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DUBUQUE, IOWA - USA
Dubuque is a city located in Dubuque County, Iowa. As of the 2000 census,
the city had a total population of 57,686. It is the county seat of Dubuque
County6.
Several ships of the US Navy have been named USS Dubuque after the city.
History
Early Years
Dubuque was the first permanent white settlement in what would become the
state of Iowa. The city is named for Julien Dubuque, considered the first
white man to settle in Iowa. Julien Dubuque's tomb remains a local landmark.
In 1833, the area where Julien Dubuque worked was opened up to settlement.
Miners created a settlement, this settlement eventually became the city of
Dubuque. A small Catholic parish was established that year, it eventually
became the Saint Raphael's Cathedral parish. The parish was the first church
of any Christian denomination in what would become the state of Iowa.
A Catholic church council recommended to the Pope that three new dioceses be
created, one of which was at Dubuque. In 1837, the Dubuque Diocese was
created, and Matthias Loras was appointed as a Bishop. When he arrived in
Dubuque, there was only a few priests to cover a large area that consisted
of several states.
Immigration
Bishop Loras encouraged large numbers of immigrants to come to the area from
the crowded cities in the eastern US. Many immigrants settled in Dubuque and
the surrounding area. Also, immigrants tended to gather with other
immigrants from the same ethnic background, this often helped with their
assimilation into their new nation.
Many Irish families came to the area because of their desire for a fresh
start from the poor conditions in Ireland, and the crowded conditions in the
east. For many years, Irish families mainly settled in the southern parts of
the city - that area was often referred to as Little Dublin.
They were followed by a small group of Germans. However, over the years the
German population grew until Germans became one of the two main ethnic
groups in the city.
While other groups - such as Hispanics and African Americans - have become
more prominent over the years, many living in Dubuque are descendants of
German and Irish immigrants.
The Civil War
A number of people living in Dubuque served their nation in this war. A few
of these people went on to play an important role in government. David
Bremner Henderson (1840-1906) was a Representative in the US House, and was
Speaker at the turn of the century. He was wounded in the war and lost a leg.
William Boyd Allison (1829-1908) also served in the war. Afterwards, he
later served in both houses of Congress.
A few Dubuque citizens found themselves in trouble with the government
during the war. George Wallace Jones (1804-1896) was imprisoned on a charge
of disloyalty based upon correspondence with Jefferson Davis.
Many Catholics and immigrants in Dubuque were opposed to the Republican
party because parts of the Know Nothings movement who had harassed them had
been absorbed in to the Republican party. It caused trouble for both groups
when the President and other government officials misinterpreted this
opposition as disloyalty. This was responsible, in part, for Dubuque
becoming a stronghold for the Democratic party.
After the Civil War
The years following the war were ones of growth and expansion for Dubuque.
When the Milwaukee Railroad Shops opened in Dubuque, a population explosion
occurred when a number of young German families moved to the area in search
of jobs.
Lead mining no longer played a central role in the city. Now Dubuque was
becoming a transportation center due to its position on the Mississippi
River. Also, the lumber industry had a large presence in Dubuque.
The Ku Klux Klan was an unwelcome presence at times in the area. In the
1920s, at the height of its power, Klan influence became visible in the area.
Several crosses were burned in the area over an 18 month time period. One
Klan meeting near the Center Grove section of the city degenerated into a
huge fight when anti-klan demonstrators attacked Klan members. In 1925, the
Klan held a gathering which they called a "Konklave." The Klan claimed over
50,000 people attended the rally. The Klan held another "Konklave" as well
as a prade.
Fortunately, the influence of the Klan soon began to weaken. National
scandals and power struggles weakened the Klan, which was mirrored locally.
The Klan had pretty much disappeared from the public view for a number of
years.
The Great Depression
Dubuque was also affected by the Great Depression that had affected the rest
of the nation. Many people were forced to move into what was called
Hoovervilles. The one in Dubuque was in the southern part of the city.
The Floods
The city was the site of several disastrous floods over the years when the
Mississippi River went over its banks. An installation of a floodwall in the
late 1960s helped keep the city from experiencing serious flooding in 1993
when the entire midwest was prone to widespread floods, while other cities -
such as Davenport, Iowa - sustained major damage.
Movies
In the late 1970s, the movie F.I.S.T. was filmed in Dubuque. Sylvester
Stallone starred in this film as a trucker who compromises his principles as
he moves up through the labor union organization. Dubuque was chosen because
without TV antennas it looked more like Cleveland of the 1930s than
Cleveland did.
In the late 1980s Field of Dreams was filmed. Parts of the movie were filmed
in Dubuque, as well as the nearby towns of Dyersville and Galena, Illinois.
The movie starred Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Gaby Hoffman, James Earl Jones,
Ray Liotta, and Burt Lancaster. Both well known Hollywood actors, and
members of the community were cast as extras.
Racial Problems
In the early 1990s the city experienced racial strife that attracted
national attention.
The problems began when a Cross was burned in the garage of an African-American
family. In the ruins, parts of the cross were found, with the inscription "KKK
Lives." Another cross was burned a few weeks later. This was found to be the
work of a group of young men who were well known racists - several members
already had criminal records. Those responsible eventually were convicted
and sent to prison.
At about the same time, the city embarked on a plan to encourage more
minorities to move to the area. Some of the critics tried to stir up fear by
telling people that the city was planning on taking a bus to a large city
and grab the first 100 African-Americans that they found. In reality, the
city was planning on making a recruiting drive to bring African-American
professionals to the city.
The city's program, and the cross burning polarized the community. People
took up strongly held views. Dubuque police had to be summoned to Dubuque's
Senior High School at one point because racial tensions almost boiled over
into a large fight at the school. Jim Brady, who was mayor at the time, had
even went to the schools in Dubuque to talk about his experiences with
racism over the years. When the Guardian Angels arrived in Dubuque, it was
felt that their presence would only complicate the matter. Brady flat out
told them that if they caused problems he'd have them arrested.
The cross burnings, and the city's plans had the affect of bringing negative
media attention to the city. ABC's 20/20 did a news segment on race
relations, many feel that the news segment was biased against the city and
the people living in it in general. An episode of Donohue featured some of
the major personalities in the controversy.
The problems also attracted the unwelcome attention of hate groups. One hate
group held a parade through the city, it was only attended by a couple
hundred people. The Ku Klux Klan held a rally in downtown Dubuque. To
counter the Klan rally, the city held a free diversity public gathering at
Dubuque's Eagle Point Park.
In recent years, the racial strife has subsided to a degree. While some
people still harbor racist views, there have been no major problems since
the early 1990s. In recent years, African Americans have become a larger
part of the community.
Traffic Improvements
In recent years, the city has moved to improve the road and highway systems
in Dubuque. For many years, the city of Dubuque has been plagued by problems
that resulted from the design of the roadways throughout the city. In recent
times, government bodies (Federal, State, County, and City) have attempted
to improve the traffic conditions in Dubuque.
US 61/151
One of the first major traffic improvement projects undertaken was to build
a US 61/151 elevated highway through the city. Previously, U.S. Highways
61/151 used several downtown roads from Locust Street up to the Wisconsin
border. This resulted in a lot of heavy truck traffic on local streets, and
was a cause of major congestion.
In several stages from 1988 to 1993, a new four-lane divided highway was
built through the city of Dubuque. The sections were built from south to
north. Most of this new highway was designed as an elevated highway - except
for one section near the riverfront. Highway planners went ahead with this
despite opposition over having an elevated highway through the city.
Initially the highway was planned as a complete limited access roadway with
no at-grade intersections. But after a campaign by local business interests,
the design was changed so that there would be two at-grade traffic lights
near the riverfront. The approach to the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge was
rebuilt to accommodate the new highway.
In 1993, the new US 61/151 highway was completed. The highway has helped to
reduce much of the congestion in downtown Dubuque. Heavy trucks that are
merely going through the city are now able to use the highway instead of
local roads. Plus to go from the southern to the northern ends of the route
- once at least a 20 minute journey - has been at least cut in half.
Dodge Street (U.S. Highway 20)
The second major improvement project undertaken was Dodge Street. While
originally built as a divided highway, the design of the highway had not
kept up with demand. Most intersections were built at-grade level without
traffic lights - which made turning left almost impossible at times. Plus
the hill leading from Grandview Ave down to Hill Street had one of the
steepest, and most dangerous grades in the state. A number of people had
died when they had lost control traveling down the hill.
The many homes and businesses located along Dodge Street were mostly torn
down. While some businesses were closed, others were relocated with
government assistance. During the 1990s, a new four lane highway was built.
From the Mississippi River west for about three miles until Plaza 20, the
highway was rebuilt as a limited access roadway. The number of intersections
was reduced, with the remaining intersections rebuilt as limited access
(with bridges, on, and off ramps). The highway was built so that the grade
of the road leading up to Grandview Ave was not as steep.
By 1997, most of the improvements had been completed. When it was found that
one of the sections of the road in front of the Plaza 20 shopping center had
serious design flaws, the contractor rebuilt that section at the company's
expense.
Improvements on Dodge Street continue. However the results have been mixed.
While the roadway east of the Plaza 20 center to the river has shown
positive results and improved traffic patterns from having been rebuilt,
Dodge Street as it goes through the western end of Dubuque still has a
number of problems resulting from heavy congestion. Work continues on that
portion of Dodge Street in order to improve traffic. Plans are currently
awaiting state approval that would remove all at-grade intersections from
just west of Dubuque to Peosta, and build three interchanges.
Bypasses
In the 1980s, a new Northwest Arterial project was begun. It was intended to
serve as a bypass around Dubuque, going northeast from US 20 at the west end
of Dubuque out to US 52 / State Highway 3 north.
Initially, a four lane section from US Highway 20 up to JFK Road was graded.
However, only two lanes were brought to completion. In the 1990s, the other
two lanes were completed, and several stoplights were added to the road. In
the late 1990s, Dubuque turned control of the road over to the state, who
then named the road as state highway 32. At that point, the Northwest
Arterial was expanded from JFK Road out to US 52. As a result, there is now
a four lane bypass of Dubuque to the north. With the completion of the
Northwest Arterial, more and more businesses are locating their operations
along the highway. And the number of houses located near the Arterial has
greatly increased over the past 15 years.
For a number of years, a Southwest Arterial, or a bypass from the south to
the west ends of Dubuque has been planned. However, the Southwest Arterial
has yet to proceed from the design stages. Business leaders have voiced
concern about not having such a bypass. They have shown that it has caused
the city to miss economic opportunities. One businessman who was considering
beginning operations in Dubuque, which would have brought 400 jobs to the
city, decided not to proceed when he drove through congested traffic on
Dodge Street and found there was no southern bypass for the city. Some
people have taken to driving over secondary roads to avoid Dodge Street. As
these roads - particularly Kelly Lane - are mainly residential streets, it
has caused concern among residents who see traffic getting heavier all the
time on those roads, along with safety problems such traffic brings along.
Westward Migration
During the latter half of the 20th century, residents and businesses of
Dubuque began migrating out primarily to the western part of the city. This
movement has changed the face of many areas of the city, and pushed out the
western borders of Dubuque. Many homes and businesses were built on areas
that were once farm fields in "the middle of nowhere."
Following World War II, the baby boom also took place in Dubuque. A number
of these young families settled in the west end. Areas that were once fields
were turned into housing for these young families, and Dubuque began pushing
westward. Because of this, the Archdiocese of Dubuque opened Walhert High
School - a central high school for the Catholics of the city. The Dubuque
Community School District opened Hempstead High School - the city's second
public high school - in 1970.
During this time, a number of new businesses were established in Dubuque.
The Kresgee corporation opened a new K-Mart on a parcel of land on what was
once the western border of Dubuque. This was the first K-Mart in Iowa.
Target Stores opened their own location about a mile west of K-Mart it the
late 1960s. And by 1970, Kennedy Mall - the first climate controlled mall in
Iowa - was formally opened.
A number of businesses moved to the western part of the city. In 1964,
Montgomery Ward decided to move their store from the downtown out to the
west end. Both Wards and Roshek's Deparment Store moved into Kennedy Mall
when it was opened. In the 1980s, both J.C. Penny and Sears moved their
stores from the downtown out to Kennedy Mall.
This westward migration had redefined the lower main street area. Instead of
being the main shopping area of the city, it became mostly a business park.
After hours and on weekends, the area was deserted. The city has made a
number of efforts to increase the importance of the downtown area once
again.
City Redevelopment Efforts
In recent years, the city of Dubuque has made a concerted effort to
redevelop the downtown and riverfront areas. This included a number of
controversial decisions. But so far most people seem to have positive
opinions of the redevelopment efforts.
In the downtown area, the gas station featured in Field of Dreams was torn
down to make way for expanded parking spots for downtown businesses. In the
years following that decision, the Bricktown Resturant
(http://www.bricktowndubuque.com) opened in the building behind the gas
station after the owners made major improvements to the building. The local
Historic Preservation Commission had recommended that the gas station remain
intact, however the city government overrode their decision.
The Merchant's Hotel - despite being a National Historic Landmark, was
demolished to make way for a new building for the chamber of commerce. This
was a very controversial decision. People interested in historic
preservation felt that the building was worth saving. However, the Merchants
Hotel building was allowed to deteriorate until it was unsafe and
structurally unsound. It was also considered an eyesore. The historic
preservation interests were not able to put forth an effective plan to save
the building, so it was demolished. The chamber of commerce then built a
modern building that was designed to blend in with its neighbors.
The city placed a new parking ramp behind the chamber of commerce building.
Unfortunately, this caused structural damage to several nearby buildings,
including the old German National Bank Building. The city has been working
to encourage the owner to repair the building and reopen the Silver Dollar
Cantina - which he had to close when the damage was done.
A number of redevelopment efforts focused on the riverfront just north of
the Ice Harbor. This was part of the America's River project. It included a
newly expanded National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Private
investors built the Grand River Hotel and Waterpark on the riverfront. The
Grand River Events Center was built next door as a place to host events for
parties ranging from very small to very large parties. The nearby old
Dubuque Star Brewery also is being renovated into spaces for businesses.
Developers have also recently begun construction efforts on the area at the
bottom of the bluffs which the Eagle Point Park is located on. They plan to
build condominiums at the base of the bluffs. This has caused controversy in
that people feel that having buildings there would take away from the
natural beauty of the area. The controversy gained further momentum when it
was found that several rockslides had taken place after construction efforts
had begun. The rockslides led to concern that construction efforts may be
causing geological instability in the bluffs.
Recently, the Dubuque Community School District has decided to replace a
downtown elementary school building with a new building a short distance
away. This plan has run into opposition by historic preservation interests,
who claim this would result in the destruction of several historic
buildings.
Recent Events
On May 7, 2004, President George W. Bush visited the city. He is the first
sitting President to have visited the city since Jimmy Carter in 1979. While
some were excited to have a sitting President in the city, others reacted
with mixed feelings - especially when most of those allowed to attend a
speech by Bush were only those who planned on voting for him in November. A
World War II veteran who was denied tickets by campaign staffers only added
to the controversy.
Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry also visited the city several
times during his campaign. On July 3rd of 2004, Kerry watched the fireworks
celebration that evening from a private boat sitting in the Mississippi
River. On July 4th, he continued on to visit several other communities in
Iowa, including Cascade, and Cedar Rapids. On August 3, 2004, Kerry again
visited the city, and spoke to a large crowd at the Five Flags Center. From
Dubuque, he went to another campaign stop at Davenport, Iowa.
From June 27 to the 29th, Dubuque hosted the Grand Excursion. This excursion
- which ran from the Quad Cities to the Twin Cities made a stop at Dubuque.
This brought several riverboats participating in the event, a steam
locomotive passenger train, the Budweiser Clydesdales, and a large number of
people to the city.
Culture and Institutions
Dubuque is home to four colleges. Loras College and Clarke College are both
Catholic Colleges. The University of Dubuque associated with the
Presbyterian Church. Emmaus Bible College is associated with the protestant
Plymouth Brethren movement. Dubuque also houses two seminaries: the
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) and Wartburg
Theological Seminary (Lutheran-ELCA). Northeast Iowa Community College
(NICC) has one of two main campuses approximately 20 minutes from Dubuque in
Peosta, Iowa. NICC also has a satellite campus in downtown Dubuque.
Dubuque has several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Fourth Street Elevator is located in downtown Dubuque. This elevator,
which is the shortest and steepest railroad in existence, takes passengers
up and down one of the large bluffs that dominate the city. Also, the
Dubuque County Courthouse, with its Beaux Arts architecture, is also on the
register. The Julien Dubuque Bridge is a National Historic Landmark, as is
the Shot Tower, which was used to produce lead shot and is one the few such
towers left in existence. Dubuque's Linwood Cemetery is noted for a number
of famous people buried there.
Dubuque's waterfront features the Ice Harbor, where the Diamond Jo Casino
and William M. Black are based. Recently the National Mississippi River
Museum & Aquarium, the Grand Harbor Hotel and Waterpark, and the Grand River
Events Center have been built just north of the Ice Harbor.
The Dubuque Thunderbirds are a professional hockey team that play at the
Five Flags Center.
About 25 miles west of the city is the town of Dyersville, Iowa. Dyersville
is the home of the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier and the Field of Dreams.
Political Climate
For most of its history, the people in Dubuque has been solidly Democrat.
This was due to the large numbers of working-class and Catholics living in
the city. During the mid 19th century, anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant
attitudes in the Republican party had caused many in the city to oppose the
Republican party. Some notable Republicans have come from the city,
including House Speaker William Boyd Allison.
At times, Dubuque was called "The State of Dubuque" because of the fact that
the political climate in Dubuque was very different than the rest of Iowa.
For the most part, Dubuque has maintained itself as a Democratic stronghold
even in recent years, especially with Republicans making serious inroads
into other areas of the country that have traditionally voted Democratic.
Even so, the Republican presence is more visible and pronounced than what it
had been in the past.
Geography
Dubuque is located at 42°30'16" North, 90°41'13" West (42.504321,
-90.686865).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
71.8 km˛ (27.7 mi˛). 68.6 km˛ (26.5 mi˛) of it is land and 3.2 km˛ (1.2 mi˛)
of it is water. The total area is 4.44% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 57,686 people, 22,560 households, and
14,303 families residing in the city. The population density is 841.1/km˛
(2,178.2/mi˛). There are 23,819 housing units at an average density of
347.3/km˛ (899.4/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 96.15% White, 1.21%
African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.11% Pacific
Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 1.58% of
the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 22,560 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age
of 18 living with them, 50.3% are married couples living together, 10.0%
have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% are
non-families. 31.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.6%
have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average
household size is 2.37 and the average family size is 2.99.
In the city the population is spread out with 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
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100
females there are 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,785, and the median
income for a family is $46,564. Males have a median income of $31,543 versus
$22,565 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,616. 9.5% of
the population and 5.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 9.3% are under the age of 18 and 12.5% are
65 or older.
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