Galena, Kansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Galena, Kansas
City
Downtown Galena (2008)
Location within Cherokee County and Kansas
KDOT map of Cherokee County (legend)
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Cherokee
Founded	1877
Incorporated	1877
Named for	Galena
Area
• Total	4.66 sq mi (12.06 km2)
• Land	4.60 sq mi (11.92 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation	925 ft (282 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,761
• Density	592.5/sq mi (228.94/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66739
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-25100
GNIS ID	485578

Galena is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. It is a place with a rich history, especially known for its mining past. As of the 2020 census, about 2,761 people lived there.

History of Galena

Galena Museum (2008), which used to be a train station.

The railroad came through the area of Galena in 1871. However, the community really started in the spring of 1877. This was when people discovered a valuable metal called lead there. The first post office opened in Galena in 1877.

The city was first planned by the Galena Mining and Smelting Company. They wanted to call it Cornwall. But when it was first set up, it was known as Short Creek because of a nearby creek. For a short time, it was also called Bonanza. Finally, in 1877, it got its current name, Galena. This name comes from the lead ore galena found in the ground.

Galena was part of a big mining area called the Tri-State district. At one point, over 30,000 people lived there! But after the mines closed in the 1970s, the population became much smaller.

During World War II, a large factory called the Jayhawk Ordnance Works was built northwest of Galena. This factory made ammonium nitrate, which is used in ordnance. After the war, a man named Kenneth Aldred Spencer bought the factory. It became the world's largest producer of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. This factory helped create the Spencer Chemical Company's wealth. This money was later used to help many good causes across Missouri and Kansas. The factory is still working today as Jayhawk Fine Chemicals Corporation.

Geography of Galena

Galena covers about 4.62 square miles (12.06 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. Galena is also the eastern end of the famous U.S. Route 66 that goes through Kansas.

Cleaning Up the Environment

In 1983, a special site in Cherokee County was added to the EPA's National Priorities List. This list includes the most serious abandoned hazardous waste sites in the United States. These sites need special cleanup efforts. This happened because of old mining and metal processing activities. These activities left behind toxic metals like lead, zinc, and cadmium.

The site covers about 115 square miles and includes Galena. It's part of the larger Tri-State district, which also includes parts of Oklahoma and Missouri. Old mine shafts, piles of mining waste, and even streams in the area contain these harmful substances. Efforts are being made to clean up these areas to protect the environment and people's health.

Population and People

Galena water tower (2008)

The population of Galena has changed a lot over the years. For example, since 1900, the number of people living in Galena has dropped by about 73%. This shows how the city has changed since its mining boom.

What the 2020 Census Shows

The 2020 United States census counted 2,761 people in Galena. A census is like a big count of everyone living in a place. It helps us understand how many people live there and what their lives are like.

• Most people (85.11%) identified as white.
• About 3.37% identified as Native American.
• About 9.34% identified as being from two or more races.
• About 3.26% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Galena was about 40.2 years old. About 24.6% of the population was under 18 years old. Also, about 19.1% of the people were 65 years or older.

What the 2010 Census Showed

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,085 people living in Galena. There were 1,198 households, which are groups of people living together.

• About 91.0% of the people were White.
• About 3.0% were Native American.
• About 3.6% were Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the city in 2010 was 39.1 years. About 25.9% of the people were under 18 years old. About 15.9% were 65 years or older.

Education in Galena

The public schools in Galena are part of the Galena USD 499 school district. Galena is home to Galena High School. A long time ago, in 1916, the Kansas Supreme Court heard a case about the school. The school superintendent had separated African American children from other students. The court decided that this was not allowed. They said that students from different backgrounds should be taught together.

Galena in the Media

• Galena is famous for an International Harvester L-170 truck. This truck was the real-life inspiration for the character "Mater" in Disney's movie Cars. You can see the truck at 119 N. Main St. It sits outside the Cars on the Route diner and souvenir store. This store is a restored old Kan-O-Tex Service Station.
• There are several museums in Galena. One is the Galena Mining and Historical Museum. It is located at 319 West 7th Street, right on Route 66. This museum is in an old Katy Railroad Depot building. The building was moved to its current spot in 1983. The museum opened in 1984. It has added more space over the years. The museum shows off items related to mining, schools, Route 66, and the history of Galena. You can see old cars like a 1919 Model T Touring Car and a 1931 Model A truck there.

Notable People from Galena

• James Corman (1920–2000), a politician from California.
• George Grantham (1900–1954), a professional baseball player in the MLB.
• Richard Hilderbrand, a member of the Kansas Senate.
• Jake LaTurner (born 1988), a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district.

See also

In Spanish: Galena (Kansas) para niños