In a recent article, I discussed the demographics of Dubuque City. I also talked about its historic background. The city was founded by German immigrants in the late 19th century. This community sought to establish a separate German Catholic church from the Irish Catholic ones. Today, the area remains primarily working class, with many of the city's factories headquartered here. There are five colleges and universities in the city.
The West End of Dubuque City is an expanding suburb that was settled mostly after the Second World War. This growth was fueled by a large baby-boom generation and sharply rising housing demand. Development of the Hillcrest Park neighborhood was a major part of the expansion. Deere & Company financed the construction of these homes. Later, the city built Plaza 20 and Kennedy Mall, which are the largest enclosed malls in Iowa.
Dubuque's economy used to be heavily dependent on manufacturing companies, but in recent years has diversified its economy to include health care, tourism, and financial services. Several major companies have large operations in the city, including Alliant Energy, McGraw Hill Education, Duluth Trading Company, Swiss Valley Farms, and Metrix Company. Further, the Dubuque metro area is home to two major universities.
The North End consists of territory north of 17th Street and east of Kaufmann Avenue. Two hills rise west of Central Avenue and are home to several valleys. Between these two hills is Couler Valley, which adjoins the Mississippi River. The north end also includes two major cemeteries, Linwood Cemetery for Protestants and Mt. Calvary for Catholics. A few streets are designated for residential use.