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Galena
(guh-LEE-nuh); a.k.a. Louden
For Photos of Galena click here
| Current Population: |
580
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
1st Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 3%,
Property: None, Special: None
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Galena is located on the north bank of the Yukon River, 45 miles east of Nulato and 270 air miles west of Fairbanks. It lies northeast of the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge. The community
lies at approximately 64.733330° North Latitude
and -156.927500° West Longitude.
(Sec. 06, T009S, R010E, Kateel River Meridian.)
Galena is located in the
Nulato Recording District.
The area encompasses 17.9
sq. miles of land and 6.1 sq. miles
of water.
The area experiences a cold, continental climate with extreme temperature differences. The average daily high temperature during July is in the low 70s; the average daily low temperature during January ranges from 10 to below 0 °F. Sustained temperatures of -40 °F are common during winter. Extreme temperatures have been measured from -64 to 92 °F. Annual precipitation is 12.7 inches, with 60 inches of snowfall annually. The river is ice-free from mid-May through mid-October. |
Topographic
map of
Galena
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The area's Koyukon Athabascans had spring, summer, fall, and winter camps, and moved as the wild game migrated. In the summer, many families would float on rafts to the Yukon 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 old Athabascan fish camp called Henry's Point. It became a supply and trans-shipment point for nearby lead ore mines. In 1920, Athabascans living 14 miles 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 the mid-1920s, and a post office opened in 1932. The Galena Air Field was constructed in World War II. In 1945, the community suffered a major flood. During the 1950s, military facilities at the Galena and Campion Air Force Stations and airport and road developments sparked growth in the community. Due to another severe flood in 1971, a new community site was developed at Alexander Lake, about 1.5 miles east of the original townsite. City offices, the health clinic, schools, a washeteria, a store, and more than 150 homes were constructed at "New Town," and a city government was formed. The Air Force Station was closed in 1993, and the facilities are currently being used by the Galena School District as a boarding school. The base facilities are maintained under contract by the Chugach Development Corporation.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Galena Village (aka Louden Village).
The population of the community consists of 67.4%
Alaska Native or part Native.
The population is mixed Athabascan and non-Native, and traditional festivals attract visitors from other river villages. The establishment of the Galena and Campion Air Force Bases in the 1950s brought growth and change to Galena. Many of Galena's residents were originally from Louden or are descendants of Louden inhabitants. Subsistence food sources include salmon, whitefish, moose, and berries.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 259, and vacant housing units numbered 43.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 18.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 334 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
8.74 percent,
although
32.53 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $61,125, per capita income was $22,143, and
10.16 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from wells and is treated. 28 residences and the school are connected to a piped water and sewer system. 110 households use a flush/haul system. 20 households use honeybuckets, and others have individual septic tanks. Refuse collection and a landfill are provided by the city. The city began operating the landfill, located on the former Campion AFS grounds, in 1997. There is a 200,000 gallon reservoir and a community leach field.
Electricity is provided by City of Galena.
There are 4 schools located in the community,
attended by 3,721
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Edgar Nollner Health Center (907-656-1366); Galena Public Health Office (907-656-1200).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. X-Ray, Laboratory, Dental, Dental X-Ray, and Dark Room are available. Galena is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, river and airport access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide. 911 is fire only.
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Galena serves as the transportation, government, and commercial center for the western Interior. Federal, state, city, school, and village government jobs dominate, but Galena has many other jobs in air transportation and retail businesses. 15 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Other seasonal employment, such as construction work and BLM fire fighting, provide some income. The Illinois Creek gold mine, 50 miles southwest of Galena, closed due to low market prices.
Galena serves as a regional transport center for surrounding villages. The state-owned Edward G. Pitka, Sr., Airport provides the only year-round access. There is a paved, lighted 7,254' long by 150' wide runway and a 2,786' long by 80' wide gravel ski strip adjacent to the main runway. The rivers allow access by cargo barges from mid-May through mid-October. A boat launch was recently completed. Pickups, cars, snowmachines, skiffs, and ATVs are used for local travel. During winter, the frozen rivers are used for travel to Ruby, Koyukuk, Kaltag, and Nulato. A winter trail is available to Huslia. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Galena
P.O. Box 149
Galena, AK 99741
Phone 907-656-1301
Fax 907-656-1769
School District -
Galena City School District
P.O. Box 299
Galena, AK 99741-0299
Phone 907-656-1205
Fax 907-656-2238
E-mail jims@galenanet.com
Web http://www.galenaalaska.org
Village Corporation -
Gana-A' Yoo, Limited
6927 Old Seward Hwy #200
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone 907-569-9599
Fax 907-569-9699
E-mail ganaayoo@arctic.com
Village Council -
Galena Village (aka: Louden Village)
100 Tiger Highway
Galena, AK 99741
Phone 907-656-1711
Fax 907-656-1716
E-mail pcaptainsr@hotmail.com
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Corporation - Doyon, Limited
1 Doyon Place, Suite 300
Fairbanks, AK 99701-2941
Phone 907-459-2000
Fax 907-459-2060
E-mail info@doyon.com
Web http://www.doyon.com
Regional Native Health Corporation - Tanana Chiefs Conference
P.O. Box 129
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907-883-5181
Fax 907-883-1114
E-mail rose.isaac@tananachiefs.org
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