | |
  Dubuque Location in Iowa in the United States Show map of Iowa Dubuque Dubuque (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°29′59″N90°43′25″W / 42.49972°N 90.72361°W /42.49972; -90.72361 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Dubuque |
| Founded | 1833 |
| Incorporated | January 28, 1857[1] |
| Founded by | Julien Dubuque |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Brad Cavanagh |
| • City manager | Michael C. Van Milligen |
| Area | |
• Total | 32.01 sq mi (82.90 km2) |
| • Land | 30.92 sq mi (80.09 km2) |
| • Water | 1.08 sq mi (2.81 km2) |
| Elevation | 817 ft (249 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 59,667 |
| • Rank | 11th in Iowa |
| • Density | 1,929.6/sq mi (745.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 52001–52004, 52099 |
| Area code | 563 |
| FIPS code | 19-22395 |
| GNIS feature ID | 467744[3] |
| Website | www.cityofdubuque.org |
Dubuque (/dəˈbjuːk/ ⓘ,dəb-YOOK) is a city inDubuque County, Iowa, United States, and itscounty seat.[4] The population was 59,667 at the2020 United States census.[5] The city lies along theMississippi River at the junction of Iowa,Illinois, andWisconsin, a region locally known as theTri-State Area. It serves as the main commercial, industrial, educational, and cultural center for the area. Geographically, it is part of theDriftless Area, a portion of North America that escaped all three phases of theWisconsin Glaciation, resulting in a hilly topography unlike most of the Midwestern United States.
Dubuque is a regional tourist destination featuring the city's unique architecture, casinos, and riverside location. It is home to five institutions of higher education. While Dubuque has historically been a center of manufacturing, the local economy also includes health care, publishing, and financial service sectors.[6]
Spain gained control of theLouisiana Territory west of theMississippi 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 wasQuebecois pioneerJulien Dubuque, who arrived in 1785. In 1788, he received permission from the Spanish government and the localMeskwaki people to mine the area's richlead deposits. Control of Louisiana and Dubuque's mines shifted briefly back to France in 1800, then to the United States in 1803, following theLouisiana 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.[7]
The current City of Dubuque was named afterJulien Dubuque, who settled at the southern end of a large flat plain adjacent to the Mississippi River. The city was officially chartered in 1833, located inunorganized territory of the United States. The region was designated as theIowa 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 mill working businesses. Also important wereboat building,brewing, and later, the railroad industry. In 1874, theDiamond Jo Line moved its company headquarters to Dubuque.[8] 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.[9]
Between 1860 and 1880, Dubuque was one of the 100 largest urban areas in the United States.[10] Iowa's first church was built byMethodists in 1833.[11]
Beginning in the mid-19th century and into the early 20th century, thousands of poorGerman,Luxembourgish andIrish Catholic immigrants came to the city to work in the manufacturing centers. The city's largeRoman Catholic congregations led to its designation as the seat of the newly establishedArchdiocese of Dubuque. Numerous convents, abbeys, and other religious institutions were built. The ethnic German and Irish descendants maintain a strong Catholic presence in the city. Nicholas E. Gonner (1835–1892), a Catholic immigrant fromPfaffenthal inLuxembourg, founded the Catholic Publishing Company of Dubuque, Iowa. His son Nicholas E. Gonner Jr. (1870–1922) took over in 1892, editing two German-language weeklies, an English-language weekly, and theDaily Tribune, the only Catholic daily newspaper ever published in the United States.[12]
Early in the 20th century, Dubuque was one of several sites of abrass era automobile company,Adams-Farwell; like most others, it folded. Subsequently, Dubuque grew significantly, and industrial activity remained its economic mainstay until the 1980s.
A series of changes in manufacturing and the onset of the Farm Crisis in the 1980s led to a large decline in the sector and the city's economy as a whole. In the 1990s, the economy diversified rapidly, shifting away from heavy industry.[13] Tourism, technology, and publishing are now among the largest and fastest-growing businesses. Dubuque attracts over 2 million tourists annually.[14]
At the start of the 21st century, the city focused its efforts on revitalizing thePort of Dubuque, which now includes theNational Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium,Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark,Grand River Event Center,Diamond Jo Casino, the nearly-mile long Mississippi Riverwalk, and Stone Cliff Winery, which is housed in the formerDubuque Star Brewery building.[15]
Also revitalized in recent years is Chaplain Schmitt Island, located near the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge.Q Casino, as of 2025, is undergoing an expansion, including the addition of arcade complex Island Social, as well as the building of an amphitheater and new hotel.[16]
In the early-to-mid 2010s, a large portion of theDubuque Millworking Historic District was renovated. It is now home to several restaurants, stores, offices and apartments, as well as a monthly summertime night market.[17]
.jpg)
According to theUnited 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.[18]Lake Peosta Channel separatesChaplain Schmitt Island from the mainland.[19]
Downtown Dubuque is the city'scentral business district, housing many government and cultural institutions. It serves as the transportation and commercial hub, located along the Mississippi River in east-central Dubuque. Notable neighborhoods includeFenelon Place Residential Historic District,Jackson Park,Old Main Street and theDubuque Millworking Historic District.[20] ThePort of Dubuque features the Grand Harbor Resort, Alliant Energy Amphitheater, and Grand River Center.[21] Historic landmarks like theShot Tower and theDubuque County Courthouse reflect the city's regional importance.[22][23]
The North End, settled by German immigrants in the late 19th century, remains a working-class area with factories and key sites includingBee Branch Creek,Eagle Point Park,Holy Ghost Catholic Church,Linwood Cemetery,Lock and Dam No. 11,Mathias Ham House andSacred Heart Catholic Church. The South End, historically Irish American, features Irish pubs, churches, and neighborhoods with "old money" homes, includingSt. Pius X Seminary,St. Raphael's Cathedral,[24]Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and theWartburg Theological Seminary.
The West End, developed after World War II, is a suburban area that grew with the baby boom, featuring shopping centers like Plaza 20 andKennedy Mall. It includes middle-class neighborhoods, parks, schools, and industrial areas, extending into the suburbs of Asbury and Peosta. Notable sites include theDubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens andEmmaus University.
Dubuque has ahumid continental climate (KöppenDfa), which gives it four distinct seasons.[25] Spring is usually wet and rainy, summers are sunny and warm, autumn is mild, and winters are typically cloudy and snowy.[25]
| Climate data forDubuque Regional Airport, 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1873–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 63 (17) | 71 (22) | 86 (30) | 93 (34) | 104 (40) | 104 (40) | 110 (43) | 107 (42) | 99 (37) | 90 (32) | 78 (26) | 69 (21) | 110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 46.0 (7.8) | 50.6 (10.3) | 67.6 (19.8) | 78.8 (26.0) | 85.4 (29.7) | 90.1 (32.3) | 91.0 (32.8) | 89.4 (31.9) | 87.2 (30.7) | 80.2 (26.8) | 64.5 (18.1) | 50.7 (10.4) | 92.5 (33.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 26.5 (−3.1) | 30.9 (−0.6) | 44.1 (6.7) | 57.7 (14.3) | 69.2 (20.7) | 78.5 (25.8) | 81.5 (27.5) | 79.6 (26.4) | 72.9 (22.7) | 59.9 (15.5) | 44.8 (7.1) | 31.8 (−0.1) | 56.4 (13.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 18.8 (−7.3) | 22.9 (−5.1) | 35.2 (1.8) | 47.4 (8.6) | 58.8 (14.9) | 68.5 (20.3) | 71.7 (22.1) | 69.8 (21.0) | 62.3 (16.8) | 49.9 (9.9) | 36.4 (2.4) | 24.5 (−4.2) | 47.2 (8.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.1 (−11.6) | 15.0 (−9.4) | 26.3 (−3.2) | 37.2 (2.9) | 48.5 (9.2) | 58.6 (14.8) | 62.0 (16.7) | 60.0 (15.6) | 51.8 (11.0) | 39.9 (4.4) | 28.1 (−2.2) | 17.2 (−8.2) | 38.0 (3.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −12.7 (−24.8) | −6.0 (−21.1) | 5.5 (−14.7) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 33.4 (0.8) | 45.7 (7.6) | 51.7 (10.9) | 50.0 (10.0) | 37.0 (2.8) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 10.7 (−11.8) | −4.5 (−20.3) | −17.0 (−27.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −32 (−36) | −31 (−35) | −20 (−29) | 10 (−12) | 21 (−6) | 36 (2) | 40 (4) | 40 (4) | 24 (−4) | 10 (−12) | −17 (−27) | −25 (−32) | −32 (−36) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.32 (34) | 1.57 (40) | 2.25 (57) | 4.06 (103) | 4.30 (109) | 5.19 (132) | 4.80 (122) | 3.95 (100) | 3.82 (97) | 2.93 (74) | 2.21 (56) | 1.80 (46) | 38.20 (970) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10.7 (27) | 10.6 (27) | 5.7 (14) | 1.9 (4.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (1.3) | 2.8 (7.1) | 10.3 (26) | 42.5 (108) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 9.1 | 8.9 | 10.1 | 11.4 | 13.0 | 12.2 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 9.1 | 118.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 7.8 | 6.9 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 6.3 | 29.4 |
| Source:NOAA[26][27] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3,108 | — |
| 1860 | 13,000 | +318.3% |
| 1870 | 18,434 | +41.8% |
| 1880 | 25,254 | +37.0% |
| 1890 | 30,311 | +20.0% |
| 1900 | 36,297 | +19.7% |
| 1910 | 38,494 | +6.1% |
| 1920 | 39,141 | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 41,679 | +6.5% |
| 1940 | 43,892 | +5.3% |
| 1950 | 49,671 | +13.2% |
| 1960 | 56,606 | +14.0% |
| 1970 | 62,309 | +10.1% |
| 1980 | 62,374 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 57,538 | −7.8% |
| 2000 | 57,686 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 57,637 | −0.1% |
| 2020 | 59,667 | +3.5% |
| Source: U.S. Decennial Census[28][5] | ||
As of the2020 United States census,[29] the population was 59,667. Thepopulation density was 1,930.5 inhabitants per square mile (745.4/km2). There were 27,174 housing units at an average density of 879.2 per square mile (339.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.1%White, 6.3%Black orAfrican American, 1.3%Pacific Islander, 1.2%Asian, 0.4%Native American, 1.3% fromother races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.7%Hispanic orLatino of any race and 83.8%Non-Hispanic White.
As of thecensus[30] of 2010, there were 57,637 people, 23,506 households, and 13,888 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,923.2 inhabitants per square mile (742.6/km2). There were 25,029 housing units at an average density of 835.1 per square mile (322.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.7%White, 4.0%African American, 0.3%Native American, 1.1%Asian, 0.5%Pacific Islander, 0.6% fromother races, and 1.8% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 2.4% of the population.
There were 23,505 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% weremarried couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.92.
The median age in the city was 38 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 13% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
As of thecensus[31] of 2000, there were 57,686 people, 22,560 households, and 14,303 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,178.2 inhabitants per square mile (841.0/km2). There were 23,819 housing units at an average density of 899.4 per square mile (347.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.15%White, 1.21%Black orAfrican American, 0.19%Native American, 0.68%Asian, 0.11%Pacific Islander, 0.69% fromother races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 22,560 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% weremarried couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.99.
Age spread: 23.6% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,785, and the median income for a family was $46,564. Males had a median income of $31,543 versus $22,565 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,616. About 5.5% of families and 9.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
Dubuque has always had a strong religious tradition. LocalCatholic settlers establishedSt. Raphael's Cathedral in 1833. The city also played a key role in the expansion of the Catholic Church into the Western United States, as it was the administrative center for Catholics inIowa,Minnesota,North Dakota, andSouth Dakota. Many important Catholic religious leaders have lived in Dubuque, including its first bishopMathias Loras, Fr.Samuel Mazzuchelli,Clement Smyth, and MotherMary Frances Clarke, BVM. Catholic parishes around the city include Saint Raphael's,Saint Mary's,Sacred Heart,Holy Ghost,Saint Patrick's,Saint Joseph the Worker, Resurrection, Saint Columbkille's, and Saint Anthony's.
In 2010, Catholic adherents who regularly attended services made up about 53-percent of Dubuque County residents.[32] This contrasts with Iowa as a whole, which was about 17% Catholic in 2010.[33] Five religious colleges, four areaconvents, and a nearbyabbey andmonastery add to the city's religious importance.
The city proper is home to 52 different churches: 11 Catholic, 40Protestant, anEastern Orthodox, a Jewish synagogue, and a mosque.[34][35] Most of non-Catholic population in the city belongs to various Protestant denominations. Dubuque is home to three theological seminaries:St. Pius X Seminary, a college seminary for Catholic men discerning a call to ordained priesthood; theUniversity of Dubuque Theological Seminary, with thePresbyterian Church USA; and theWartburg Theological Seminary with theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America. The University of Dubuque and Wartburg train both lay and ordained ministers for placements in churches nationwide.
Ben Jacobs ofThe New Republic described Dubuque as "one of the most Catholic areas in" the United States.[36]
Dubuque's economy was traditionally centered onmanufacturing companies such asJohn Deere and Flexsteel Industries. While industry still plays a major role in the city, the 2000s saw economic diversification with the city outpacing the state in job growth.[37][38] In 2022, Ben Jacobs ofThe New Republic wrote "Dubuque has weathered the economic transformations of the late twentieth century comparatively well."[36]
Dubuque's largest employers include:[6]
Other companies with a large presence in the area includeHoly Family Catholic Schools,Prudential Financial,Diamond Jo Casino,University of Dubuque, A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing, Dubuque County, Dupaco Community Credit Union,Loras College andDuTrac Community Credit Union.[6]
Dubuque is culturally part of theUpper Midwest.[36] TheNational Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is home to museum exhibits on the culture and history of America's rivers, as well as aquariums featuring wildlife found in the Mississippi River andGulf of Mexico.[39]
TheDubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a 56 acres (230,000 m2) arboretum and botanical gardens established in 1980.[40][41] Another notable landmark is theFenelon Place Elevator located in downtown Dubuque. It is afunicular railway that transports passengers up and down one of the city's towering bluffs; the current funicular was built in 1893.[42] Portions of Iowa,Illinois, andWisconsin can all be seen from the elevator's observation decks.[43]
TheDubuque Museum of Art includes a significant collection byGrant Wood.[44]
TheDubuque County Courthouse, with its striking Beaux-Arts architecture, is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[45] TheFive Flags Center, built in 1910 and designed byGeorge L. Rapp, holds the distinction of being aNational Historic Landmark.[46] Dubuque'sShot Tower, one of the few remaining of its kind used to produce lead shot, is also recognized as a National Historic Landmark.[47]
TheMathias Ham House, a 19th-century home situated at the intersection of Shiras and Lincoln Avenues, is also listed on the National Register. This historic site offers tours, events, and group programs throughout the year.[48] TheGrand Opera House, designed byWilloughby James Edbrooke and completed in 1890, stands as his only surviving opera house, showcasing the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[46] TheJulien Dubuque Bridge, another National Historic Landmark, was built in 1943 across the Mississippi River.
Dubuque has several notable parks, particularlyEagle Point Park and theMines of Spain State Recreation Area. Eagle Point is mostly situated on a bluff that overlooks theMississippi River and theLock and Dam No. 11.[49] Mines of Spain includes hiking trails and archaeological sites from an early lead mining venture led byJulien Dubuque, as well as Dubuque's gravesite. Dubuque's waterfront features the Ice Harbor and, just north of it, theDiamond Jo Casino andGrand River Event Center.Linwood Cemetery is the resting place of many notable figures.
Dubuque is the home of theColts Drum and Bugle Corps.[50] The Colts are aDrum Corps International World Class ensemble and tour the country each summer to attend competitions. Each summer, the Colts and Dubuque host "Music on the March", a Drum Corps International-sanctioned marching competition atDubuque Senior High School.
The arts organization Voices Productions spearheaded a project to display large murals by street artistsGaia, Werc, and Gera and others in downtown Dubuque. So far over 30 murals have been painted. The original concept for the project was developed by Sam Mulgrew, Gene Tully and Wendy Rolfe.[51]
The city is home to theDubuque Fighting Saints, who compete in theUnited States Hockey League atTier I Junior A. The team plays atImOn Arena. Dubuque was home to the originalFighting Saints team from 1980 to 2001, when the team relocated toTulsa, Oklahoma. From 2001 to 2010, theDubuque Thunderbirds replaced the Fighting Saints playing in the Tier III Junior ACentral States Hockey League at theFive Flags Center.[52]
Dubuque was home toUnion Dubuque F.C., which played in theUnited Premier Soccer League andMidwest Premier League.[53] The club folded following the 2021 season.[54]
The City of Dubuque operates on thecouncil-manager form ofgovernment,[55] employing a full-timecity manager and part-timecity council. The city manager, Michael C. Van Milligen, runs the day-to-day operations of the city, and serves as the city'sexecutive leader.
Dubuque has been using its city-ownedCommunity Broadband Network to become asmart city. In 2014, city government officials created fourapps to monitor data related to water use, electricity use, transit patterns, and waste recycling efforts. The City of Dubuque Sustainability Coordinator, Cori Burbach, stated this was "for educating citizens and implementing behavior changes that they control based on the data these applications provide". However, Dubuque has been reaching the limits of its network and lack sufficient services from giant providers.[56]
Policy and financial decisions are made by the city council, which serves as the city'slegislative body. The council comprises themayor,Brad Cavanaugh, who serves as its chairman, 4ward-elected members, and 2at-large members. The city council members are: Susan R. Farber[57] (Ward 1), Laura Roussell (Ward 2), Danny Sprank (Ward 3), Katy Wethal (Ward 4), Ric W. Jones (at-large), and David T. Resnick (at-large).[58] The city council meets at 6 P.M. on the first and third Mondays of every month in the council chamber of the Historic Federal Building. The city is divided into 4 electoral wards and 21 precincts, as stated in Chapter 17 of the Dubuque City Code.[59][60]
In the 89thIowa General Assembly, Dubuque is represented by SenatorsPam Jochum (D) for Senate District 29 andCarrie Koelker (R) for Senate District 50 in theIowa Senate, and RepresentativesCharles Isenhart (D) for House District 100,Shannon Lundgren (R) for House District 57, andLindsay James (D) for House District 99 in theIowa House of Representatives.[61]
At the federal level in the 117th Congress, it is withinIowa's 2nd congressional district, represented byAshley Hinson (R) in theU.S. House of Representatives. Dubuque, and all of Iowa are represented by U.S. SenatorsChuck Grassley (R) andJoni Ernst (R).[61]
| City Council of Dubuque, Iowa | |
|---|---|
| Area | Name |
| Mayor | Brad Cavanaugh |
| At-Large | David Resnick |
| At-Large | Ric Jones |
| First Ward | Susan Farber |
| Second Ward | Laura Roussell |
| Third Ward | Danny Sprank |
| Fourth Ward | Katy Wethal |
For most of its history, Dubuque has been mostlyDemocratic due to the large numbers of working-class people andCatholics living in the city.[62] At times, Dubuque was called "The State of Dubuque" because the political climate in Dubuque was very different from the rest of Iowa.[63]
However, at the turn of the twentieth century, the United States Congress was led by two DubuqueRepublicans. RepresentativeDavid B. Henderson ascended toSpeaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1899, at the same time SenatorWilliam B. Allison served as Chairman of theSenate Republican Conference. Dubuque has experienced a shift toward the Republican party in the 2010s.[64]
Dubuque is served by theDubuque Community School District, which covers roughly the eastern half ofDubuque County and enrolled 10,735 students in 20 school buildings in 2006. The district has 13elementary schools, threemiddle schools, threehigh schools, and onepreschool complex. Public high schools in Dubuque includeDubuque Senior High School andHempstead High School.[65]
The city has a large number of students who attendprivate schools. All Catholic schools are run by theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque. The Archdiocese oversees theHoly Family Catholic Schools, which operates 11 schools in the city, including nineearly childhood programs, four elementary schools (one of which is a Spanish immersion program), one middle school, and one high school,Wahlert Catholic High School. As of 2006[update], Holy Family Catholic Schools enrolled 1,954 students in grades K-12.[66] Dubuque also had oneLutheran Church – Missouri Synod affiliated elementary school, the Dubuque Lutheran School. It closed in 2019.[67]
Dubuque is home to severalhigher education institutions.Loras College andClarke University are two four-year colleges operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque.Protestant colleges in the city include theUniversity of Dubuque, which is associated with thePresbyterian Church (USA), andEmmaus University, connected with thePlymouth Brethren movement.
Three theologicalseminaries operate in the city:St. Pius X Seminary (Roman Catholic, associated with Loras College), theUniversity of Dubuque Theological Seminary (Presbyterian), andWartburg Theological Seminary (Lutheran).
Other post-secondary schools in the area includeNortheast Iowa Community College, which operates its largest campus in nearbyPeosta, Iowa and has a satellite campus in Dubuque; the Roman CatholicDivine Word College missions seminary in nearbyEpworth, Iowa; and Capri Cosmetology College in Dubuque.
TheTelegraph Herald, a local newspaper, had a daily circulation of nearly 31,000 as of January 27, 2007.[68] Other papers and journals operating in the city includeTri-State Business Times (monthly business paper),365ink Magazine (biweekly alt/cultural magazine),Julien's Journal (monthlylifestyle magazine), theDubuque Advertiser (advertisement paper), and the "Tri-States Sports Look" (local sports publication).
Dubuque and surrounding areas are in theCedar Rapids/Waterloo/Dubuque broadcast media market, which is monitored by theA.C. Nielsen Company for audience research data for advertisers. Dubuque formerly had a local TV news station,KFXA/KFXB Fox 28/40. In 2004, that station became anaffiliate ofCTN dropping all local programming leaving Dubuque without a local television newsroom. Dubuque is covered by local news bureaus of Cedar Rapids/Waterloo based affiliates. They are KCRG (ABC affiliate) and KWWL (NBC Affiliate).
TheDubuque Intermodal Transportation Center serves as the primary intercity bus hub in Dubuque.Burlington Trailways andLamers Bus Lines both serve the city. Dubuque was served by passenger rail until 1981; as of 2022, only the freight railroadsCanadian National andCanadian Pacific serve the city.
Dubuque and its region are served by thegeneral-aviationDubuque Regional Airport (IATA:DBQ,ICAO:KDBQ). The airport has one carrier,Denver Air Connection, which operates one daily flight toChicago O'Hare.[69] Several other airlines, mostly regional carriers, have historically served DBQ includingNorthwest Airlink,American Eagle, Avelo, and several smaller regional carriers. DBQ also serves general aviation and cargo traffic for the Dubuque area.
Dubuque is served by fourU.S. Highways (20,151,61 and52) and onestate highway (3). Highway 20 going east, connects intoIllinois over theJulien Dubuque Bridge.[70] In the west, it connects toWaterloo. Highways 151 and 61 run north–south through the city, with a sharedexpressway for part of the route. Highways 52 and 61 both connect Dubuque with theTwin Cities (Minnesota) to the north, with 61 connecting toDavenport, and 52 connecting toBellevue to the south and thenClinton viaU.S. Route 67. Highway 151 connects Dubuque withMadison, Wisconsin (via theDubuque–Wisconsin Bridge) to the northeast andCedar Rapids to the southwest.[citation needed]
Iowa State Highway 3 begins in Dubuque, connecting the city with central and western Iowa. The four-lanedivided Northwest Arterial (formerIowa State Highway 32) acts as a beltway for parts of the North End and West Side, connecting Highways 3 and 20. Less than two miles (3.2 km) from the junction of the Northwest Arterial and Highway 20, the Southwest Arterial is a 6.1-mile (9.8 km) expressway carrying Highway 52 southeast from Highway 20 to Highways 151 and 61 nearKey West and the Dubuque Regional Airport.[71]
In Dubuque, public transportation is provided by the city transit divisionThe Jule.[72] The Jule operates multiple bus routes and on-demandparatransit Minibus service throughout the city.[73] The routes are based out of one or more of the three transfer locations and run in 30-minute loops. These loops serve neighborhoods, shopping areas, medical offices, and industrial parks and provide connections to other areas of the city with the 15-minute cross-town Express route. The system's three major transfer stations are Downtown Intermodal (9th & Elm St), Midtown (North Grandview & University Avenues), and the West End (Kennedy Circle/John F. Kennedy Road).[74]
Dubuque is the regionalhealth care center of the Tri-State area. On March 15, 2012, the Commonwealth Fund released its first Scorecard on Local Health System Performance; it ranked Dubuque second in the nation.[75] The city is home to two majorhospitals that, together, have 421 beds.Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque is the largest hospital in the city with 263 beds.[76] Mercy specializes in variouscardiac-related treatments, among other things, and is affiliated with Trinity Health, one of the largestCatholic health delivery system in the United States.[77]
Dubuque's other hospital isThe Finley Hospital, which is a member ofUnityPoint Health's network of hospitals. Finley isJCAHO accredited, and has 126 beds.[78] Finley includes the Wendt Regional Cancer Center.[79]
Among other healthcare facilities, the city is home to two major outpatient clinics.Medical Associates Clinic is the oldest multi-specialty group practice clinic in Iowa, and currently operates two outpatientclinics in Dubuque, its "East" and "West" campuses. It is affiliated with Mercy Medical Center — Dubuque, and also operates its ownHMO, Medical Associates Health Plans.[80] Affiliated with the Finley Hospital is Dubuque Internal Medicine, which as of 2007[update] was Iowa's largestinternal medicine group practice clinic.[81] Another major outpatient Clinic In Dubuque was Grand River Medical Group that merged With Unity Point Health on May 4, 2025.[82]
Dubuque is home to the Julien Dubuque Film Festival held every April.[83] Several movies have been filmed in and around Dubuque, including:
Municipalities and communities ofDubuque County, Iowa,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
