About Dubuque

Dubuque is a city in Iowa located on the Mississippi River about a third of the way down the eastern border of the state near the conjunction of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The city, nestled in the limestone bluffs along the Mississippi, has many hills in its 27.7 square miles and is home to 57,637 people, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.The Julien Dubuque Bridge spans 5,760 feet across the Misissippi and connects Dubuque with East Dubuque, Illinois, pop. 1704.The area was first visited by Europeans in 1673 when France claimed the land. In 1785, under Spanish rule, the first settler, Julien Dubuque, arrived. The area was known to have rich lead deposits and he received permission from Spain and the Fox tribe, also known as the Meskwaki, to mine the lead. This mineral wealth drew other settlers, even as control shifted back to France and finally to the U.S via the Louisianna Purchase. The city of Dubuque was officially chartered in 1833 even before the state of Iowa was created in 1846.Over the years, Dubuque attracted various industries. Due to its location on the Mississippi near Wisconsin's forests, timber, millworking, and boatbuilding industries flourished. The brewing industry followed, as did the railroads.

Industry remained the backbone of Dubuque's economy up until the 1980s Farm Crisis hit the manufacturing sector resulting in double digit unemployment. During the 1990s the city fought back, diversifying into tourism, high technology, and embracing Iowa's new gambling laws allowing riverboat gambling.Today there are two casinos, both land-based, which have enriched both the city and the county. Dubuque has reinvested its share into various projects to increase tourism. The largest, called America's River, focuses on the historical, environmental, and recreational aspects of the Mississippi River . The Port of Dubuque, an area along the waterfront, which was a blighted area of derelict industries, is now home to a casino, a river themed museum, a waterpark, a convention center, and other attractions thanks to an investment of $188 million, including $40 million from the state. Other attractions in or near the city include the Mississippi River itself, trails for hiking and biking, many historical sites, National Landmarks, and in the winter, downhill as well as cross country skiing.Today Dubuque attracts 1.5 million visitors annually.For more information visit Dubuque, IA yellow pages or a Dubuque, IA business directory .

Written by Lyndsey Morgan