Dubuque, Iowa

Dubuque  is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653.

The city lies at the junction of three states: Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a region locally known as the Tri-State Area. It serves as the main commercial, industrial, educational, and cultural center for the area. Geographically, it is part of the Driftless Area, a portion of North America that escaped all three phases of the Wisconsinian Glaciation.

It is one of the few large cities in Iowa with hills, and is home to a large tourist industry, driven by the city's unique architecture, and river location. Also, it is home to five institutions of higher education, making it a center for culture and learning.

While Dubuque has long been a center of manufacturing, the economy has recently witnessed rapid growth and diversification in other areas. In 2005, it led the state and the Midwest in job growth, ranking as the 22nd fastest-growing economy nationally. Today, alongside industry, the city has large health care, education, tourism, publishing, and financial service sectors.

History
The City of Dubuque is among the oldest European settlements west of the Mississippi River. The first Europeans to explore the area were Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, who travelled along the river in 1673. They were commissioned by the colony of New France to map the unexplored region. The entire area was claimed for France in 1682 by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who named it "Louisiane" in honor of French King Louis XIV. Following the 1763 French defeat in the Seven Years' War, Spain gained control of Louisiana. The first permanent settler to what is now Dubuque was a Quebecois pioneer, Julien Dubuque, who arrived in 1785. In 1788, he received permission from the Spanish government and the local Fox tribe of American Indians to mine the area's rich lead deposits. Control of Louisiana (and Dubuque's mines) shifted back to France in 1800, then to the United States in 1803, following the Louisiana Purchase. Dubuque died in 1810, but the wealth of minerals drew a number of new pioneers and settlers, mostly Frenchmen and other Europeans. The current City of Dubuque, named after Julien Dubuque, was settled at the southern end of a large, flat plain adjacent to the Mississippi River. The city was officially chartered in 1833, located in then-unorganized territory. The region was designated as the Iowa Territory in 1838, and was included in the newly-created State of Iowa in 1846. After the lead resources were exhausted, the city became home to numerous industries. Because of its proximity to forests in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Dubuque became a center for the timber industry, and was later dominated by various millworking businesses. Between 1860 and 1880, Dubuque was one of the 100 largest urban areas in the United States. Also important were boat building, brewing, and later, the railroad industry. Iowa’s first church was built by Methodists in 1834. Since then, Iowans have followed a variety of religious traditions. Throughout the 19th century, and into the early 20th century, thousands of poor German and Irish Catholic immigrants came to work in the manufacturing centers. The city's Roman Catholic presence became so predominant that it was designated as the seat of the newly-established Archdiocese of Dubuque, and numerous convents, abbeys, and other religious instititutions were built. Much of the population remains Catholic to this day.

Early in the 20th Century, Dubuque was one of several places which saw a brass era automobile company, in this case Adams-Farwell; like most others, it folded. Subsequently, although Dubuque grew significantly, industrial activity remained the mainstay of the economy until the 1980s. During that time, a series of changes in manufacturing, and the onset of the "Farm Crisis" led to a large decline in the sector, and the city's economy as a whole. However, the economy diversified rapidly in the 1990s, shifting away from heavy industry. Today, tourism, high technology, and publishing are among the largest and fastest-growing businesses. Dubuque attracts well over 1,500,000 tourists annually, and this number continues to increase. Some of the more important changes include the ongoing construction of the America's River Project's tourist attractions in the Port of Dubuque, the expansion of the city's colleges, and the continued growth of shopping centers, like Asbury Plaza.

Awards and recognition
Dubuque has received a number of special designations over the past decade.
 * 2006-Dubuque won the Urban Pioneer Award given out by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The award was in recognition of Dubuque’s 20-year commitment to the revitalization of the city’s center.
 * 2006-Dubuque received the Audrey Nealson Community Development Achievement Award that is given out by the National Community Development Association. The award recognized exemplary uses of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds which best addressed the needs of low-income families and neighborhoods.
 * 2006-Money Magazine named Dubuque as having the shortest commute time all U.S cities at only 11.8 minutes.
 * March 2007-the city was recognized as one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by the America's Promise Youth Foundation.
 * April 2007- the city was voted 15th in the "Best Small Places For Business and Careers" ranking by Forbes Magazine, climbing 60 spots from 2006.
 * June 2007-Dubuque won the All-America City Award, one of 10 cities nationally to do so.
 * June 2008-Dubuque was named as the "Most Livable" Small City by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM).
 * 2008-Dubuque was named one of the 100 best communities for young people by America's Promise Alliance.
 * 2009-Dubuque was named the 8th best small metro area to launch a small business by CNNMoney.com.
 * 2009-Dubuque was honored as the United States Department of Commerce's Excellence in Economic Development for Excellence in Historic Preservation-led Strategies. Dubuque received the award for its commitment to research-based, market driven economic development in helping grow the local economy.
 * 2009-Dubuque was honored as one of RelocateAmerica.com's America's Top 100 Places to Live.
 * 2009-Dubuque won American City and Country Magazine's America's Crown Community Award for partnerships and collaboration that resulted in IBM’s decision to locate a new global technology service delivery center in Dubuque.
 * In 2010-Forbes has selected Dubuque as the best small city to raise a family in the country.
 * In 2010-Forbes ranked Dubuque as the top community for job growth, up from 157th in 2009.
 * 2010- the Roshek Redevelopment Project was named Best Historic Rehabilitation Utilizing New Markets Tax Credits at the J. Timothy Anderson Awards for Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation.
 * 2010-Dubuque won the Excellence in Economic Development Award presented by the International Economic Development Council. Dubuque earned the Excellence in Economic Development Award in the category of Public-Private Partnerships for the redevelopment of the Roshek Building. This program annually recognizes the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders.
 * 2010-Greater Dubuque Development was recognized by the Mid-American Economic Development Council for its programs in Business Retention and Expansion and Workforce Development.
 * 2010-Dubuque was recognized as the third most livable community in the world at the International Awards for Livable Communities.
 * 2010-Dubuque was named one of the 100 best communities for young people by America's Promise Alliance (They also won this award in 2007 and 2008)
 * 2010-Business Facilities Magazine gave Dubuque the nod as the 7th best in the U.S. for economic growth of cities under 200,00 people.
 * 2010-careerbuilder.com ranked Dubuque as the third best city for job growth.
 * 2011-Dubuque was named as one of the ten smartest cities on the planet by Fast Company magazine. (Dubuque was the only city from the western hemishphere on the list.)
 * 2011-United States Environmental Protection Agency recognized Dubuque with the 2010 Drinking Water Safe Revolving Loan Fund Award for Sustainable Public Health Protection.
 * 2006-10, for five consecutive years Dubuque has won the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada's Distinguished Budget Presentation award
 * 1989-2010, for twenty-two consecutive years Dubuque has won the Government Finance Officers Association's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Finance Reporting (CAFR)

Geography


Dubuque is located at 42.50444°N, -90.68694°W (42.504321, -90.686865).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.7 square miles (71.8 km²), of which, 26.5 square miles (68.6 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it (4.44%) is water.

Downtown
Downtown Dubuque is the location of the city's central business district and many of its government and cultural institutions. It is the center of Dubuque's transportation and commercial sectors, and functions as the hub to the various outlying districts and neighborhoods. It is located in the east-central portion of the city, along the Mississippi River, and includes all of the area north of Maus Park, south of 17th Street, east of the bluffline, and west of the river.

The area is made up of several distinct neighborhoods, each of which has a unique history and character. These neighborhoods include: Cable Car Square/Cathedral Square, the Central Business District, Jackson Park/Upper Main, Lower Main, and the Warehouse District. An area of special note within Downtown Dubuque is the Port of Dubuque, which has seen a massive amount of new investment and new construction. The downtown area includes a number of significant buildings, many of which are historic, reflecting the city's early and continuing importance to the region. Important sites downtown include:


 * Tourist Attractions:
 * National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
 * Diamond Jo Casino
 * Mystique Casino
 * Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
 * Dubuque Shot Tower
 * Five Flags Civic Center
 * Fourth Street Elevator
 * Grand Harbor Resort & Waterpark
 * Grand Opera House
 * Grand River Center
 * Government Buildings:
 * Dubuque City Hall
 * Dubuque County Courthouse


 * Churches:
 * St. Luke's United Methodist Church
 * St. Mary's Catholic Church
 * St. Patrick's Catholic Church
 * St. Raphael's Cathedral


 * Parks:
 * Jackson Park
 * Washington Square


 * Other Important Sites:
 * Carnegie-Stout Public Library
 * Roshek Building

North End


Dubuque's North End area was first settled in the late 19th century by working-class German immigrants to the city. The German-American community in Dubuque sought to establish their own German Catholic churches, separate from the Irish Catholic churches in Dubuque's downtown and South End. Today, the area still retains its working-class roots, and is still home to some of the largest factories operating in Dubuque.

The North End is roughly defined, but generally includes all of the territory north of 17th Street, and east of North Grandview Avenue and Kaufmann Avenue. The area is made up of two main hills (west of Central Avenue, and west of Lincoln Avenue), and two main valleys, the Couler Valley (between the two hills), and the "Point" neighborhood, adjacent to the Mississippi River. It is home to Dubuque's two main cemeteries, Linwood Cemetery (established for Protestants), and Mt. Calvary Cemetery (established for Catholics).

Other important sites in the North End include:


 * Eagle Point Park
 * Holy Ghost Catholic Church
 * Linwood Cemetery


 * Lock & Dam #11
 * Mathias Ham House
 * Mt. Calvary Cemetery
 * Sacred Heart Catholic Church

South End
The South End has been the traditional neighborhood of Irish-Americans in the city, and became known as "Little Dublin," specifically centered around southern portions of Downtown Dubuque. Remnants of Irish culture still survive in the South End, with Irish pubs such as Murph's South End Tap, the Busted Lift, and stores such as Shamrock Imports still operating in the area. Irish culture in Dubuque also revolves around the city's Irish Catholic churches, namely: St. Columbkille's, St. Patrick's, and St. Raphael's Cathedral.

Today, the South End is much larger, and includes all of the land south of Dodge Street, east of Fremont Avenue (but including areas of west of it), and north of the Key West area. The South End has many of the city's "old money" neighborhoods, especially along South Grandview and Fremont Avenues, and around the Dubuque Golf & Country Club. Many South End neighborhoods have a more spacious and park-like appearance, contrasting with the more urban North End.

Other Important sites in the South End include:


 * Archdiocese of Dubuque headquarters
 * Louis Murphy Park
 * Mines of Spain State Rec. Area


 * Mt. Carmel Convent
 * St. Raphael's Cathedral
 * Valentine Park
 * Wartburg Theological Seminary

West End
Dubuque's West End is a large, mostly suburban area settled almost entirely after the Second World War. Development was spurred by the onset of the massive baby-boom generation, and sharply higher demand for new housing in the city. Expansion began with the construction of the "John Deere Homes" in the Hillcrest Park neighborhood, which were financed by Deere & Company for its workers. Soon after, many large shopping centers were built, including Plaza 20, and the then-largest enclosed shopping mall in Iowa, Kennedy Mall.

Today, the area continues to expand at a rapid pace, with new subdivisions and shopping centers stretching out for miles from the city's downtown. The West End is not clearly defined, but is generally considered to include all of the suburban-style growth west of North Grandview Avenue, the University of Dubuque, and the Valentine Park neighborhood. The area is home to a wide variety of mostly middle-class neighborhoods and city parks, but also includes many of the city's largest schools, industrial parks, and all of its large shopping centers. The expansion of the area has also led to rapid growth in suburban Asbury and exurban Peosta, Iowa, both of which adjoin the West Side.

Other Important sites in the West End include:


 * Asbury Plaza
 * Asbury Square Shopping Center
 * Bunker Hill Golf Course
 * Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
 * Emmaus Bible College
 * Flora Park


 * Hempstead High School
 * Kennedy Mall
 * Medical Associates Clinic- West Campus
 * Mt. Loretto Convent
 * Plaza 20


 * Resurrection Catholic Church
 * Veterans Memorial Park
 * Wacker Plaza
 * Wahlert High School
 * Warren Plaza
 * Kennedy Mall

Climate
Dubuque has a humid continental climate (Koppen Dfa), which gives it four distinct seasons. However, local weather is often not as extreme as that found in other parts of the Midwest, such as Minnesota or Wisconsin. Spring is usually wet and rainy, summers are sunny and warm, autumn is pleasant and mild, and winters are typically cloudy and snowy.

Culture
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 of 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 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 Resort and Waterpark, and the Grand River Event 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 second-smallest city in the nation to support a Division I drum corps.

The movies F.I.S.T. and Take This Job and Shove It were filmed in Dubuque as well as various scenes from Field of Dreams. 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.

Sports
The city is home of the Dubuque Fighting Saints. They began playing in the Tier I Junior A United States Hockey League in the Fall of 2010 at the new Mystique Ice Center. Dubuque was home to the original Fighting Saints team from 1980-2001 when the team relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. From 2001-2010 The Dubuque Thunderbirds replaced the Fighting Saints playing in the Tier III Junior A Central States Hockey League at the Five Flags Center. The current Fighting Saints are USHL Clark Cup Champions after defeating the Green Bay Gamblers three games to one in the best-of-five finals.

Print
Dubuque's daily newspaper is the Telegraph Herald, or the "TH", as it is known locally, which has a daily circulation of nearly 31,000. There are several other important papers and journals that operate in the city, including Tri-State Business Times (monthly business paper), 365ink Magazine (bi-weekly cultural publication), Pulse (entertainment paper), Julien's Journal (monthly local magazine), the Dubuque Advertiser (advertisement paper) and the "Tri-States Sports Look" (local sports publication).

Television
Dubuque and surrounding areas are in the Cedar Rapids/Waterloo/Dubuque broadcast media market which is monitored by the A.C. Nielsen Company for audience research data for advertisers. For years Dubuque had a local TV news station (KFXA/KFXB Fox 28/40) until 2004 when that station became an affiliate of CTN. Currently, the Dubuque-based TV news is covered by KWWL-TV7 (Waterloo, IA), and KCRG-TV9 (Cedar Rapids, IA); both operate news bureaus in the city, and most of the city's major stories are covered by those stations. Since the closing of KFXA/KFXB, KWWL-TV has captured a majority of the local news market in Dubuque.

AM radio stations
(Strongest signal stations in bold)
 * WMT 600 "Newsradio", news/talk
 * WGLR 1280 "ESPN radio", sports
 * KMAQ 1320, country
 * KDTH 1370 "Voice of the Tri-States", news/talk
 * KADR 1400 "Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites", adult contemporary
 * WDBQ 1490 "News, Talk, & Sports Leader", news/talk/sports
 * WPVL 1590 "ESPN radio", sports

FM radio stations
(Strongest signal stations in bold)


 * WJTY 88.1 "Joy 88", Christian
 * KIAD 88.5, Christian
 * WSSW 89.1, variety
 * KDUB 89.7 "UNI radio", Iowa Public Radio
 * WJSO 89.7, Christian
 * WSUP 90.5 "The Evolution 91FM", college/alternative
 * KUNI 90.9 "KUNI Radio", Iowa Public Radio
 * WHHI 91.3 "Wisconsin Public Radio", public radio
 * KATF 92.9 "Kat-FM", adult contemporary
 * WQPC 94.3 "Great Country Q94", country
 * KMAQ 95.1, adult contemporary
 * WVIK 95.7 "Augustana Public Radio", public radio
 * KGRR 97.3 "97.3 The Rock", active rock


 * WGLR 97.7 "97.7 Country", country
 * KDST 99.3 "Real Country 99.3", country
 * KCTN 100.1 "Today's Best Country", country
 * WVRE 101.1 "The River", country
 * KSUI 101.7 "Classical Music and More", Iowa Public Radio
 * KXGE 102.3 "Eagle 102", classic rock
 * WJOD 103.3 "New Country 103", country
 * KLYV 105.3 "Today's Hit Music Y105", Top 40
 * KIYX 106.1 "Superhits 106", classic hits
 * WPVL 107.1 "Xtreme 107.1", Top 40
 * WDBQ-FM 107.5 "Q107.5", classic hits
 * KLCR "Loras College Radio", college radio

Economy
For many years, Dubuque's economy was centered on manufacturing companies such as Deere and Company and Flexsteel Industries. While industry still plays a major role in the city, the economy has diversified a great deal in the last decade. Today, health care, education, tourism, publishing, and financial services are all important sectors of the city's expanding business climate. There are several major companies which are either headquartered in Dubuque, or have a significant presence in the city.
 * Dubuque's ten largest non-government employers include:


 * Hormel (200)
 * Deere and Company (1,800)
 * Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque (1,324)
 * IBM(1300)
 * Eagle Window & Door Co. (750)
 * Medical Associates (743)
 * Finley Hospital (920)


 * Woodward Communications (600)
 * Prudential Financial (550)
 * McKesson Corp (360)

Some other companies with a large presence in the area include: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Diamond Jo Casino(400), A.Y. McDonald Mfg. (375), Nordstrom (250), Alliant Energy, Swiss Valley, The Metrix Company, Tschiggfrie Excavating Co., and Cottingham & Butler.

In recent years, Dubuque's economy has grown very rapidly. In fact, in 2005, the city had the 22nd-highest job growth rate in the nation, far outpacing the rest of Iowa. This ranking placed the city in a level of growth similar to Austin, Texas, and Orlando, Florida, among others. The city created over 10% of the new jobs in Iowa in 2005. Also, the number of jobs in Dubuque County has reached new all-time highs, with over 57,000 people working in non-farming jobs. Many new and existing businesses have announced significant expansion plans, including: Sedgwick CMS, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Deere and Company, Cottingham & Butler, Quebecor World Inc., Namasco, and many others.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,686 people, 22,560 households, and 14,303 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,178.2 people per square mile (841.1/km²). There were 23,819 housing units at an average density of 899.4 per square mile (347.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.15% White, 1.21% Black or 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 were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 22,560 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,785, and the median income for a family was $46,564. Males had a median income of $31,543 versus $22,565 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,616. About 5.5% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

Religion
Since its founding, Dubuque has had, and continues to have, a strong religious tradition. Local settlers established what would become the first Christian church in Iowa, St. Luke's United Methodist Church in early 1833. [ref: History of St. Luke's United Methodist Church 150th anniversary 1833-1983] St. Raphael's, was established later in 1833. The city also played a key role in the expansion of the Roman Catholic Church into the Western United States, as it was the administrative center for Catholics in what is now Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Many important Catholic religious leaders have lived in Dubuque, including Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, Bishop Mathias Loras, Clement Smyth, and Mother Mary Frances Clarke. Roman Catholic parishes arishes around the city include Saint Mary's, Sacred Heart, Holy Ghost, and Saint Anthony's.

The modern religious character of the city is still dominated by the Roman Catholic Church. Although sources vary, Catholics make up between 65-85% of city residents, with even higher percentages in the surrounding rural areas. This contrasts with the remainder of Iowa, which is only 23% Catholic. The city proper is home to 52 different churches (11 Catholic, 40 Protestant, 1 Orthodox), and 1 Jewish Synagogue (Reform ). In addition to churches, 5 religious colleges, 4 area convents, and a nearby abbey and monastery add to the city's religious importance. Most of non-Catholic population in the city belongs to various Protestant denominations. Dubuque is home to three theological seminaries: St. Pius X Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa), Minor (College) Seminary for Roman Catholic men discerning a call to ordained priesthood, the University of Dubuque, with the Presbyterian Church USA, and the Wartburg Theological Seminary, with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. These latter two institutions train both lay and ordained ministers for placements in churches nationwide.

Dubuque is also the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque, which directly administers 1/3 of Iowa's territory for the church, and is the head of the Ecclesiastical Province of Dubuque, the entire state of Iowa.

Law and government
The City of Dubuque operates on the council-manager form of government, employing a full-time city manager and part-time city council. The city manager, Michael C. Van Milligen, runs the day-to-day operations of the city, and serves as the city's executive leader. The assistant city manager is Cindy Steinhauser, and is largely credited in spearheading downtown and riverfront revitalization and is currently working on a "Greening Historic Buildings" project as an economic-development strategy and as a way to remember its manufacturing past. Policy and financial decisions are made by the city council, which serves as the city's legislative body.

The council comprises the mayor, Roy D. Buol, who serves as its chairman, 4 ward-elected members, and 2 at-large members. The city council members are: Kevin Lynch (Ward 1), Karla Braig (Ward 2), Joyce E. Connors (Ward 3), Lynn Sutton (Ward 4), Ric Jones (at-large), and David Resnick (at-large). The city council meets at 6:30 P.M. on the first and third Mondays of every month in the council chamber of the Historic Federal Building. The city is divided into 4 electoral wards and 21 precincts, as stated in Chapter 17 of the Dubuque City Code.

In the Iowa General Assembly, Dubuque is represented by Senator Mike Connolly (D) in the Iowa Senate, and Representatives Pam Jochum (D), and Pat Murphy (D) in the Iowa House of Representatives. At the federal level, it is within Iowa's 1st congressional district, represented by Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Dubuque, and all of Iowa, are represented by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R) and Tom Harkin (D).

Political climate
For most of its history, the people in Dubuque have been mostly Democratic. This was due to the large numbers of working-class people and Catholics living in the city. 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.

Public education
Dubuque is served by the Dubuque Community School District, which covers roughly the eastern half of Dubuque County and enrolls 10,735 students in 20 school buildings as of 2006. The district has 13 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:
 * Dubuque Senior High School
 * Hempstead High School

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 11 schools in the city, including 9 early childhood programs, 4 elementary schools (1 of which is a Spanish Immersion program), 1 middle school, and 1 high school. As of 2006, Holy Family enrolled 1,954 students in grades K-12.

Dubuque also has an elementary school serving the Lutheran community, Dubuque Lutheran School (LCMS affiliated).

Private high schools in Dubuque include Wahlert High School.

Higher education
Dubuque is also home to a large number of higher education institutions. Loras College and Clarke University 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, connected with the Plymouth Brethren movement. There are also 3 theological seminaries operating in the city, St. Pius X Seminary (Roman Catholic,associated with Loras College), 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 its largest campus in nearby Peosta, Iowa and has a satellite campus in Dubuque, and Capri Cosmetology College, in Dubuque.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is another major university located in the region, about 20 miles northeast of Dubuque in Platteville, Wisconsin.

Health and medicine
Dubuque is the health care center of a large region covering eastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin. The city is home to two major hospitals that, together, have 421 beds. Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque is the largest hospital in the city with 263 beds, and one of only three in Iowa to achieve "Magnet Hospital" status. Magnet Hospitals must meet and maintain strict standards, deeming them some of the best medical facilities in the country. Mercy specializes in various cardiac-related treatments, among other things. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

Dubuque's other hospital is The Finley Hospital, which is a member of the Iowa Health System's network of hospitals. Finley is JCAHO accredited, and currently has 158 beds. It is unofficially Dubuque's "cancer hospital," as it has significant oncology-related facilities, including the Wendt Regional Cancer Center. The hospital campus has expanded in recent years, with the construction of several new buildings.

Among other health care facilities, the city is home to two major outpatient clinics. Medical Associates Clinic is the oldest multi-specialty group practice clinic in Iowa, and currently operates two major outpatient clinics in Dubuque, its "East" and "West" campuses. It is affiliated with Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque, and also operates its own HMO, Medical Associates Health Plans. Affiliated with the Finley Hospital is Dubuque Internal Medicine, which is Iowa's largest internal medicine group practice clinic.

Highways
Dubuque is served by 4 U.S. Highways (20, 151, 61, 52) and 2 state highways (3, 32). Highway 20, is the city's busiest east-west thoroughfare, connecting to Rockford (and I-39/I-90) and Chicago, Illinois to the east, over the Julien Dubuque Bridge. In the west, it connects to Waterloo, Iowa. Highways 151, 61, and 52 all run north-south through the city, with a shared expressway between the three for part of the route. Highways 61 and 52 both connect Dubuque with the Twin Cities (Minnesota) to the north, with 61 connecting to Davenport, Iowa (and I-74/I-80), and 52 connecting to Clinton, Iowa via U.S. Route 67 to the south. Highway 151 connects Dubuque with Madison, Wisconsin (and I-39/I-90/I-94) (via the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge) to the northeast and Cedar Rapids, Iowa to the southwest. Dubuque has 4-lane, divided highway connections with Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Madison, and Waterloo.

Iowa State Highway 3 begins in Dubuque along a shared route with Highway 52, and connects the city with central and western Iowa. Iowa State Highway 32, locally known as the "Northwest Arterial," acts as a beltway for parts of the North End and West Side. Eventually, this 4-lane highway will be extended southeast, to connect with highways 151 & 61 near Key West, Iowa and the Dubuque Regional Airport. This section will be called the "Southwest Arterial."

Airport


Dubuque and its region are served by the general-aviation Dubuque Regional Airport. The airport currently has one carrier, American Eagle Airlines, (a division of American Airlines) which operates 3 non-stop jet flights daily to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Northwest Airlines regional partner Mesaba operating under Northwest Airlink used to have daily service to Dubuque. Northwest operated twice daily flights to and from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport using Saab 340 aircraft. These flights began June 2008 and ended on August 31, 2009. Northwest Airlines once offered service to Dubuque prior to 9/11.

The airport's operator, the City of Dubuque, continues to court additional carriers to add service to the airport. This will likely happen, since the Dubuque Regional Airport has reported steadily increasing passenger numbers over the years, and, up until recently, had service from 3 different carriers (prior to 9/11). In early November 2007, it was announced that October 2007 was the best month ever for American Eagle airline at the Dubuque Regional Airport, according to Robert Grierson, Dubuque Regional Airport manager. "We had 4,510 total revenue passenger enplanements; that is a record for American Eagle in Dubuque," said Grierson. "American Eagle averaged a 79.82 percent enplanement load factor. Load factors are determined by how many revenue passengers were on the plane versus how many seats are available."

In the coming years, a $23 million new terminal will be built to modernize and expand the airport.

Mass transit
In Dubuque, public transportation is provided by the city-owned transit system called The Jule. The Jule operates 4 bus lines, downtown trolleys, and on-demand paratransit service throughout the city. Most lines run in a general east-west direction, moving passengers between outlying neighborhoods and shopping centers and the downtown central business district. The system has 3 major transfer stations: Downtown Dubuque (West 9th & Main Streets), Midtown (North Grandview & University Avenues), and the West Side (Kennedy Circle/John F. Kennedy Road).

Also of note are ongoing discussions about extending passenger rail service to Dubuque on a proposed Dubuque-Chicago rail line. The proposal was one of 10 major projects citizens identified in the "Envision 2010" community planning process. In December 2010, the Illinois Department of Transportation selected a route, and announced anticipation that passenger service will commence in 2014.

Sister cities
Dubuque is a sister city with the following:
 * 🇷🇺 Pyatigorsk, Russia.

Notable people

 * Austin Adams, judge. Iowa state supreme court chief justice (1880-87).
 * Don Ameche, actor, Loras College. Ameche is buried in nearby Asbury, Iowa.
 * Francis Beckman, bishop. Beckman was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lincoln (1924–30) and as Archbishop of Dubuque (1930–46).
 * Alfred S. Bennett, judge. Bennett was an American judge, educator, and attorney in Oregon. He was the 49th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1919 to 1920.
 * Leo Binz, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
 * Richard Pike Bissell, author
 * Gottfried Blocklinger, rear admiral in the US Navy. Notable achievements include: in 1879 as a Lieutenant, he commanded the survey of the Madeira river, in the Amazon.[1] Was a lieutenant on board the USS Baltimore (C-3) during the Baltimore Crisis of 1891. And was the Executive Officer, on board the USS Charleston (C-2) during the Capture of Guam to the United States during the Spanish American war in 1898.
 * Donald G. Bloesch, theologian. For more than 40 years, he published scholarly yet accessible works that generally defend traditional Protestant beliefs and practices while seeking to remain in the mainstream of modern Protestant theological thought. The ongoing publication of his Christian Foundation Series, has brought him recognition as an important American theologian.
 * Charles H. Bradley, Jr., businessman.
 * Robert Byrne, author, billiards player. Byrne is an American author and Hall of Fame instructor of pool and billiards. Byrne became a full-time writer in 1977 after the publication of his third book. He is the author of seven novels, five collections of humorous quotations, seven books on billiards, two anthologies, and an expose of frauds in the literary world. One of his novels, Thrill, was made into NBC’s Monday Night Movie, which aired for the first time on May 20, 1996. Four of his novels were selections of Reader's Digest Condensed Books and published in over a dozen languages.
 * LeRoy E. Cain, flight director during the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
 * John Patrick Carroll, bishop.
 * Tom Churchill, TV and radio meteorologist ABC, NBC, PBS.
 * Andrew Clemens, sand artist.
 * Julien Dubuque, explorer, first white settler in Dubuque.
 * David Farley, author and journalist. Farley writes mostly about travel, food, and culture for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Conde Nast Traveler, and World Hum, among other publications.
 * Sister Carolyn Farrell, first nun as mayor of an American city (1980)
 * Victor Feguer, criminal. Feguer was a convicted murderer and the last federal inmate executed in the United States before the moratorium on the death penalty following Furman v. Georgia, and the last person put to death in the state of Iowa.
 * Robert John Felderman, born in Dubuque 1955, first Major General (retired) from Dubuque in 21st Century, over 35 years of service in the Army and Air Force (including 2 years enlisted), inducted into Fort Benning Infantry School Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame
 * Margaret Feldner, nun, educator. She served as Quincy University's 21st president. Feldner assumed the post January 1, 2004. She was the first woman president appointed to the role at Quincy University. She was excused in 2006.
 * George J. Fritschel, theologian.
 * William Arthur Ganfield, educator. Ganfield was a figure in American higher education and served as president of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky from 1915 to 1921 and later president of Carroll College (now called Carroll University in from 1921 until his retirement in 1939. Ganfield was a supporter of athletic programs at both schools.
 * Thomas Gifford, author. Gifford was a best-selling American author of thriller novels.
 * Robert John Giroux, educator. Giroux served as president of Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa from 1969-1978. He served as president of Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky from 1978-1981 and then served as president of Newman University in Wichita, Kansas from 1982-1989.
 * John Graas, musician. Graas had a short but busy career on the West Coast, known primarily as one of the first and best French horn players in jazz.
 * Jerome Hanus, bishop. is an archbishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of Saint Cloud in the state of Minnesota from 1987 to 1994. He is the current Archbishop of Dubuque in the state of Iowa.
 * Fridolin Heer, architect. He and his son set up practice in Dubuque in 1864. Buildings by Fridolin Heer and Son include the Dubuque County Courthouse, 1891-1893.
 * Gwen Hennessey, activist, religous sister. She is most widely known for protests at Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the Army's School of the Americas, a facility for training Latin American soldiers.
 * John Hennessey, bishop. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Dubuque in the state of Iowa from 1866–1893, when he was named the first archbishop of Dubuque.
 * Jack Hicks, sculptor.
 * Frederick William Kaltenbach, American who served the Nazis as the wartime radio broadcaster known as "Lord Hee Haw".
 * Frank Keenan, actor. Keenan was a stage and screen actor and stage director and manager during the silent film era. He was among the first stage actors to star in Hollywood, and he pursued work in film features a number of years.
 * Dallas Kinney, photojournalist. Kinney is a world renowned photo journalist who won the 1970 Pulitzer Prize in photography for his photographs of Florida migrant workers.
 * Kay Kurt, artist. Kurt is an American New Realist painter known for her large-scale candy paintings.
 * Mathias Clement Lenihan, bishop. Lenihan was a 20th century archbishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls in the state of Montana from 1904-30.
 * Alexander Levi, Levi was a French Jew of Sephardic origin, was the first foreigner to be naturalized in Iowa. A grocer, miner, mine provisioner and successful department store owner, he founded the first two Jewish congregations in the city, was a loyal Whig, served a term as Justice of the Peace and was the first Mason to be sworn in after the Dubuque lodge received its charter. He was naturalized in 1837 and died in 1893.
 * Margaret Lindsay, actress. She was noted for her supporting work in successful films of the 1930s and 1940s such as Jezebel (1938) and Scarlet Street (1945) and her leading roles in lower-budgeted B movie films such as the Ellery Queen series at Columbia in the early 1940s.
 * Bill Lipinski, politician. Lipinski attended Loras College. He was a U.S. Representative for Illinois' 3rd and 5th districts (1983-2005).
 * Francis MacNutt, religous author. MacNutt is a leading member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and an author of books on healing prayer, including Healing, The Healing Reawakening and Deliverance from Evil Spirits.
 * Dennis Mahony, journalist. One of the founders of the Telegraph Herald. He was a highly partisan Northern Democrat of Copperhead sympathies and wrote articles that negatively criticized Abraham Lincoln and the conduct of the Civil War. He was arrested on August 14, 1862 by U.S. Marshal H.M. Hoxie for publishing an editorial article that was allegedly disloyal to the government. He was transported from Dubuque to Washington D.C, and held at the Old Capitol Prison. He was released from prison on November 10.
 * ShaChelle Devlin Manning, businesswoman. Manning is an American change agent for nanotechnology, attempting to pave the way for nanotechnology's commercialization at the university, company, state, federal, and international level.
 * Michael Joseph Melloy, judge, Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
 * Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek Voyager actress
 * Louie Psihoyos, documentary film director. In 2009 he directed and appeared in the feature-length documentary The Cove, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
 * David Rabe, playwright. He won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1972 (Sticks and Bones) and also received Tony award nominations for Best Play in 1974 (In the Boom Boom Room), 1977 (Streamers) and 1985 (Hurlyburly).
 * Robert Reuland, novelist.
 * Jim Romagna, bodybuilder and educator. He is an instructor of Health Wellness and Recreation at the University of Dubuque. He's also a personal trainer, and writes columns for various sports magazines such as Muscle & Fitness. Natural Fit Inc. owner.
 * Raymond Roseliep, poet and haiku writer, Loras College
 * Alexander Rummler, painter
 * Albert Sale, soldier. Sale was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 8th U.S. Cavalry in the Arizona Territory during the Apache Wars. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry against a hostile band of Apache Indians, killing an Apache warrior in hand-to-hand combat and seizing his war pony, at the Santa Maria River on June 29, 1869. Sale moved to Dubuque in 1864 and he enlisted in Dubuque in 1866.
 * John P. Schlegel, educator. Schlegel is the 23rd President of Creighton University since 2000. He formerly served as 26th President of the University of San Francisco from 1991 until 2000.
 * Dennis Schmitz, contemporary poet
 * George Shiras, Jr., judge. Shiras was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States who was nominated to the Court by Republican President Benjamin Harrison. At that time, he had 37 years of private legal practice, but had never judged a case. Shiras was the only Supreme Court justice, as of 2011, to have no record of public (political, governmental or judicial) service. Shiras practiced law in Dubuque from 1855 to 1858.
 * Oliver Perry Shiras, judge. Shiras was the first United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
 * William A. Shanklin, educator. He was president of Upper Iowa University in 1905-09 and thereafter president of Wesleyan University.
 * J.R. Simplot- entrepreneur and formerly world's oldest billionaire
 * Mark Steines, TV anchor/reporter on Entertainment Tonight
 * James Huff Stout, Wisconsin politician and businessman, founded Stout Manual Institute - now University of Wisconsin-Stout.
 * Jessie Taft, an early American authority on child placement and therapeutic adoption. She is best remembered for her work as the translator and biographer of Otto Rank, an outcast disciple of Sigmund Freud.
 * Saint Cessianus whose remains are kept inside the altar at St. Raphael's Cathedral.
 * John Tomkins, criminal. Tomkins is an American who was arrested and charged with sending several threatening letters and bomb-like devices to financial firms in the Midwestern United States under the pseudonym The Bishop.
 * William Vandever, politician. Vandever serverd as U.S. Representative for Iowa's 2nd district (1859-61) and California's 6th district (1887-91).
 * James F. Watson, judge. Watson was the 25th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1876 until 1878. Previously he served in the state legislature and later served as United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.
 * Loras Joseph Watters, Roman Catholic bishop
 * Westel W. Willoughby, educator. At the urging of Professor Willoughby, Johns Hopkins created the first department of Political Science under his leadership and with him as the only professor. He continued to lead this department until his retirement at the age of 65 in 1932. He helped to found the American Political Science Association and served as its 10th President. Some have referred to him as the father of modern political science thanks to his prolific writing. He published many books over the span of his career at Hopkins. His first, entitled The Nature of the State was published in 1898. From there, he went on to establish himself as one of the foremost authorities on Constitutional Law and the workings of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Politicians from Dubuque

 * John T. Adams, businessman. Former chairman of the Republican National Committee (1921-24)
 * William B. Allison, U.S. Senator, representative from Iowa.
 * Mike Blouin, politician. Blouin was a United States Representative representing Iowa's 2nd district (1975-79).
 * David Bly, politician, Minnesota House of Representatives (2007-11).
 * William W. Chapman, politician. Chapman was an American politician and lawyer in Oregon and Iowa. He served as a United States Attorney in Iowa when it was part of the Michigan and Wisconsin territories, and then represented the Iowa Territory in the United States House of Representatives (1838-40). He later immigrated to the Oregon Country, where he served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature (1848-49).
 * Lincoln Clark, politician. Clark was a US Represenative from Iowa (1851-53).
 * Maurice Connolly, politician. Connolly was elected in 1912 to a single term as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 3rd congressional district. After giving up his House seat in an unsuccessful bid for election to the U.S. Senate in 1914, Connolly then served as an aviation officer in World War I and died in a plane crash in 1921.
 * [[Mike Connolly (Iowa politician)|Mike Connolly), politician. Iowa state senator (1990-2008).
 * Timothy Davis, politician. United States Representative from Iowa (1857-59). Only Iowa Representative born before 1800. Also, the first Republican representative from Iowa.
 * Carl DeMaio, San Diego city councilman (2008-Present).
 * Thomas O. Edwards, politician. Edwards was elected as a Whig from Ohio to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849). He attended former President John Quincy Adams, who was then a Congressman, when he suffered a fatal stroke in the Hall of the House of Representatives. He served as inspector of marine hospitals. He moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and thence to Dubuque, Iowa. During the Civil War served as surgeon in the Third Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
 * James H. Hawley, politician. Hawley was the ninth Governor of Idaho from 1911 until 1913. Hawley also served as mayor of Boise from 1903 to 1905.
 * David B. Henderson, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
 * Pam Jochum, politician. Member of both the Iowa state house and senate.
 * George W. Jones, politician. Jones was among the first two United States Senators to represent the state of Iowa after it was admitted to the Union in 1846.
 * Barbara Larkin, Larkin was United States Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs from 1996 to 2001.
 * John Hooker Leavitt, an early banker and Iowa state senator.
 * Algernon Lee, Socialist Party of America leader.
 * James Henry Mays, politician. Worked as an insurance agent in Dubuque in the 1890s. Mays was also a United States representative from Utah (1915-21).
 * Thomas John Miller, politician and lawyer. Miller has served as 31st and 33rd Attorney General of the state of Iowa (1979-91;1995-present).
 * Dan Mozena, is a United States Foreign Service Officer and a member of the Senior Foreign Service. He served as the United States Ambassador to Angola 2007–2010. On May 16, 2011, President Obama nominated Mozena to be the the next ambassador to Bangladesh.
 * Pat Murphy), politician, Iowa state representative (1989-Present)
 * Richard L. Murphy, senator from Iowa (1933-36). Louis Murphy Park is named after him.
 * Mike Obermueller, politician. Former member of Minnesota House of Representatives (2009-11)
 * Francis W. Palmer, nineteenth-century politician, publisher, printer, editor and proprietor. 1858-61 he was editor of Dubuque Times. 1889-94 he served as Public Printer of the United States
 * Thomas C. Power, Senator from Montana (1890-95)
 * John R. Reilly, political adviser, he joined John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign and was hired as an aide by Attorney General of the United States Robert F. Kennedy. Reilly was given the assignment by the Kennedy administration to attend the speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. on August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Roger Mudd reported that Reilly told him that he was positioned on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with a switch that would be used to cut off Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech "if the rhetoric got too inflammatory". Reilly served as a campaign aide to the presidential campaigns of all three of the Kennedys; for John in 1960, Robert in 1968 and Edward in 1980. He was also a campaign aide to Edmund S. Muskie in 1972, Walter Mondale in 1984 and Joseph Biden in 1988.
 * Donna Smith, politician, she has served as county board supervisor since 1978.
 * Sara Taylor, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs in the administration of George W. Bush.
 * Tom Tauke, United States Representative
 * Travis Tranel, politician, Wisconsin state assemblyman (2010-present).
 * William Tripp, politician. Tripp served in the Maine House of Representatives in 1841 and the Maine Senate in 1848-9, becoming Senate President in 1849. Tripp opened a law practice in Dubuque from 1852-57. After the war he was appointed Surveyor General for the Dakota Territory under President Andrew Johnson.
 * Suzanne VanOrman, politician. Member of Oregon House of Representatives (2008-present).

Notable Athletes/Coaches who lived in Dubuque

 * Eddie Anderson, coach. He served as the head football coach at Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, now known as Loras College (1922–1924), DePaul University (1925–1931), the College of the Holy Cross (1933–1938, 1950–1964), and the University of Iowa (1939–1942, 1946–1949), compiling a career college football record of 201–128–15. Anderson was also the head basketball coach at DePaul from 1925 to 1929, tallying a mark of 25–21. Anderson played professional football in the NFL for the Rochester Jeffersons in 1922 and the Chicago Cardinals from 1922 to 1925. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1971.
 * Johnny Armstrong, NFL player and coach. Armstrong was an American football player and coach. He played on the Rock Island Independents of the National Football League, and later the first American Football League, from 1923–1926. In 1924, Armstrong coached the Independents to a 5–2–2 record, and a fifth-place finish.
 * Jay Berwanger, first Heisman Trophy winner (1935-University of Chicago). 1st Pick in 1936 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
 * Aaron Brant, NFL Offensive lineman.
 * Charlie Buelow, outfielder. Buelow was a Major League Baseball infielder for the New York Giants in 1901
 * Sabin Carr, athlete. Won Gold Medal in 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
 * John Chalmers, coach. He served as the head football coach at Franklin & Marshall College (1902), the University of Iowa (1903–1905), Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, now known as Loras College, (1907–1914), and the University of Dubuque (1914–1924), compiling a career college football record of 100–47–8. Chalmers was also the head men's basketball coach at Iowa for one season (1904–1905), tallying a mark of 6–8, and the baseball coach at Iowa for two seasons (1904–1905) and at Columbia College from 1915 to 1921.
 * Ira Davenport, coach. He served as the head football coach at Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, now known as Loras College, from 1920 to 1921. Davenport was later the general manager and treasurer of the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works. He also competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden in the 800 metres where he won the bronze medal.
 * Gus Dorais, coach. Dorais served as the head football coach at Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, now known as Loras College (1914–1917), Gonzaga University (1920–1924), and the University of Detroit, now know as the University of Detroit Mercy (1925–1942), compiling a career college football coaching record of 150–70–12. He was also the head coach of the NFL's Detroit Lions from 1943 to 1947, tallying a mark of 20–31–2. In addition, he was the head basketball coach at Notre Dame, Detroit Mercy, and Gonzaga and the head baseball coach at Notre Dame and Gonzaga. Dorais was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1954.
 * Fred Glade, starting pitcher. Glade played for the Chicago Orphans (1902), St. Louis Browns (1904-1907) and New York Highlanders (1908). In a six-season career, Glade posted a 52-68 record with a 2.62 ERA in 1072-2/3 innings pitched, including 14 shutouts and 107 complete games.
 * Sigmund Harris, football player. Harris was University of Minnesota’s All-American quarterback in 1902–04, for powerful teams under Dr. Henry L. Williams. He was also a plucky, 5' 5" 1/2 145-pound blocking back, punter, punt returner, and defensive safety, and played a critical role in the Little Brown Jug game between Minnesota and Michigan in 1903.
 * Dick Hoerner, NFL fullback. He played fullback for the University of Iowa in 1942 and 1946 and for the Los Angeles Rams from 1947 to 1951. He helped lead the Rams to three consecutive National Football League championship games from 1949 to 1951, played for the 1951 Los Angeles Rams team that won the 1951 NFL Championship Game, and was selected to play in the inaugural 1951 Pro Bowl. He was the Rams' all-time leading rusher at the end of his playing career with the team. He concluded his professional football career as a member of the Dallas Texans in 1952.
 * Joe Hoerner, relief pitcher. He played for the Houston Colt .45s (1963-1964), St. Louis Cardinals (1966-1969), Philadelphia Phillies (1970-72, 1975), Atlanta Braves (1972-1973), Kansas City Royals (1973-1974), Texas Rangers (1976), and Cincinnati Reds (1977). He made the National League All-Star team in 1970. During 1971, he gave up Willie Mays's major league-leading 22nd and last career extra-inning home run at Candlestick Park. He held Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Reggie Jackson, Willie Mays, Bill Mazeroski, Tony Perez, Willie Stargell, and Carl Yastrzemski to a .101 collective batting average (9-for-89).
 * Frederick M. Irish, coach. He served as the first head football coach at the Territorial Normal School, renamed Tempe Normal School in 1903 and now known as Arizona State University, coaching from 1896 to 1906 and compiling a record of 12–8. Territorial Normal did not field a football team in 1897, 1898, or 1901. Irish was also the first athletic director at Territorial/Tempe Normal, serving from 1896 to 1913. In addition, he taught science at the school.
 * Ed Keas, pitcher. Keas was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the 1888 Cleveland Blues of the American Association.
 * Keith Krepfle, NFL Tight end. Played for the Philadelphia Eagles (1975-81) and the Atlanta Falcons (1982)
 * Walton Kirk Jr., 1945 Consensus All American in Basketball, University of Illinois, Played Five (5) Years in the NBA for Tri-City Blackhawks, Ft. Wayne Zollner Pistons & Milwaukee Hawks, Dubuque Senior & Dubuque Hempstead Basketball Coach from 1960 to 1973
 * Dan Koppen, Offensive lineman for the New England Patriots
 * Kevin Kunnert, basketball player. Played for the [{Chicago Bulls]], Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Portland Trail Blazers from 1973-82.
 * Elmer Layden, one of the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame and later commissioner of the NFL, coached at Loras College in the 1920s.
 * Tom Loftus, baseball player, His playing career began in 1877 with the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National League, but he only played in nine career games in 1877 and 1883 as an outfielder. His first managerial job came in 1884 with the Milwaukee Brewers of the short-lived Union Association, in which he only managed 12 games (going 8-4). In 1890, he was hired to manage the Cincinnati Reds, who had recently made the jump from the American Association to the National League. He left the game after the 1891 season, but he came back to manage the Chicago Orphans and the Washington Senators, and in each of his managerial stops, he would have part ownership of the team.
 * Ace Loomis, NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
 * Pete McMahon, NFL Offensive lineman.
 * Bill McWilliams, baseball player for the Boston Red Sox (1931).
 * Karl Noonan, NFL Wide receiver. Played for Miami Dolphins (1966-72). AFL All-star in 1968.
 * Johnny Orr, basketball coach at Iowa State University and the University of Michigan, coached at Dubuque Senior High in the 1950s. He remains the winningest coach in Iowa State history with 218 wins and 200 losses.
 * Oran Pape, football player, patrolman. was a member of the Iowa State Patrol in the United States. To date, he is the only member of the Patrol to have been murdered in the line of duty. Prior to joining the Patrol, Pape played American football. He played high school football at Dubuque Senior High School, where he was part of the 1924 Iowa State championship football team. Pape then played college football at the University of Iowa. Following college, he played in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, the Minneapolis Red Jackets, the Providence Steam Roller, the Boston Braves, and the Staten Island Stapletons, it was with the Packers, that he was a member of their 1930 NFL Championship team, he left the NFL in 1934.
 * David Reed, NFL Wide receiver. Reed is an American football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Reed was born in Dubuque, but his family moved to Connecticut when he was young.
 * Kevin Rhomberg, professional baseball player. Rhomberg played for the Cleveland Indians (1982-84). He was also head baseball coach for Cleveland State University (1992-96]].
 * John R. Richards, coach. He served as the head coach at Colorado College (1905–1909), the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1911, 1917, 1919–1922), and Ohio State University (1912), compiling a career college football record of 58–21–8. He had previously been a high school football coach and economics instructor in Dubuque, Iowa.
 * Bill Roberts, NFL Running back for the Green Bay Packers (1956).
 * Tom Ryder, outfielder. Ryder was a 19th-century professional baseball outfielder. He played for the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association in July and August 1884.
 * Bob Stull, coach. Stull is a college athletics administrator and former American football player and coach in the United States. He is currently the athletic director at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a position he had held since 1998. Stull served as head football coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, (1984–1985) UTEP (1986–19880, and the University of Missouri (1989–1993), compiling a career college football record of 46–65–2. Stull began his coaching career at Dubuque Senior High School in Dubuque, Iowa.
 * Don Vosberg, NFL player for the New York Giants
 * Len Watters, coach.
 * Nic Ungs, pitcher. Ungs has played in the Florida Marlins' minor league system (2001-07; 2010-present), Millwaukee Brewers minor league (2008), and the Taiwanese baseball team Brother Elephants (2009)

Notables who attended Dubuque colleges

 * Tony Danza, actor, University of Dubuque
 * Nancy Dickerson, pioneering newswoman, Clarke College
 * Red Faber, major league baseball pitcher and Hall of Fame member, Loras College, from Cascade, Iowa.
 * Greg Gumbel, sportscaster, Loras College
 * Curley "Boo" Johnson of the Harlem Globetrotters (1988–2006), Loras College
 * George O'Leary, football coach, University of Dubuque
 * John Joseph Paul, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, Loras College
 * Adam Rapp, novelist, playwright and screenwriter, Clarke College
 * Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt, Chaplain who sacrificed himself and died at Pearl Harbor, Loras College