Bellevue, Iowa

Bellevue, Iowa
Downtown Bellevue, Lock & Dam No. 12, and the Mississippi River from air.
Motto: 
"A True Riverfront Experience"
Location of Bellevue, Iowa
Bellevue
Location in the United States
Bellevue
Bellevue (the United States)
Coordinates: 42°15′23″N 90°25′35″W / 42.25639°N 90.42639°W / 42.25639; -90.42639
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
CountyJackson
Founded; founder = John D. BellJuly 2, 1836
IncorporatedFebruary 5, 1851
Government
  TypeCouncil-Administrator
Area
  Total
1.45 sq mi (3.74 km2)
  Land1.38 sq mi (3.56 km2)
  Water0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation
692 ft (211 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
2,363
  Density1,718.55/sq mi (663.57/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
  Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
52031
Area code563
FIPS code19-05635
GNIS feature ID2394119
WebsiteBellevue, Iowa Website

Bellevue (/ˈbɛlvj/ BEL-vew) is a city in eastern Jackson County, Iowa, United States. The city lies along the Mississippi River (at Lock and Dam No. 12) and next to Bellevue State Park. In 2020 its population was 2,363; up from a count of 2,191 at the 2010 Census, making it the second-largest and only growing city in Jackson County.

The city lies in a valley created by two large bluffs (known as North and South Bluffs respectively), with the Mississippi River serving as the city's eastern border (the Illinois state border), and with the Mill Creek valley extending to the west. Geographically, it is part of the southernmost region of the Driftless Area, a portion of North America that escaped all three phases of the Wisconsinian Glaciation.

It is one of the few cities in Iowa to be built near large hills and bluffs, which account for much of the city's economic stimulation as a tourist town. The city attributes its name from the French words belle and vue meaning beautiful view, as well as an early settler, John D. Bell. The unique history and architecture of Bellevue draw visitors year round, mainly from nearby large population centers (including Dubuque and Maquoketa).