Dubuque

Located on the Mississippi River, Dubuque is the oldest city in Iowa, and was long a center of the woodworking trade, importing wood from the Northwoods, and shipping its products south to cities such as St. Louis. It has seen a revitalization as the old factories and warehouses have been renovated around downtown.

Cedar Rapids

Sitting abreast the Cedar River, Cedar Rapids is home to Quaker Oats and other industry. Now located along a string of cities in between Iowa City, the former capital and university town and the twin cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls, the metropolitan region is part of a larger industrial heartland in the agricultural state of Iowa.