Dubuque /dəˈbjuːk/ is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2008 its population was estimated at 57,250, making it the eighth-largest city in the state and the county's population was estimated at 92,724. The city lies at the junction of three states: Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a region locally known as the Tri-State Area. It serves as the main commercial, industrial, educational, and cultural center for the area. Geographically, it is part of the Driftless Area, a portion of North America that escaped all three phases of the Wisconsinian Glaciation. It is one of the few large cities in Iowa with hills, and is home to a large tourist industry, driven by the city's unique architecture, and river location. Also, it is home to five institutions of higher education, making it a center for culture and learning. While Dubuque has long been a center of manufacturing, the economy has recently witnessed rapid growth and diversification in other areas. In 2005, it led the state and the Midwest in job growth, ranking as the 22nd fastest-growing economy nationally. Today, alongside industry, the city has large health care, education, tourism, publishing, and financial service sectors. Dubuque has received a number of special designations. In March 2007, the city was recognized as one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by the America's Promise Youth Foundation. In April 2007, the city was voted 15th in the "Best Small Places For Business and Careers" ranking by Forbes Magazine, climbing 60 spots from 2006. In 2006, Money Magazine named Dubuque as having the shortest commute time all U. S cities at only 11.8 minutes. In June 2007, Dubuque won the All-America City Award, one of 10 cities nationally to do so. In June 2008, Dubuque was named as the "Most Livable" Small City by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). In 2009, Dubuque was named the 8th best small metro area to launch a small business by CNNMoney. com.