Bellevue is a city in eastern Jackson County , Iowa , United States. along the Mississippi River and near Bellevue State Park. In 2019, its population was 2,209; up from 2,191 in the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in Jackson County.
The city is located in a valley formed by two large bluffs (known as the North and South Cliffs, respectively), with the Mississippi River serving as the city’s eastern border (the Illinois state line), and with the Mill Creek Valley extending westward. Geographically it is part of the southernmost region of the Driftless, a part of North America that escaped all three phases of the Wisconsin Glaciation.
It is one of the few towns in Iowa built next to large hills and bluffs, which account for much of the city’s economic stimulus as a tourist town. The town gets its name from the French words “Belle” and “Vue,” meaning “beautiful view,” and from the name of one of the first settlers, John D. Bell. The unique history and architecture of Bellevue attract visitors year-round, mostly from nearby major population centers (including Dubuque and Maquoketa ).
History
Jackson County, along with Jones and Linn counties were established in 1837 and Bellevue was named the seat of justice for all three counties. Bellevue was built by John D. Bell in 1835 prior to the official opening of Bellevue County. He built a cabin there and was the town’s first postmaster. The first hotel was built by Peter Dutell in 1836 and was called the Bellevue House. When Iowa became a territory in 1838, the first census was taken and there were 881 people living in Jackson County.
Illustration of Bellevue, Iowa, in 1848 from Mississippi.
The Bellevue War of 1840 gave the town a dubious reputation and prevented settlement after it. Within two years, however, the population would double. In 1838 the town of Andrew was designated a county seat. Between 1848 and 1876 the struggle between Andrew and Bellevue for county seat continued, with the administrative center moving from one town to another several times, with Bellevue building the county courthouse in 1845, which now serves, the oldest active school building in Iowa. When the county was settled, Macoketa would become the dominant centrally located town when the railroad reached Macoketa in 1873. The city of Maquoketa then built a large town hall and proposed leasing the building to Jackson County as a courthouse. . The proposal was voted on and approved, and Macoketa has been the administrative center of the county ever since.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 1.41 square miles (3.65 km), of which 1.34 square miles (3.47 km) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km) is water.
Climate
Bellevue has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) that yields four distinct seasons. However, local weather is often not as extreme as in other parts of the Midwest, such as Minnesota or Wisconsin. Spring is usually wet and rainy, summer is sunny and warm, fall is mild, and winter is usually cloudy and snowy.
Culture
Bellevue has a rich history that has greatly influenced the city’s culture. Prehistoric forest Indians settled in the fertile valleys where Bellevue is located. Much later, the same thing happened to the Blackhawk tribe, evidence of which can be found in the form of mounds high on the southern cliff overlooking the river. The European pioneers arrived as fur traders, farmers, and merchants, seeking to settle in new lands beginning in 1833; many sailed down the Mississippi River on logs. These early settlers formed Bell View, the oldest town in the county and one of the five oldest towns in Iowa. Later the spelling was changed to the French, Belle Vue, and in time the two words were combined, and the town became Bellevue.