The Old Market House, currently being operated as the Galena Welcome Center, is a brick building built in the Greek Revival style in 1845 in Galena, Illinois.

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5 on the National Register · 1 National Historic Landmark · #59 in ILHistoric places →

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The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Galena

City in Illinois, United States

1826Established

3,308Population

4.4 sq miArea

633 ftElevation

Galena is the largest city in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 3,308 at the 2020 census. A 581-acre (235 ha) section of the city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Galena Historic District. The city is named for the mineral galena, which was in the ore that formed the basis for the region's early lead mining economy. Native Americans, primarily Meskwaki, Ho-Chunk, Sauk, and Menominee had mined galena in the area for more than a thousand years before European Americans settled in the area. Owing to these deposits, Galena was the site of the first major mineral rush in the United States. By 1828, the population w…

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How Galena ranks

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#21Shortest commute in IL #18Highest graduation rate in IL #100Fewest smokers in IL All IL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code61036

Area code815

Living in Galena

Housing in Galena

$309K▲ 1.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Galena home is worth about $309,000, up 1.8% in a year, close to the Illinois typical home.

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Work & commute in Galena

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40% of Galena’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Dubuque (13%), The Galena Territory (4%) and East Dubuque (2%). Half commute less than 9 miles.

Dubuque, IA

13%

The Galena Territory

East Dubuque

Davenport, IA

40%Work in townlive and work in Galena 9 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,260Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Galena →

Health in Galena

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 79% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 97% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Illinois

9better than IL·3worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits all close Care 4▲ 3 close Mind 1▲ 4 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.9%Fewer adults facing food insecurityIL 15.9% · better 7.6%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityIL 13.2% · better 11.7%More adults who have had cancerIL 7.6% · worse

Care nearby

Midwest Medical CenterGalena · 2.7 mi · ER · rural critical access

Crescent Community Health CenterDubuque · 13.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Galena · CMS · HRSAHealth in Galena →

Natural hazards in Galena

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 59% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

18Does Galena flood?paid flood claims since 1985 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Galena MapGalena vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Galena →

Climate in Galena

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Galena has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

31° / 15°Winter

58° / 38°Spring

81° / 61°Summer

61° / 41°Fall