Biohazard and Crime Scene Remediation in Galena, AK

Galena is a first-class city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, on the north bank of the Yukon River about 45 miles east of Nulato, with the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge lying to its southwest.

Galena takes its name from the lead ore, galena, mined nearby; it grew up around 1918 to 1920 as a supply point for lead mines that opened in 1918 and 1919, near an Athabascan fish camp called Henry's Point.

The Koyukon Athabascan name for Galena is Notaalee Denh, and the area long held seasonal Koyukon camps and summer fish camps along the Yukon River.

Galena was formally incorporated as a city on October 26, 1971.

At the 2020 census, Galena had a population of 472, slightly up from 470 in 2010, with 178 households.

During World War II, a military airfield was built adjacent to the civilian airport in 1941 and 1942, later designated Galena Air Force Station; it operated as a forward operating base through the Cold War, was turned over to a contractor in 1993, and was officially closed on October 1, 2010.

In May 2013, Galena suffered a catastrophic flood when a spring ice jam on the Yukon River backed water up into the city, affecting 90 percent of homes, with houses near the river submerged to their roofs.

Galena is inaccessible by road to other parts of Alaska, so residents rely on summer river cargo and on planes, boats, or snowmachines to reach the outside world.

The city operates its own school district, the Galena City School District, as required by state law for incorporated cities in the Unorganized Borough.

Galena City School serves local kindergarten through 12th grade students, and its public library sits in the Sidney C. Huntington School, named for longtime resident and author of Shadows on the Koyukuk.