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40-590: The courthouse houses several county government offices including the county auditor, treasurer, attorney, and facilities for the Iowa District Court for Dubuque County . Information about the first courthouse in Dubuque is sparse. The first known attempt at a courthouse were the plans for a two-story log structure in 1836, but it was never built. By 1843 it was decided that the increased private business in Dubuque necessitated an increase in public business. Therefore,

80-418: A footprint of 88 by 125 feet (27 m × 38 m). It is five-stories topped by a central tower surmounted by a 14-foot (4.3 m) statue of Justice . All total, the building rises to a height of 213 feet (65 m). Upon completion, 12 classic statues of laminated pewter adorned the roof, however only six remain. Some reports say the others were removed during World War I to provide materiel for

120-403: A population density of 153.9940/sq mi (59.4574/km ). There were 38,951 housing units, of which 36,815 were occupied. At the 2000 census , there were 89,143 people, 33,690 households and 23,111 families residing in the county. The population density was 147 per square mile (57/km ). There were 35,505 housing units at an average density of 58 per square mile (22/km ). The racial makeup of

160-455: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa . As of the 2020 census , the population was 99,266, making it the eighth-most populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Dubuque . The county is named for Julien Dubuque , the first European settler of Iowa. Dubuque County comprises the Dubuque, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area . Dubuque County is named for French trader Julien Dubuque ,

200-563: Is known as Dubuque, Iowa , which was named after him. He was one of the first European men to settle in the area. He initially received permission from the Meskwaki people to mine the lead in 1788, which was confirmed by the Spanish, who gave him a land grant in 1796. Once he had received permission from the Meskwaki to mine lead, Dubuque remained in the area for the rest of his life. He befriended

240-542: Is land and 8.3 square miles (21 km ) (1.4%) is water. The county is drained by north and south forks of the Maquoketa River . The county seat is Dubuque , Iowa , which is located along the Mississippi River in the east-central portion of the county. Eastern Dubuque County is markedly different from the western portion in that its topography is very uneven. The city of Dubuque and surrounding areas adjacent to

280-523: Is now growing and flourishing. Since the 1990s, the area has become much more prosperous. Today, the county boasts record employment levels and a growing population. The surging economy can especially be seen in the West Side of the City of Dubuque, and in neighboring Peosta and Asbury. These areas have expanded so much that concerns now lie with trying to manage the growth, a sharp change from just 20 years ago. It

320-486: Is now the state of Minnesota but portions of what are now North Dakota and South Dakota . Dubuque County became part of Wisconsin Territory once it was split off from Michigan Territory on July 3, 1836. A massive reorganization and reduction of the county's size was executed on December 21, 1837, when its original area was separated into 13 named new counties and a "non-county area". The land in present day Minnesota and

360-720: Is one of Iowa's two original counties along with Des Moines County ; both were organized by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1834. In 2021, the Dubuque County Minutemen baseball team advanced to the American Legion World Series semi-finals, the first team from Iowa to advance that far since Cedar Rapids, IA in 1975. Dubuque County is governed by a three-member Board of Supervisors elected at large . Current supervisors include Ann McDonough, Wayne Kenniker and Harley Pothoff (chairperson). They meet

400-477: The Dubuque Packing Company , unemployment soared. In one month of 1982, Dubuque County had 23% unemployment, the highest in the nation. The county experienced huge population losses during this time, as workers left the area. It would not fully recover from this until the late 1990s, when the economy diversified, shifting away from manufacturing, and toward various service-related establishments. The county

440-559: The county seat . The adjacent Dubuque County Jail is a National Historic Landmark . Heer designed the structure in the Beaux-Arts style with elements of the Renaissance and the Romanesque styles. It is constructed of Bedford limestone on the first floor and red brick and molded terra cotta on the floors above. The frieze is composed of galvanized iron or zinc . The building has

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480-448: The election for U.S. House of Representatives for Iowa's 1st congressional district . Tertiary education: K-12 school districts include: As of 2022 , Dubuque County has a large percentage of Catholic residents. Dubuque County is divided into eighteen townships : Julien Dubuque Julien Dubuque (January 1762 – 24 March 1810) was a Canadian of Norman origin from the area of Champlain, Quebec who arrived near what now

520-617: The 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the Dubuque County Courthouse . The current county attorney is Scott Nelson, who succeeded C.J. May in 2023. The current county auditor is Kevin Dragotto, who succeeded Denise Dolan in 2021. The current county treasurer is Michael Clasen, who succeeded Eric Steirman in 2022 The county sheriff's office provides law enforcement services for unincorporated areas of Dubuque County, as well as providing courthouse security, operating

560-401: The City of Dubuque, and Cottingham & Butler. Dubuque County has, in recent years, enjoyed job growth, low unemployment, and the rapid expansion of business and commerce. Alongside these positives, the county is beginning to see a growing population, as well. Up from a recent low of 86,403 in 1990, the population is now about 97,000 and growing. This can be seen especially in the West Side of

600-422: The City of Dubuque, and in nearby Asbury and Peosta. This fact is especially significant, considering that all of the counties surrounding Dubuque County have fewer people now than they did in 1900, with the exception of Grant County, Wisconsin. Dubuque County was historically Democratic and supported every Democratic Party Presidential candidate from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama , with President Obama winning

640-607: The Dakotas was transferred to the newly created Fayette County in this action. Dubuque County became a part of Iowa Territory upon its creation on July 4, 1838. In 1858, Saint Francis Catholic Church was established in Dubuque County. In the 1980s, the farm crisis set in, and devastated large sections of the Midwest, including Dubuque County. Since the area was heavily dependent on agriculture-related industries like Deere and Company and

680-459: The Mississippi River have many steep hills, bluffs, and ravines. Also, the eastern portion is more heavily wooded than the west, which is mostly rolling farmland. Dubuque County is widely known for its impressive bluffs along the Mississippi River, which run along the entire length of the county's riverbanks. These form part of Iowa's Coulee Region , otherwise known as the Driftless Area. During

720-407: The Mississippi River. In the late 1800s, the original log mausoleum was replaced by the limestone tower and monument at the same site. At that time, excellent photographs were made of Dubuque's skull prior to reburial. Though Dubuque's actual skull now lies buried under many feet of concrete, Taylor was able to use the multiple 1887 photographs, along with historic and anthropological inputs to create

760-799: The Mississippi river at the Julien Dubuque Monument in the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Nature Center . In 2012, members of the Dubuque County Historical Society and curators at the National Mississippi River Museum asked forensic artist Karen T. Taylor to create a facial reconstruction based on the skull of Dubuque. Upon his death in 1810, he was buried on a high bluff overlooking

800-694: The Sixth Legislative Assembly of Michigan Territory held in September 1834, the Iowa District was divided into two counties by running a line due west from the lower end of Rock Island in the Mississippi River . The territory north of this line (which started just south of the present-day Davenport ) was named Dubuque County, and all south of it was Demoine County [sic] . Thus, at that time Dubuque County nominally included not only much of what

840-400: The age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.07. 25.60% of the population were under

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880-443: The age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males. The median household income was $ 39,582 and the median family income was $ 48,742. Males had a median income of $ 31,977 versus $ 22,309 for females. The per capita income for

920-510: The city. Twenty-five year bonds totaling $ 125,000 were sold in April 1891, and the cornerstone was laid on July 11 of the same year. The building was completed two years later. The Dubuque County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Its significance is derived from its association with county government, and the political power and prestige of Dubuque as

960-415: The county built a red brick building to house its records and offices. It is possible that this building was already under construction as there are records of expenditures for brick, lumber, lime, ironwork, and architectural fees dating back to 1839. An addition was built onto the front of this building in 1856. By 1869 there was talk of building a new courthouse as the county had outgrown this building and it

1000-516: The county by over 20 points in 2008. In 2016, it was narrowly won by Donald Trump , who became the first Republican to win the county since President Eisenhower in 1956. Trump won the county again in 2020, by a larger margin. In the 2022 elections , the county continued to trend rightward, with Republican governor Kim Reynolds winning reelection by a margin of over 16 points. The county additionally voted for Republican Chuck Grassley in U.S. Senate election and for Republican Ashley Hinson in

1040-640: The county jail, and performing civil procedures. The Sheriff's Department is located at the Dubuque City/County Law Enforcement Center. The department shares facilities and other resources with the Dubuque Police Department . The county borders on Illinois and Wisconsin , and is bounded on the northeast by the Mississippi River . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 617 square miles (1,600 km ), of which 608 square miles (1,570 km )

1080-401: The county was $ 19,600. About 4.90% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.80% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over. Historically, Dubuque County's economy was driven by heavy industry, including, among others, Deere and Company , and the now-defunct Dubuque Packing Company . However, within the last 20 years, and especially within

1120-506: The county was 97.07% White , 0.86% Black or African American , 0.15% Native American , 0.58% Asian , 0.09% Pacific Islander , 0.50% from other races , and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 2005 estimates by the census indicated that Dubuque had a population that identified itself as being 95.5% non-Hispanic white, 1.3% African American, 0.7% Asian and 1.5% Latino. There were 33,690 households, of which 33.10% had children under

1160-408: The county: The City of Dubuque and other towns in the county also operate public park systems of their own. (see Parks in Dubuque , Iowa ) The 2020 census recorded a population of 99,266 in the county, with a population density of 160.6862/sq mi (62.04130/km ). There were 42,630 housing units of which 39,891 were occupied. The 2010 census recorded a population of 93,653 in the county, with

1200-576: The entrances into the building were moved to the ground level from the second floor. Gold leaf was applied to the tower dome. Given the various weather conditions, it did not hold and it had to be repaired. The county reevaluated security at the courthouse following the murders of a judge in Georgia and a judge's family in Illinois. All entrances, but one, were closed and visitors and their possessions were screened. Dubuque County, Iowa Dubuque County

1240-492: The first European settler of Iowa, and an early lead mining pioneer in what is now Dubuque County. Dubuque was French Canadian , and had (by most accounts) a friendly relationship with the local Meskwaki people. He and other early pioneers established a lucrative mining and trading industry in the area. When lead deposits began becoming exhausted, the pioneers developed boat building, lumber yards, milling, brewing, and machinery manufacturing to take its place. The city of Dubuque

Dubuque County Courthouse - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-488: The last 10 years, the economy has diversified a great deal. Now, alongside manufacturing, which still employs thousands of workers, many county residents work in the tourism/gaming, health care, education, publishing, and financial service sectors. The county's economy is largely centered around business and industry within the City of Dubuque. With the exception of industrial areas in Cascade, Dyersville, and Peosta, almost all of

1320-472: The last ice age, much of the Mississippi Valley near Dubuque County was bypassed by glacial flows, which flattened the surrounding land in eastern Illinois, Wisconsin, and western Iowa, leaving the Driftless Area unusually rugged. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources administers 3 park and preserve areas in the county: The Dubuque County Conservation Board administers 11 park and recreation areas in

1360-502: The local Meskwaki chief Peosta – for whom the nearby town of Peosta, Iowa is named. It is widely believed that Dubuque married Peosta's daughter, named Potosa. The marriage is disputed. Those who back the marriage claim point to letters that mention a Madame Dubuque as meaning Dubuque's wife. After his death, the Meskwaki built a log crypt for Dubuque, which was replaced in the late 19th century by an imposing stone monument. The name "Potosa" often appears in fanciful origin stories for

1400-467: The name of Potosi, Wisconsin , a small town founded in the 1830s as a lead-mining settlement located north of Dubuque. Dubuque is remembered as the first person of European origin to settle in what would become the state of Iowa. He is remembered as a friend of the Native Americans in the area and a champion of their cause. Dubuque was also a generous man who spent lavishly on many friends, which had

1440-557: The rest of the county is rural and agriculturally driven. Some of the key industries in Dubuque County include: Deere and Company, Eagle Window & Door Co., Flexsteel Industries, Mi-T-M Corp., A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co., Klauer Mfg., Georgia-Pacific , and Swiss Valley Farms, among others. Besides industry, large numbers of people work for the Dubuque Community School District , Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque , Medical Associates , Finley Hospital , Prudential Financial ,

1480-412: The unfortunate effect of keeping him in debt during the later part of his life. When White Americans settled what would become Iowa, a settlement in the area where he had mined was named after him. It was known by several names, including DuBuque's Mines. Eventually, it became the first city in Iowa, and was named simply Dubuque in his honor. Dubuque's resting place and memorial lie on a cliff facing

1520-412: The war effort. The interior features the shaft of the tower that terminates on the fourth floor with a dome of stained glass . Woodwork and fittings are of oak with carvings that are done in a Richardsonian character. Renovations were done to the building over the years, especially in the 1980s. Changes include the installation of a glass elevator, a granite fountain was placed on the ground floor, and

1560-480: Was chartered in 1833 as the first city in Iowa. The establishment of the City of Dubuque in 1833 led to large-scale settlement of the surrounding area. This was greatly encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church, which sent priests, bishops, and nuns to establish churches in the unpopulated countryside. Primarily, Irish and German (many of whom were Catholic) immigrants came to the region. At an extra session of

1600-510: Was considered outdated and ill-shaped. Even after a petition for a new courthouse was presented in 1878, there was no serious movement toward construction until 1890. The United States Congress had authorized the use of Washington Square for the new courthouse, but the choice was made to locate it on the site of the old one. County officials chose local architect Fridolin Heer , designer of Sacred Heart Church and several other notable buildings in

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