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Government
History Julien Dubuque was one of the first Europeans to settle in the Dubuque area. He mined lead at what would become called the Mines of Spain, which is about three miles south of the current city of Dubuque. The area would soon become the location of the first European settlement in what would become the state of Iowa. It would also become the headquarters of a Roman Catholic diocese named after the city in 1837. Since that time, the Catholic Church has been a major force in the history of the city. A large number of German and Irish immigrants helped contribute to the culture of Dubuque. Recently, the face of the city has changed as redevelopment efforts are made. Many Catholic religious orders maintain monasteries and motherhouses in Dubuque and the surrounding countryside. These include New Melleray Abbey (Cistercian Trappists), Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey (Cistercians), Sinsinawa Mound Motherhouse (Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters), Mount St. Francis Motherhouse (Franciscans), Mount Carmel Motherhouse (Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary) and Mount Loretto Motherhouse (Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary). Culture and Institutions 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 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. There are a number of notable parks, particularly Eagle Point City Park and the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area. Dubuque's waterfront features the Ice Harbor, where the Diamond Jo Casino and William M. Black are based. Recently the National Mississippi River Museum and 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 through condemnation of their properties under eminent domain. Dubuque is also the home of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. The Colts are a Drum Corps International Division I ensemble and tour the country each summer to attend drum corps competitions. Each summer the Colts and Dubuque host Music on the March, a Drum Corps International-sanctioned marching competition at Dubuque Senior High School. Dubuque is the smallest city in the nation to support a Division I drum corps. The Dubuque Thunderbirds are a MJHL Junior B Hockey team that play at the Five Flags Center. The team replaced the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL. The movies F.I.S.T. and Take This Job and Shove It were filmed in Dubuque. 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 of the Field of Dreams movie site. Industry Deere and Company has a large manufacturing plant just north of Dubuque. The plant - which is called Dubuque Works - is over one mile long. Dubuque Works is still a major employer in the area. This manufacturing plant concentrates mainly on building construction equipment. The A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company's headquarters is located in Dubuque, along with its main manufacturing plant, in the Dubuque Industrial Center, a fast-growing industrial area west of Dubuque. Nordstrom and McGraw-Hill operate distribution centers in the area as well. Eagle Window & Door, recently purchased by Andersen Windows has its headquarters in Dubuque, along with a manufacturing facility. Other major employers include the Dubuque Community School District, Finley Hospital, Mercy Hospital, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Flexsteel, and McKesson. 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. Nevertheless, some notable Republicans have come from the city, including House Speaker William Boyd Allison. At times, Dubuque was called "The State of Dubuque" because the political climate in Dubuque was very different from the rest of Iowa. 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. Retail Environment Main Article: Retail environment of Dubuque, Iowa The city of Dubuque is also home to a thriving retail environment that has been an important part of Dubuque history for over a century. In some ways, Dubuque was at the forefront of retail trends in the state of Iowa. The local K-Mart was the first to be built in Iowa, and Kennedy Mall was the first climate controlled indoor shopping mall in Iowa. Public Education Dubuque is served by the Dubuque Community School District, which covers roughly the eastern half of Dubuque County and enrolls over 10,700 students (2006). The district has 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 preschool complex. It is among the fastest-growing school districts in Iowa, adding over 1,000 students in the last five years. Public high schools in Dubuque include: Private Education The city also has a large number of students who attend private schools. Most private schools are run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque. The Archdiocese oversees the Holy Family Catholic Schools, which operates 9 early childhood centers, 6 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. Holy Family currently enrolls over 2,000 students. Dubuque also has an elementary school serving the Lutheran community, Dubuque Lutheran School. Private high schools in Dubuque: Higher Education Dubuque is also home to a large number of higher education instutitions. Loras College and Clarke College are both 4-year schools associated with the Roman Catholic Church. They are 2 of the 3 colleges operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque. Protestant colleges in the city include the University of Dubuque, which is associated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), and Emmaus Bible College, is connected with the Plymouth Brethren movement. There are also 2 theological seminaries operating in the city, the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (Presbyterian), and Wartburg Theological Seminary (Lutheran ELCA). Other schools in the area include Northeast Iowa Community College, which operates campuses in Dubuque and Peosta, Iowa, and Capri Cosmetology College, in Dubuque. Geography Dubuque is located at (42.504321, -90.686865). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 71.8 km² (27.7 mi²). 68.6 km² (26.5 mi²) of it is land and 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) of it (4.44%) is water. Demographics
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