GALENA, ILLINOIS

'Galena' is the largest city in and county seat of Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States with an estimated population of 3,396 in 2006.United States Census Bureau. ''2005 population estimate for Galena city''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=&geo_id=16000US1728300&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US17%7C16000US1728300&_street=&_county=Galena&_cityTown=Galena&_state=04000US17&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, as well as its ski and golf resorts. Galena was the home to Ulysses S. Grant, several other war generals, entertainers and politicians.

Contents

Geography

History

Lead mining

Floods

People

Present day

Cityscape

Galena Territory

Demographics

Notes

External links

Geography

Galena is located at (42.418171, -90.431472). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.7 km² (3.7 mi²). Galena is situated along the Galena River, which is one of many tributaries of the Mississippi River.QuincyNet. (2005, August 02). ''Galena''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.quincynet.com/daytrips/galena/index.htm
Galena is located in the Driftless Zone, an area that was not covered by glaciers during the recent ice ages.City of Galena.(Unknown last update). ''History''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.cityofgalena.org/history.cfm This area, which includes the far northwestern corner of the state of Illinois, escaped glaciation, even while almost the entire state was glaciated, nearly to its southern tip.Illinois Department of Natural Resources. (2007). ''Illinois' Natural Divisions''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/biodiversity/glaciation.htm Because it escaped glaciation, this area is known for its hills, valleys, bluffs and large amounts of exposed rock.

History

Galena has a rich history which is still visible in the city's architecture. Originally it was inhabitated by Native Americans in the Sac and Fox Nation. By the late 17th century French people began to settle in the area and in the early 19th century American settlers arrived. Following a sharp decline in the demand for lead, Galena's population dropped from 14,000, where it was in mid 19th century, to only 3,396, where it is in the early 21st century.

Lead mining

The city is named for the mineral galena.Galena Historical Society. (2006, June 21). ''History Highlights''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.galenahistorymuseum.org/galenafacts.htm It is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide and the most important lead ore mineral.Mineral Information Institute. (2004, October 18). ''Lead''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photolead.html Native Americans, including the Sac and Fox tribes, mined the ore in Galena for use as body painting. In the 1690s French trappers discovered the area and also began mining the lead.Destination 360. (2007). ''Galena Illinois''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/illinois/galena.php
Within a few centuries American settlers arrived in the area. George Davenport, a retired colonel in the United States Army, successfully shipped Galena's first boatload of lead ore down the Mississippi River in 1816. Three years later a trading post was built in Galena which led to the first steamboat arriving in 1824. By 1845 Galena was producing nearly 27,000 tons of lead ore. At that time Jo Daviess County was producing eighty-percent of the lead in the United States.

Edward Baker

Ulysses Grant

Floods

Due to the city's proximity to the Galena River, buildings have been threatened on numerous occasions by flooding.Galena Historical Society. (2006, June 21). ''A Timeline of Galena History''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.galenahistorymuseum.org/timeline.htm Galena's Congressman Leo E. Allen helped acquire funding for city floodgates which were added in 1951. The following were significant, recorded floods:

★ Galena's first recorded flood was in 1828. Water was high enough to allow steamboats to travel on city streets.

★ In 1937, a large flood innundated Main Street with up to five feet of water causing serious damage to downtown buildings.

★ Almost eight feet of water threatened downtown Galena in 1993, but was stopped by the city's floodgates. Late spring season rainfall led the Mississippi and Galena Rivers to their highest recorded levels.Maier, David. (1998, April 17). ''Wisconsin Journal, Number 26''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.cse.ogi.edu/~maier/wisc-journal/j26.txt

People

Ulysses S. Grant, the future American Civil War general and 18th U.S. President, lived in Galena for several years working as an assistant in his father and brother's leather shop.Illinois State Military Museum. (2007, February 27). ''Ulysses S. Grant''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/Museum/HistPeople/Grant.htm Today the Grant home is a popular tourist attraction.Destination 360. (2007) ''Ulysses S Grant Home''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/illinois/ulysses-grant-home.php Elihu B. Washburne, Grant's Secretary of State and an opponent of slavery in the United States, was also a resident and attorney in Galena.University of Virginia, Miller Center of Public Affairs. (2007). ''Elihu B. Washburne''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://millercenter.virginia.edu/Ampres/essays/grant/cabinet/312By the end of the American Civil War, the count of generals from Galena reached nine: Grant; Augustus Louis Chetlain; John Oliver Duer; Jasper Adalmorn Maltby; Ely Samuel Parker; John Aaron Rawlins; William Rueben Rowley; John Corson Smith; and John Eugene Smith.Galena Historical Society. (2006, June 21). ''Galena's Nine Civil War Generals''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.galenahistorymuseum.org/ninegenerals.htm Galena was also briefly represented in Congress by Edward Dickinson Baker, who would later be the only U.S. Senator to fall in battle.United States Congress. (Unknown last update). ''BAKER, Edward Dickinson''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000059 Other noted people who were born in or lived in Galena include Grant's son Frederick Dent Grant, explorer Frederick Schwatka, radio host Don McNeill, writer Herman Melville, Wyoming Governor William A. Richards, and Iowa Governor John H. Gear.''Report of the Sixth Reunion of the Grant Family Association at the Breevort House'', New York, New York, February 27, 1914, ed. by Frank Grant and Elihu Grant (Westfield, Mass.: n. p., 1914), pp. 26-29.Alaska Historical Society. (Unknown last update). ''This Month in Alaska History''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.alaskahistoricalsociety.org/index.cfm?section=discover%20alaska&page=This%20Month%20in%20Alaska%20History&viewpost=2&ContentId=25Radio Hall of Fame. (2007, March 16). ''Don McNeill''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.radiohof.org/musicvariety/donmcneill.htmlHayes, K. (2007). ''The Cambridge Introduction to Herman Melville''. Cambridge: Cambridge University PressState of Wyoming. (2006, July 17) ''W. Richards''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://wyoarchives.state.wy.us/governor/wrichard.htmUnited States Congress. (Unknown last update). ''GEAR, John Henry''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000110

Present day

Bridge for U.S. Route 20

Entrance to downtown

Lake Galena

Golf course in Galena

Galena is a very popular tourist destination hosting well over one million visitors each year.''Economic Development: Approved comprehensive plan, City of Galena, Illinois'', (2003, April 15). Galena is also popular with Chicagoans, many of whom keep second homes in the area.Road Trip America. (2005, November 01). ''Tritowns''. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.hackwriters.com/tritowns.htmSolomon, A. (2005, June 5). Back to Galena. ''Chicago Tribune'', pp. 1, Travel.

Cityscape

Eighty-five percent of the structures in Galena are listed on the National Register of Historic Places which greatly contributes to the city's popularity. The Old Market House State Historic Site, built in 1845, is a museum of local social history. Main Street in downtown Galena has a large number of specialty shops and restaurants and is home to the Galena Cellers winery. Galena's Saint Michael's Church was founded by the pioneer priest Father Samuel Mazzuchelli. The church is named after one of the three Archangels. Opened in 1855, the downtown Desoto House Hotel, is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois.DeSoto House Hotel. (Unknown Last Update). ''DeSoto House Hotel History''. Retrieved January 04, 2007, from http://www.desotohouse.com/history.php There are also several resorts and golf courses located in and around Galena including the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa and the Chestnut Mountain Ski Resort.Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa. (Unknown Last Update). ''About Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa''. Retrieved January 04, 2007, from http://www.eagleridgeresortonline.com/AboutUs.cfmChestnut Mountain Resort. (Unknown Last Update). ''About us''. Retrieved January 04, 2007, from http://www.chestnutmtn.com/winter/about.cfm

Galena Territory

The Galena Territory is a private development located several miles southeast of downtown Galena. The territory, which is managed by a homeowners association, has set aside 1,500 acres (6 km²) of protected recreational land.The Galena Territory Association. (2007, January 04). ''Greenspace & Trails''. Retrieved January 04, 2007, from http://www.thegalenaterritory.com/amen_greenspace.cfmThe Galena Territory Association. (2007, January 04). ''Association Info''. Retrieved January 04, 2007, from http://www.thegalenaterritory.com/assoc.cfm The remainder is filled with low-density residential development and the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa. The resort is best known for its 63 holes of championship golf.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,460 people, 1,570 households, and 893 families residing in the city. The population density was 358.2/km² (926.4/mi²). There were 1,821 housing units at an average density of 188.5/km² (487.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.54% White, 0.32% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 1.16% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.06% of the population.
There were 1,570 households out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.81.In the city the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,103, and the median income for a family was $44,063. Males had a median income of $32,172 versus $19,670 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,773. About 4.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notes

External links

★ City website

★ Convention & Visitors Bureau