Galena, Kansas

History

Although the railroad was built through the territory of Galena in 1871, the town did not start until the discovery of lead there in the spring of 1877. The first post office was established 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 of Galena in 1877, which is named after the lead ore galena found in the area. The city was part of the tri state mining area and had over 30,000 inhabitants. After the mines closed in the 1970s, population decreased.

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 4.62 square miles (11.97 km²), of which, 4.57 square miles (11.84 km²) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) is water. Galena is the eastern end of the segment of U.S. Route 66 that passes through Kansas.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,085 people, 1,198 households, and 792 families residing in the city. The population density was 675.1 inhabitants per square mile (260.7/km²). There were 1,429 housing units at an average density of 312.7 per square mile (120.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.0% White, 0.4% African American, 3.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.6% of the population.

There were 1,198 households of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 39.1 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 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.

In the media

Notable people

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