Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
STREETS
STREETS. The congressional act of July 2, 1836 provided for surveying the lots and streets of several area cities including Dubuque. A total of $3,000 was appropriated to cover the expense. On March 3, 1837, an amendatory act was passed by which three commissioners were appointed to hear all evidence under the claims. These commissioners were to be paid six dollars per day.
Surveying streets did not suggest the early settlers wanted to quickly improve this means of transportation.
Indian trails and miners' paths there were through Dirty Hollow,over Whisky and Hamilton hills, through the tortuous windings of Madden hollow, over the rugged ascent of Lorimier Hollow, now Julien Avenue, and through several other wild ravines and over the craggy steeps of the bluffs around the city. The only unobstructed approach to the city was by way of what is called the Couler at the upper end of town. Farmers, of course, complained, but their complaints were for some time unheeded. They had to watch the opportunity of fair weather to come to town and wait for each other at the foot of the hills to double and sometimes treble teams to help each other through. This process went on for years until other markets superseded this largely. Galena enterprise put a ferry across the river at Tete des Mortes and secured much of the trade of Jackson and southern Dubuque counties. Other points — Bellevue, Muscatine and Davenport — drew from the county west. It was then realized that Dubuque would have to improve its Indian trails and miners' paths." (Express and Herald, October 24, 1855.)
The following are the names and locations of streets listed in the local directory.
Air Hill
1856--1867---from 8th to Julien Avenue on the Bluffs
Almond
1856--1865---from Ellis west on the Bluffs
1867---first street north of Mineral
Alpine
1856--1865---from 3rd to Julien Avenue on the Bluffs
1867---second street east of Spring
Alta Vista
1856---from Third to Julien Avenue on the Bluffs
1857--1867---from Julien Avenue to Mineral
Ann
1856--1865---from Division to Peosta
1867---third street south of 1st; Eagle Point
Arch
1857--1865---from Centre No. 1 each way; West Dubuque
1867---fourth street north of Delhi; West Dubuque
Ash
1856--1865---from the MISSISSIPPI RIVER to Peosta
1867---twelfth street east of Main
Aspen
1858--1865---20th to Peosta
Bee Branch Road
1867---twenty-ninth street north of Jones
Birch
1858--1865---20th to Peosta
Blake's Hollow
1867---south side of Mineral, west of Bluff
Blocklinger's Alley
1867---from Couler Avenue, west to Broadway
Bluff
1856---second street west of Main
1857--1867---from Dodge to Mineral at Fifteenth
Boundary
1867---from Julien Avenue, south across Dodge to South Avenue
Broad
1856---from Julien Avenue to 14th on the Bluffs
1857--1865---from Julien Avenue on the Bluffs to suburbs
1867---second street west of Spring
Broadway
1856--1867---from Sanford to Diagonal
Burlington
1857--1865---from Sabula N. W. to suburbs
1867---third street south of Dubuque
Byron
1857--1865---from Dubuque and Millville Road north
1867---from Bee Branch road north crossing Shelly
Camanche
1857--1865---from Park Hill to Dubuque
Camp
1858--1865---Harbor Company's levee to Locust
Cariff
1857--1865---from 3rd on the Bluff south
Cedar
1856--1865---from 10th to 19th
1867---ninth street east of Main
Centre No. 1
1857--1865---from Julien Avenue to Corporation Line; West Dubuque
18676---from Delhi north; West Dubuque
Centre No. 2
1857--1865---from Delhi south; West Dubuque
Charles
1857--1865---from McCabe west
1867---from head of Diagonal west
Charter
1858--1865---from Harbor Company's levee to Locust
Cherry
1857--1865---from Centre No. 1 each way; West Dubuque
1867---first street north of Delhi; West Dubuque
Clay
1856---from Levee to Eighteenth
1857--1861---from 7th to 18th
1865---from 3rd to 18th
1867---second street east of Main
Commercial
1857--1865---Commercial---from 7th Street bridge to main river
Couler Avenue
1856--1865---from 18th to Peru Road
1867---west of Clay, from 18th north
Davenport
1857--1865---from Park Hill N.W. to suburbs
1867---first street south of Dubuque
Delhi
1857--1865---from Julien Avenue to Centre No. 1 to Corporation Line; West Dubuque
1867---from Julien Avenue west; West Dubuque
Diagonal
1856--1865---from Couler Avenue to McCabe
1867---north of 22nd, from Couler Avenue, west
Division
1857--1865---from Johnson Avenue to Eagle Point
1867---from Johnson Avenue, north
Dock
1856--1865---from Peosta to Division
1867---second street south of First;Eagle Point
Dodge
1856--1865---from MISSISSIPPI RIVER to summit on the Bluffs
1867---first street south of Jones
Dubuque
1857--1865---from Camanche N.W. to suburbs
1867---west of Couler Avenue, from Park Hill Avenue north
Eagle Point Avenue
1857--1865---from Couler Avenue east and west indefinitely
1867---twenty-first street north of Jones
Eagle Point Levee
1857--1861---lies along the river shore at Eagle Point, length undefined
1867---northern part of city
East
1856---from Julien Avenue to 14th
1857--1865---from Julien Avenue to suburbs
1867---first street west of Spring
Ellis
1857--1865---from Mineral north
1867---west of Main, from Mineral north
Elm
1856--1865---from 10th to 19th
1867---sixth street east of Main
Fenelon
1857---Fenelon---from Prospect to Cardiff on the Bluffs between 3rd and 5th streets
1858--1865---Prospect to Old Corporation Line on the Bluffs between 3rd and 5th streets
1867---north of Third, crossing Summit
Finley
1857---first street west of Centre; West Dubuque
1858--1865---from Delhi across Green; West Dubuque
1867---first street west of Centre; West Dubuque
Forest Lane
1857--1865---from Nevada west
1867---south of Julien Avenue, from Alpine, west
Fulton
1867---third street west of Bluff, from Eleventh, north
Gilliam
1857--1865---from Delhi south; West Dubuque
1867---from Delhi, west of Centre, south; West Dubuque
Glen Oak
1857--1865---Forest Lane across 3rd
1867---west of Spring, from Forest Lane, south
Green
1857--1865---from Centre No. 1 each way; West Dubuque
1867---second street north of Delhi; West Dubuque
Grove
1856--1865---from 11th to Walnut
1867---west of Bluff, from 11th north
Hazel
1857--1865---from Centre No. 1 each way; West Dubuque
1867---fifth street north of Delhi; West Dubuque
Henion
1867---west of Bluff, from 14th, north
Hickory
1865---20th to Peosta
High
1856--1865---from 11th to Walnut
1867---second street west of Bluff, from 11th north
High
1867---first street east of Division
Hill
1856--1865---from 5th to 8th diagonally
1867---second street west of Bluff, from 8th, south
Humboldt
1867---third street north of Johnson Avenue
Iowa
1856--1865---from Mississippi River to 17th
1867---first street east of Main
Inner Levee
1858--1865---from 1st to 6th and 10th to 18th
Jackson
1856--1865---from Mississippi River to Peru Road
1867---fourth street east of Main
James
1858--1865---from Camp north
Jefferson
1857--1865---listed but not described
1867---south of 11th from Walnut east
John
1867---from Dodge west
Johnson Avenue
1856--1867---from Lake to Sanford
Jones
1856--1865---from Mississippi River to Bluff
1867---from ferry landing west to Bluff
Julien Avenue
1856---from 8th to Delhi
1857--1865---from 8th to city line
1867---from 8th west
Julien
1857--1865---from Davenport to Keokuk
1867---second street north of Park Hill Avenue
Keokuk
1857--1865---from Julien Street N. W. to suburbs
1867---fourth street south of Dubuque
Lake
1857--1865---20th to Eagle Point
1867---second street east of Division
Lemon
1857--1865---27th N. W. to suburbs
1867---west of Couler Avenue from 27th to Peru Road
Levee
1857--1865---Barney Cut to 7th on main river
Levee
1857--1865---from Waples Cut south on lower island
Locust
1856---from Dubuque's Grave to 15th
1857---first street west of Main
1858--1865---15th to Southern Avenue
1867---first street west of Main
Lorimier Avenue
1858---8th west to city line
Lorimier's Furnace Road
1867---from South Avenue east
Lynn
1856--1865---from 12th to Peosta
1867---eleventh street east of Main
Madison
1861--1865---head of Main N. W. to Locust
Main
1856---from Jones to Seminary
1857--1865---from the slough to Valeria
Maple
1856--1865---from 12th to 18th
1867---eighth street east of Main
McCabe
1857--1867---from head of Diagonal, north to Park Hill Avenue
Mineral
1856---from Locust running west
1857--1865---from Locust to 15th running west
1867---an extension of Locust
Mineral
1857--1865---from Washington to Corporate Line; West Dubuque
1867---second street south of Delhi; West Dubuque
Muscatine
1858--1865---from Park Hill N. W. to suburbs
1867---second street south of Dubuque
Nevada
1856--1865---from 5th to Julien Avenue
1867---first street east of Spring
Olive
1867---second street east of Walnut, from Julien Avenue to 11th
Orange
1856--1857---from Mississippi River to 19th
Park
1857--1865---from Centre No. 1 to Corporate Line; West Dubuque
1867---third street north of Delhi, from Centre, west; West Dubuque
Park Hill
1857--1865---Muscatine to Couler
1867---from Couler Avenue, west, first street north of 25th
---
Pearl
1857--1865---from Corporate Line across Washington; West Dubuque
1867---first street south of Delhi; West Dubuque
Peosta
1856--1865---from Willow to Eagle Point Levee
1867---third street east of Division
Peru Road
1867---twenty0ninth street north of Jones
Pine
1856--1865---from Mississippi River to Lake
1867---third street west of Bluff, from 8th to Hill, seventh street east of Main
Prairie
1856--1865---from 11th to 14th on the Bluffs
1867---fourth styreet west of Bluff, from 11th north
Prospect
1867---west of Bluff, from 5th to 8th
Race
1867---west of Walnut from 11th north
Railroad Avenue
1859--1865---Harbor Company's levee to Locust
Reed
1856--1865---from Peosta to Division
1867---first street south of First; Eagle Point
Rose
1867---north of 11th, from Walnut west
Rush
1867---second street south of Dodge, from Bluff to South Dodge
Sabula
1857--1865---from Davenport to Burlington
1867---first street north of Park Hill Avenue
Salina
1858--1865---from Dodge to West Main
Sanford Avenue
1856--1865---from Couler Avenue to Johnson Ave.
1867---twenty-second street north of Jones
Seminary
1856--1865---from 18th running west
South
1857--1865---from Julien to Centre No. 2; West Dubuque
Southern Avenue
1857--1865---from Locust to Pratt's Mills
Spring
1856--1865---from Third to 14th on the Bluffs
Stafford
1859---Lake to Division
State
1857--1865---from Davenport to Keokuk
Sycamore
1856--1865---from 12th to 19th
Stafford
1856--1865---from Lake to Division
Summit
1861--1865---3rd to 5th on the Bluffs
Tower
1857--1865---from Commercial south to Barney Cut
Valeria
1857--1865---from Main N. W.
Walnut
1857--1865---from Prairie to Grove
Warren
1857--1865---from McCabe west
---
Warren
1858--1865---from Waples Cut levee to D & PRR grounds
---
Washington
1858--1865---from Mississippi River to north city line
Washington
1857--1865---from Julien No. 2 to Mineral; West Dubuque
Water
1858--1865---Waples Cut to Dodge
West Main
1858--1865---Main below 1st, south
West Pine
1856--1865---from Hill to Eighth on the Bluffs
---
White
1856---from Levee to 19th
1857--1865---from 7th to 19th
Willow
1858--1865---from outlet of Lake Peosta to Peosta
Windsor
1859--1865---Lake to Division
Wood
1857--1865---from Julien Avenue to the suburbs
Windsor
1856--1858---from Lake to Division
First
1856--1865---from the Mississippi River to Bluff
1867---first street north of Jones
First
1867---from Division east to Peosta; Eagle Point
Second
1856--1865---from the Mississippi River to Bluff
Third
1856--1865---from the Mississippi River to Spring
Fourth
1856--1865---from Levee to foot of the Bluffs
1867---fourth street north of Jones
Fourth
1867---third street north of First; Eagle Point
Fifth
1856--1865---from inner levee to Spring
1867---fifth street north of Jones
Sixth
1856--1865---from inner levee to Bluff
Seventh
1856--1865---from Levee to Bluff
Eighth
1856---from Mississippi River to West Pine
1857--1865---from Pine to Old Corporation Line
1867---seventh street north of First; Eagle Point
Ninth
1856---from Mississippi River to Bluff
1857--1865---from Maple to Bluff
1867---eighth street north of First; Eagle Point
Tenth
1856---from Cedar to Bluff
1857--1865---from Levee to Bluff
---
Eleventh
1856---from Mississippi River to summit of the Bluffs
1857--1865---inner levee to Old Corporate Line
1867---eleventh street north of Jones
Twelfth
1856---from Mississippi River to Bluff
1857--1865---from inner levee to Bluff
Thirteenth
1856---from Mississippi River to Bluff
1857--1865---from inner levee to Bluff
Fourteenth
1856---from Mississippi River to Wood
1857--1865---from inner levee to Wood
1867---fourteenth street north of Jones
---
Fifteenth
1856---from Mississippi River to Locust
1857--1865---from inner levee to Locust
1867---fifteenth street north of Jones
Sixteenth
1856---from Mississippi River to Locust
1857--1865---from inner levee to Locust at Mineral
Seventeenth
1856---from Mississippi River to summit of the Bluffs
1857--1865---from inner levee to Old Corporate Line
Eighteenth
1856---from Mississippi River to Clay
1857--1865---from Lake Peosta to Clay
1867---eighteenth street north of Jones
Nineteenth
1856---from Mississippi River to Couler Ave.
1857--1865---from Lake Peosta to Couler
1867---nineteenth street north of Jones
Twentieth
1856---from Mississippi River to Lynn
1857--1865---from Lake Peosta to Jackson
Twenty-First
1856---from Mississippi River to Willow
1857--1865---from Lake Peosta to Willow at Peosta
Twenty-Second
1857--1865--from Couler Avenue east to suburbs
Twenty-Third
1857--1865---from Couler Avenue east to suburbs
Twenty-Fourth
1857--1865---from Couler Avenue east to suburbs
Twenty-Fifth
1857--1865---from Couler Avenue east to suburbs
Twenty-Sixth
1857--1865---from Couler Avenue east to suburbs
Twenty-Seventh
1857--1865---from Couler Avenue east to suburbs
In 1865 John D. Bush proposed the laying out of Grand Avenue, commencing at Quigley lane opposite the brewery on Julien Avenue and extending along the ridge road until its intersection with the MILITARY ROAD on the top of Whiskey hill. In November, 1865, so unclean had the streets become, the citizens turned out en masse, formed a brigade, and cleaned them.
Over time, Dubuque, like other cities, changed street names. Many changes were made in 1921 at the suggestion of Ossian E. CARR, Dubuque's first City Manager. Among those that have been changed are the following:
Original Name | New Name | Date of Change |
---|---|---|
Adams Avenue | Prescott Street | 1921 |
Adams Street | Sac Street | 1921 |
Alma Street | Montrose | |
Altman Avenue | St. Joseph Street | 1921 |
Anne Place | West 18th Street | |
Arch Street | Seminary Street | 1921 |
Aspen | Linden | |
Audubon | Grandview | |
Austin Place | Raymond Place | |
Blocklinger Lane | West 24th Street | 1921 |
Bluff Street | Providence | |
Bluff | High Bluff | |
Boundary Street | Grandview Avenue | 1871 |
Brad Street | Booth | |
Broad Street | Mt. Pleasant | |
Brugh | Schiller | |
Cardiff Street | Summit Street | 1921 |
Cascade Road | Fremont | |
Centre Street | Asbury | |
Center Street | Finley Street | 1921 |
Church | 6th | |
Clay Street | Central Avenue (1st to 18th) | 1921 |
Clifford Street | Eighth Street | 1921 |
Clifford | Foye Street | |
Clifton Street | Altman Avenue | 1921 |
Columbia | Lexington | |
Cora Street | South Hill St. | |
Couler Street | Central Avenue (18th to city limits) | 1921 |
Delhi Street | University Avenue | 1921 |
Division | Lincoln | |
Dubuque Street | Sumner | |
Eagle Point Street | 20th Street | |
Eagle Street Extension | Lindberg Terrace | |
East Street | McCormick Street | 1921 |
East | Glen Oak | |
Eleanor Street | Indian Ridge | |
Edith Street | Roland Street | 1921 |
Empley's Lane | Thomas Street | 1921 |
Exchange Street | South Hill | |
Fink Street | Jansen Street | 1921 |
Forrest Street | Florence | |
Franklin Street | West 16th Street | 1921 |
Franklin | Fulton | |
Franklin | Edison | |
Fremont Avenue | Wartburg Avenue | circa 1889 |
Fremont Avenue | Wartburg Place | 1921 |
Front Street | Peosta | 1938 |
Grandview Heights | Plymouth Court | |
Grant Avenue | Wilson Street | 1921 |
Grove Street | Greeley Street | 1921 |
Hales Mill | Asbury | |
Hall Street | Auburn Street | 1921 |
Harrison | Monroe | |
Hart Street | West 23rd | 1921 |
Hazel Street | Sunnyview | |
Herron Street | South Locust Street | 1921 |
High Street | Rhomberg | |
High Street | Highland Pl. | |
Iowa Street Extension | Shelby Street | |
James Street | Huff | |
Jefferson Avenue | Carter Road | |
John Street | Simpson | |
Julien Avenue | Lorimer Avenue | 1858 |
Julien Avenue | University Avenue | 1940 |
Julien | Primrose | |
Karrick Street | Finley Street | 1921 |
Kerrigan Road | 1956 | |
Klingenberg Street | Hennepin Street | 1921 |
Lake Street | Garfield | |
Leibnitz Street | Lowell Street | 1921 |
Lemon | Viola | |
Lenox Avenue | Van Buren | |
Linden Boulevard | Logan Street | 1921 |
Logan | Belmont | |
Lorimier Avenue | Julien Avenue | 1859 |
Louisa Street | Algona Street | 1921 |
Main Street | Front Street | |
Malady | South Booth | |
Maple Street | Morton Street | 1921 |
Martha Ann | Martha | |
McCabe | Broadway | |
Middle Avenue | Farley Street | 1921 |
Mineral Street | West Locust | |
Millville Street | 32nd Street | 1921 |
Military Street | Rockdale Road | |
Monroe | Harlan | |
Mount Carmel Avenue | South Locust Street | 1921 |
National Street | Delhi | |
North Cascade Road | Fremont Avenue | 1921 |
North Street | Hale | 1921 |
North 1st Street | Kimball Street | 1921 |
North Iowa Street | Shelby Street | |
North Main Street | Main Street | 1921 |
O'Neill Street | Langworthy | 1921 |
Orange | Washington | 1921 |
Park Avenue | Randall Place | 1921 |
Park Street | Asbury Road | |
Park Hill | West 28th | 1921 |
Park Way Avenue | Park Street | 1921 |
Peru Road | 32nd Street | 1921 |
Pine Street | Caledonia | |
Pine Street | Pinard | |
Pine Street | Poe Street | 1921 |
Planke Road | Couler | |
Pleasant View Avenue | Lexington Street | 1921 |
Rebecca Street | Fairview Place | |
Reed Avenue | Marshall Street | 1921 |
Riga Street | Algona Street | 1921 |
Rosedale Avenue | Auburn Street | 1921 |
Russell Street | Rowan Street | 1921 |
Sanford Street | East 24th | 1921 |
Seminary Street | Clarke Drive | 1955 |
Seminary Street (from 17th to 18th) | Heeb Street | 1921 |
Shields | Pine | |
South Dodge Street | Bryant Street | 1921 |
South Street | Lombard | |
Spring | North Booth | |
State | National | |
Stewart Street | Southern | |
Thomas Street | West 16th Street | 1921 |
Union Avenue | Kirkwood Street | 1921 |
Valley | Dillon Street | |
Vine Street | Burns Street | 1921 |
Walnut | Karrick | |
Wall | Wallace | |
Wabash Avenue | Seward Street | 1921 |
Warren | Putnam | |
Wartburg Avenue | Fremont Avenue | 1920 |
Washington Street | O'Hagen Street | |
West Street | Needham Place | |
West 4th Street | Melrose Street | 1921 |
West 14th Street | Loras Avenue | 1940 |
West Main Street | Shields Street | 1921 |
West Eagle Point Avenue | Kaufmann | |
West Seminary | Ungs Street | |
Whelan | Bradley | |
Wilde Street | Mt. Loretta | |
Willow | Rosedale Street | 1921 |
1st Avenue | Decatur | 1921 |
2nd Avenue | Hamilton | 1921 |
3rd Avenue | Whittier | 1921 |
4th Avenue | Emerson | 1921 |
5th Avenue (west of Linwood Cemetery) | Edith Street | 1921 |
5th Avenue (east of Linwood Cemetery) | Roosevelt Street | 1921 |
6th Avenue | Stanton | 1921 |
7th Avenue | Shiras Avenue | 1921 |
8th Avenue | Farragut | 1921 |
9th Avenue | Hawthorne | 1921 |
10th Avenue | Sumner | 1921 |
The name Whiskey Hill was used colloquially to refer to Southern Avenue through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but never appeared on any printed map or street sign. (1)
In 2014 Dubuque motorists noticed a new type of signal added to two traffic lights on Ninth Street as part of recent construction projects. The flashing yellow left-turn arrow signal was a new traffic management tool aimed at keeping traffic moving, increasing safety, and reducing fuel consumption. (2)
The new signals were installed at the intersections of Ninth and Locust and Ninth and White streets in Dubuque and were being added to intersections across Iowa. The new signal featured a flashing yellow left-turn arrow, in addition to a red, green and steady yellow arrow. The flashing yellow arrow replaced the circular green signal used in the traditional left-turn signal configuration to indicate the need for left-turning vehicles to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. A flashing yellow arrow meant left turns were permitted, but motorists first had to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and then proceed with caution. The flashing yellow arrow did not replace the solid yellow arrow and its meaning; it did replace the green “ball” indication as a signal for a yielding left turn. (3)
In November 2014 a new traffic control pavement marking was announced in the redesign of two downtown Dubuque streets. Dubuque motorists were reminded to note the change and stop where directed by the signage at the four intersections featuring diagonal crosshatch markings. The purpose of the markings was to force traffic to stop at a red traffic signal at a distance before the intersection, which allows truck traffic adequate space to safely make turns on to that street from the right of the intersection. (4)
White “Do Not Block” diagonal crosshatch markings were added to two intersections on Ninth Street and two intersections on Eleventh Street as part of the conversion from one-way to two-way streets. The intersections were for westbound traffic at the intersections of Ninth Street and White Street, Ninth Street and Central Avenue, Eleventh Street and White Street, and Eleventh Street and Central Avenue. Each intersection featured signage stating “Stop Here on Red. (5)
Source:
1. News Release. City of Dubuque. September 8, 2014. Online: http://www.cityofdubuque.org/newsreleases
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. News Release. City of Dubuque. November 25, 2014. Online: http://www.cityofdubuque.org/newsreleases
5. Ibid.
- Lorimer Avenue." Dubuque Times Journal. Dubuque, IA, May 4, 1858.
- Map of the City of Dubuque.Iowa Publishing Company. Davenport, Iowa, 1906.
- "Ordinance Changing Street Names is Passed by Council at Last Meeting." Dubuque Times Journal, Dubuque, IA, March 27, 1921.
- Oldt, Franklin T., History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association
- Research by John Klauer; 1918 Dubuque City Directory
- Stessman, James T. "History of the Names of Streets of Dubuque." April 26, 1954. On file at Carnegie-Stout Public Library.
- "Folks on Seminary Street Have New Address; It's Clarke Drive." Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, IA, September 7, 1955.
- "Whiskey Label Sticks to Steep Hill." Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, IA, March 16, 1999.