Galena, Alaska
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Galena is a city located in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 675.
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Geography
Galena is located at 64°44'26" North, 156°53'8" West (64.740643, -156.885462)Template:GR.
Galena is located on the north bank of the Yukon River, 72 km (45 miles) east of Nulato. The Innoko National Wildlife Refuge is southwest of Galena.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 62.1 km² (24.0 mi²). 46.3 km² (17.9 mi²) of it is land and 15.8 km² (6.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 25.41% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 675 people, 216 households, and 149 families residing in the city. The population density is 14.6/km² (37.8/mi²). There are 259 housing units at an average density of 5.6/km² (14.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 30.22% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 63.41% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 4.44% from two or more races. 1.93% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 216 households out of which 49.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% are married couples living together, 12.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% are non-families. 24.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.83 and the average family size is 3.44.
In the city the population is spread out with 37.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 28 years. For every 100 females there are 121.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 123.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $61,125, and the median income for a family is $70,250. Males have a median income of $46,563 versus $37,000 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,143. 10.2% of the population and 1.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.4% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
The Koyukon Athabascans had seasonal camps in the area and moved as the wild game migrated. In the summer many families floated on rafts to the Yukon River to fish for salmon. There were 12 summer fish camps located on the Yukon River between the Koyukuk River and the Nowitna River. Galena was established in 1918 near an Athabascan fish camp called Henry's Point. It became a supply and point for nearby lead ore mines that opened in 1918 and 1919.
In 1920, Athabascans living upriver at Louden began moving to Galena to sell wood to steamboats and to work hauling freight for the mines. A school was established in Galena in the mid-1920s. In World War II and air field, the Galena Air Force Station, was built. During the 1950s, the construction of military facilities at the Galena and Campion Air Force Stations, airport and road developments, caused economic growth in Galena.
There were floods in 1945 and 1971. Because of the floods, a new townsite, called New Town, was chosen at Alexander Lake, about 2 1/2 km (1 1/2 miles) east of the original townsite. The city offices, the health clinic, schools, store, and more than 150 homes were constructed at New Town.
The Air Force Station was closed in 1993.