City of Dubuque history

Created in 1834 from "Michigan Territory", it is one of Iowa's two original counties along with Des Moines County; both were organized by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1834.

Quigley, Patrick Joseph, 1837- [from old catalog]

Loras College was founded in 1839 by Mathias Loras, the first bishop of Dubuque.

The Fenton Place Elevator, originally built in 1882 by a wealthy banker, is a short, steep funicular railway rising some 190 feet (58 metres) up the bluffs overlooking the river.

In 1934 it began offering courses in graduate study through a midwestern branch of the Catholic University of America.

Adopted in 1936, this plan established the framework for coordinated growth and development.

The college went through a series of name changes until finally settling on Loras College in 1939.

Graduate education under Loras’ direction emerged after Catholic University ended its affiliation with the college in 1963.

Following the 1965 flood, funds were sought from the Federal government for the installation of a floodwall.

In 1969 Loras joined Clarke College and the University of Dubuque to form the Tri-College Cooperative Effort, which promotes sharing curriculum and faculty.

Women were first admitted in 1971.

The road to new prosperity is outlined in the 1995 City of Dubuque Comprehensive Plan.

In May of 1999 many Dubuque citizens living in the Bee Branch Watershed were waiting out a tornado warning in their basement when heavy rains produced a very personal disaster that shook their lives.

The Port of Dubuque Master Plan is adopted in 2002 to guide existing and future development for a major riverfront revitalization effort of 120 acres.

In 2005, Dubuque is leading the state and Midwest in job growth, ranking as the 22nd fastest-growing economy nationally.

In the fall of 2008, the City hired the consulting team of Strand & Associates (Madison, WI), IIW Engineers (Dubuque, IA), and Ken Saiki Design (Madison, WI) to develop the final design for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration.

In the fall of 2008, the City hired the consulting team of Strand & Associates (Madison, WI), IIW Engineers (Dubuque, IA), and Ken Saiki Design (Madison, WI) to develop the final design for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration. Based on citizen input, the design team developed a creek corridor concept and presented it for comment at the third workshop in February of 2009.

The framework and principles are incorporated into the 2012 City of Dubuque Comprehensive Plan, further reinforcing the relationship between sustainability and Dubuque’s comprehensive planning efforts.

In October of 2013, Inclusive Dubuque is launched to make Dubuque more welcoming and inclusive.

By 2015, over $94 million dollars have been invested into the Historic Millwork District.