Dubuque, Iowa

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 County{{GR|6}}.

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.

Related Topics:
Loras College - Clarke College - University of Dubuque - Emmaus Bible College - Northeast Iowa Community College - Peosta, Iowa

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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, and the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens have won a number of awards.

Related Topics:
National Register of Historic Places - Fourth Street Elevator - Dubuque County Courthouse - Julien Dubuque Bridge - National Historic Landmark - Shot Tower - Linwood Cemetery - Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

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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. Land for this project was acquired from several businesses by condemning them through eminent domain. Most saw this action as unlawful and was pursued yet by the city council, most of which were real estates agents and/or had interest in overthrowing the current property owners so that they could invest in the common good of all.

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The Dubuque Thunderbirds are a professional hockey team that play at the Five Flags Center.

Related Topics:
Dubuque Thunderbirds - Hockey

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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.

Related Topics:
Dyersville, Iowa - Basilica of St. Francis Xavier - Field of Dreams

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The Dubuque Regional Airport is located about seven miles south of Dubuque along U.S. Highway 61. American Airlines provides service between Dubuque and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois.

Related Topics:
Dubuque Regional Airport - U.S. Highway 61 - O'Hare International Airport - Chicago, Illinois

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Political Climate

For most of its history, the people in Dubuque have been solidly Democratic. This was due to the large numbers of working-class people and Catholics living in the city. During the mid 19th century, anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant attitudes in the Republican party caused many in the city to oppose the Republican party. Nevertheless, some notable Republicans have come from the city, including House Speaker William Boyd Allison.

Related Topics:
Democratic - Republican - William Boyd Allison

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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.

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For the most part, Dubuque has maintained itself as a Democratic stronghold even in recent years, even as Republicans have made serious inroads into other areas of the country that have traditionally voted Democratic. Even so, the Republican presence is more visible and pronounced than in the past.

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