can anyone tell me about dubuque (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: buying, public school, university)

[jc1255]

I live in Dubuque. Housing is pretty affordable. There is a website that can link you to info AccessDubuque.com. The town is growing and changing. I think the Dubuque will continue to change. Diversity is limited. Restaurants are typical with limited ethnic choices. Good luck.

[dubuquer]

I have lived in Dubuque all of my life and have been married to an African American man for the past 20 years. Dubuque has a long was to go before they are considered "diverse", but the African American and Spanish population has grown over the years. I would recommend Miricle Harvest Church which is a bible teaching christian church with all colors who will welcome you with open arms and caring hearts. They are located at 1398 Central Ave and have service at 10:00 am on Sundays and a bible study on Wed nights @ 7:00pm. If I can help with housing situation let me know- I have contacts!
God Bless

[CO_Rider]

Any retirees on this thread?
Is Dubuque a place that a retiree would be interested in living?

[jasperhobbs]

Originally Posted by CO_Rider

Any retirees on this thread?
Is Dubuque a place that a retiree would be interested in living?

Dubuque is not a bad place for retirees if you can stand the long, cold winters.

Good local health care and access to a couple of top notch University hospitals (University Of Iowa and University of Wisconsin) within 2 hours.

Cost of living is not bad and fairly low crime albeit on the rise like everywhere. Lot of good, safe areas to live.

I would suggest visiting for a week and see if the town fits your needs.

Jasper

[dubuquer]

Dubuque is a great place for retiree's whether you want to live in a retirment community or own your own home. Low crime rate and for the most part living expenses are low also. You are right in the midst of the midwest so there is plenty to do. You are within 4 hours of Chicago, Milwakee, Madison, and alot of smaller town with lots to offer. Come visit for a weekend!

[freebyrd]

I have to say that Dubuque has had a lot of positive development over the past few years. A fair share of that is the result of all the gambling revenue from the casinos, which obviously has its good points as well as some not so good depending on your opinion and/or personal experiences.

One of the things I truly like about its development is the way the riverfront has been transforming from an ugly industrial area to something much more enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. The river museum was also a terrific addition!

I believe the city to still be in transition, though. I can understand the earlier comment about it not being the place for "migrants and outsiders", since even though I was born and raised there, I can't say I ever really felt like I belonged. (My parents moved to Dubuque from SW Wisconsin, so I was a '1st generation' Dubuquer.) I moved away shortly after I graduated from high school and have never had any desire to move back since. I do believe, though, that the city has started to grow out of its inclusive, conservative ways and will continue to do so as long as "outsiders" are willing to move there and make it their own.

Good luck!

[FiftyFiftyAboutCO]

Originally Posted by alymay

alright, i lived in dubuque for almost four years and i really do hate this town. the people suck (no offense to anyone) that i met and yeah there is some nice people but they are hard to find, most of the popluation does drugs. (most the people i have met) the mall sucks and is going down hill. there isnt even a food court. and the pizza place doesnt count. the schools i heard from my younger friends sucks. Senior high school is a joke from what i heard. i didnt go to high school here, but i am glad i didnt.

I do not mean this as an attack, but you need to go back to school to learn how to write a proper English sentence, punctuate, and stop the use of vulgar words like "suck" to describe people, malls, schools, and everything else. No, I am not an English teacher, just a retired secretary. My job, in part, was to correct the spelling and grammar of the college graduates who were my superiors at a major U.S. company.

Something is wrong with the educational process in this country if we cannot produce high school graduates who know how to write. College is not the place to learn these skills. Where I went to school, we had these basic skills by the time we left elementary school.

[5starson23]

What people fail to comment on, as well as underestimate, is whether or not their town/city can attract and maintain the people who actually build the future of that city, the people in their 20's and 30's.

Now before you get "bees in your bonets" and break out your canes to tell me about the YOUNG WHIPER-SNAPPERS of today, I will preface my case by saying that EVERY city is something different to the different people who reside there; some people think Mayberry, NC and Aunt B is the ideal setting, some people would call it a backwater redneck hell.

Dubuque is great if you like arts and crafts, antiques, and small town charm. Dubuque is actually very beautiful in that "preserved" midwestern sort of way. Much more appealing than the Quad Cities, Clinton, or other river towns in eastern Iowa and Western IL.

And yes, (provided you are not a wealthy transplant or retiree), if you can actually find work and support a family, you'll raise your kids in a safe place with decent schools in Dubuque.

However, there is NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, to attract and maintain your fresh out of college, educated, bright young people people to stay or move to Dubuque and eventually that "preserved" charm will disappear - just like Clinton and most of the Quad Cities.

What do 25-35 year old young professionals do in Dubuque? they move to Chicago, Madison, the Twin Cities, or maybe just Cedar Rapids. Sure, you might be an exception because you got pregnant at 18 and work at the local Hyvee so you've never left. But there is no draw for a person with a college education because there are no jobs, there is no culture for young people, there is no nightlife... that is unless you dig bingo.

The talented, bright future young adults, certainly do not bring back to places like Dubuque, money, jobs, new ideas, open small businesses with a clientele other than tourists, tax revenue, or anything 21rst century.

Sadly, Dubuque will go the way of the Dodo, just like the rest of the small town, midwest when people stop caring about Buffalo Bill and wagon wheels and the Big Bopper; that is, unless, places like Dubuque give the next generation a reason to go back home after college or relocate there soon after.

Perhaps you thing I am bashing on Dubuque; I am not. In fact, as a person who has experience in urban planning, historic preservation, and a love for the midwest, I loathe the idea of small town midwestern cities dying slow deaths from failing population. Dubuque is a nice place and tourism helps it survive, but it's not a horse I'd put my money on.

I hope the upper Mississippi valley will do more to try to cater to the young adults who could stimulate a cities economy and bring life to an antique town that is not even physically fit for viagra. I say this because I'd love to be closer to my family who live in "them there's parts", but they aren't leaving and I am not coming.

[jasperhobbs]

Dubuque is OK but is really held back by city leaders that want to keep the town small and quaint and go after the tourist buck and scare off potential companies with so much red tape that they go elsewhere.

As for Iowa cities, I would suggest Iowa City or Des Moines. Both places are progressive and lots to do.

Jasper

[5starson23]

Originally Posted by jasperhobbs

Dubuque is OK but is really held back by city leaders that want to keep the town small and quaint and go after the tourist buck and scare off potential companies with so much red tape that they go elsewhere.

As for Iowa cities, I would suggest Iowa City or Des Moines. Both places are progressive and lots to do.

Jasper

Agreed.

Some towns, like Le Claire, are so small that putting a bit of capital into making the town uber-quaint is perfect way to spend some revenue; there isn't room for growth so towns like Le Claire can simply "gussy-up" their small town charm the best they can to attract people to their little village. I mean, people don't go to small towns like Le Claire for work or culture or anything other small shops and a cafe. This is a place that can be a little tourist destination along I-80 and near the Quad Cities.

This is an equation that works when you don't have a tax base to support and growth is practical.

A town like Dubuque has a lot more riding on it and in my opinion needs to strive harder to make the town a place that college graduates want to stay in because they enjoy the town, there are things for them do (post-college) and there are lucarative jobs.

But if that is not what Dubuque wants, if Dubuque wants to remain a sleepy little tourist town full of charm, well, so be it.