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.3 By the late 17th century French people began to settle in the area and in the early 19th century American settlers arrived.107 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.11 It is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide and the most important lead ore mineral.12 Native Americans, including the Sac and Fox tribes, mined the ore in Galena for use as body painting.3 In the 1690s French trappers discovered the area and also began mining the lead.101
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 1816.7 Three years later a trading post was built in Galena which led to the first steamboat arriving in 1824.7 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.7
Floods
Due to the city's proximity to the Galena River, buildings have been threatened on numerous occasions by flooding.13 Galena's Congressman, Leo E. Allen, helped acquire funding for city floodgates which were added in 1951.13 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.13
* In 1937, a large flood inundated Main Street with up to five feet of water causing serious damage to downtown buildings.13
* 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 leves.1314
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