Galena, Kansas

Galena, Kansas
—  City  —
Downtown Galena, 2008
Location of Galena, Kansas
Coordinates: 37°4′28″N 94°38′8″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Cherokee
Area
• Total	4.6 sq mi (11.9 km2)
• Land	4.6 sq mi (11.8 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	902 ft (275 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	3,085
• Density	670.7/sq mi (258.9/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	66739
Area code(s)	620
FIPS code	20-25100
GNIS feature ID	0469360

Galena is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,085.

History

The city was named after the lead ore galena found here in 1877. The city was originally platted by the Galena Mining and Smelting Company and was to be known as Cornwall. The city was actually known as Short Creek when first established because of a nearby creek and was known as Bonanza briefly before taking the present name. The city was part of the tri state mining area and had over 30,000 inhabitants. After the closing the mines in the 1970s population decreased. The population was 3,287 at the 2000 census.

Galena is the eastern end of the segment of U.S. Route 66 that passes through Kansas.

The Jayhawk Ordnance Works northwest of Galena, built during World War II, was a large ordnance plant producing ammonium nitrate. After the war it was privatized by its operator Kenneth Aldred Spencer and at one point was the world's largest producer of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in the world. It would form the basis for the Spencer Chemical Company's fortune which would eventually be funneled into numerous philanthropies throughout Missouri and Kansas. The Spencer family had been in the area because of their ownership of the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Co. mining operation. The plant is still in operation as the Jayhawk Fine Chemicals Corporation.

Geography

Galena is located at 37°4′28″N 94°38′8″W (37.074459, -94.635549). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12 km²), of which, 4.6 square miles (12 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (1.09%) is water.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1960	3,827		—
1970	3,712		−3.0%
1990	3,308		—
2000	3,287		−0.6%
2010	3,085		−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,287 people, 1,290 households, and 868 families residing in the city. The population density was 721.9 people per square mile (278.9/km²). There were 1,471 housing units at an average density of 323.1 per square mile (124.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.38% White, 0.76% African American, 5.90% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.88% from other races, and 3.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.

There were 1,290 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,401, and the median income for a family was $30,595. Males had a median income of $27,101 versus $17,865 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,172. About 18.5% of families and 23.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Galena's one high school (Galena High) has been known for their sports of late. The boys went to the 3A State basketball tournament in 2006, 2008-2010. The baseball team has been champions twice in 1979 and 2010. The football team has also been to the playoffs, including the state semi-finals in 2009. They have had Boys and Girls Golf State qualifiers also.^{[citation needed]}

In the media

• Galena is home to the International Harvester L-170 truck that became the inspiration for the character "Mater" in Disney's "Cars". The truck sits at 119 N. Main St. by the "Four Women on the Route" diner and souvenir store.
• In the book The Grapes of Wrath, the characters Sairy and Ivy Wilson came from Galena.

Notable people

• James C. Corman (1920–2000), California politician, born in Galena.
• George Grantham (1900-1954), Major League Baseball player

Gallery

• Historic Images of Galena, Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library

• 

  Galena Museum, 2008, former Galena train station for the M-K-T railroad.

• 

  Galena water tower, 2008.

External links

City

• City of Galena
• Galena - Directory of Public Officials

Schools

• USD 499, local school district

Historical

• History of Mining in Galena
• Cherokee County, Skyways

Maps

• Galena City Map, KDOT
• Cherokee County Map, KDOT