Couler Valley
{{Short description|Valley in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox valley|name=Couler Valley|country=United States|state=Iowa|region=Dubuque County|length={{convert|5|mi|km}}|photo=File:View of Couler Valley.jpg|photo_caption=The Couler Valley as seen from a bridge on the Heritage Trail over Iowa Highway 3|watercourses=Bee Branch Creek, Little Maquoketa River|coords={{coords|42.55972|-90.70929|format=dms|display=inline,title}}|depth={{convert|200|ft|m}}|width={{convert|0.5|mi|km}}|location=}}
The Couler Valley is a valley near Dubuque, Iowa, and has the Bee Branch Creek, previously known as the Couler Creek, located in it.{{Cite web |title=Bee Branch Creek History {{!}} Dubuque, IA – Official Website |url=https://www.cityofdubuque.org/2561/Bee-Branch-Creek-History |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=www.cityofdubuque.org}} It is about {{Convert|5|mi|km}} long.{{Cite journal |last=Heyl |first=Allen V. |last2=Agnew |first2=Allen F. |last3=Lyons |first3=Erwin J. |last4=Behre |first4=Charles H. |last5=Flint |first5=Arthur E. |date=1959 |title=The Geology of the Upper Mississippi Valley Zinc-Lead District |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/pp309 |journal=Professional Paper |doi=10.3133/pp309 |issn=2330-7102|doi-access=free }}{{Cite book |last=Witzke |first=Brian |url=http://publications.iowa.gov/25714/1/GSI-063.pdf |title=Geology in the Dubuque Area |last2=Bettis |first2=Arthur |last3=Anderson |first3=Raymond |last4=Heathcote |first4=Richard |publisher=Iowa Department of Natural Resources |date=1997-04-27 |edition=Guidebook 63 |location=Iowa City, Iowa |pages=2, 10 |language=en |format=PDF |access-date=2022-12-26}} It is found in the Driftless Area.
Etymology
History
It has been interpreted that the Little Maquoketa River used to flow through the Couler Valley.
Mining started in the valley in 1788 when Julien Dubuque befriended the Meskwaki. Most of the Couler Valley was included in the land grant to Dubuque by the Spanish Empire. After Dubuque's death, the Meskwaki took over mining and exported lead to white settlers who had a furnace on a Mississippian Island.{{Cite journal |last=Brown |first=C. Erwin |last2=Collins |first2=L.G. |last3=Crosby |first3=Percy |date=1955 |title=Geology and zinc-lead deposits in the Couler Valley area, Dubuque County, Iowa |url=http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/mf42}} In 1833, settling was permitted west of the Mississippi and mining was resumed by settlers.
Geography
The Couler Valley stretches for about {{Convert|5|mi|km}} in between the valleys of the Little Maquoketa River in Sageville to the Mississippi River in Dubuque in the south. It is drained southeastwardly by the Bee Branch. During high floods, the Little Maquoketa River can also occupy parts of the valley. It is {{Convert|200|ft|m}} deep, {{Convert|0.5|mi|km}} wide, and has a flat alluvial bottom.