The Great River Railroad ( reporting mark GTR ) is a 32.45-mile-long (52.22 km) shortline railroad that runs from Rosedale to a connection with the Columbus and Greenville Railway in Greenville, Mississippi .
72-528: Formerly part of Illinois Central Gulf , the railroad segment was purchased by the Port of Rosedale in 1981. The line has been embargoed since 2001. Bolivar County and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (Rock Island Rail) are planning to reopen the rail line. In August 2020, the county owned port authority and Rock Island Rail agreed to start clearing and repairing the infrastructure. GTR has two switcher locomotives, both of them ex- US Army and stored at
144-458: A destination. It is a craft show that attracts thousands of visitors to the area. The once boarded-up Main Street buildings have been renovated since the late 20th century. In 2010, Galena started a campaign called Vision2020, modeled after neighbor Dubuque, Iowa 's Vision 2010. A committee worked on outreach efforts with the community to form a vision of what residents wanted Galena to focus on for
216-464: A dike to prevent city flooding. Galena's Congressman , Leo E. Allen , helped acquire funding for city floodgates which were added in 1951 to connect to the river levee system. Significant recorded floods include: As of the census of 2020 , the population was 3,308. The population density was 736.4 inhabitants per square mile (284.3/km ). There were 2,008 housing units at an average density of 447 per square mile (172.6/km ). The racial makeup of
288-468: A household in the city was $ 45,409, and the median income for a family was $ 53,438. Males had a median income of $ 31,809 versus $ 30,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 24,117. About 5.9% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 7% of those age 65 or over. Galena is the home to the Galena Art Center and
360-547: A large number of specialty shops, restaurants, a brewery, and multiple wineries . Galena's Saint Michael's Church was founded by the pioneer priest Father Samuel Mazzuchelli . The church is named after one of the three Archangels . Opened in 1855, the downtown DeSoto House Hotel is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois. Rooms 209 and 211 of the hotel were used as Ulysses S. Grant's campaign headquarters during his presidential campaign. Future president Abraham Lincoln gave
432-612: A retired colonel in the United States Army , successfully shipped Galena's first boatload of lead ore in 1816 down the Mississippi River. Three years later, Jesse W. Shull built a trading post . The Thomas H. January family, who arrived in 1821 from Maysville, Kentucky , are considered the first permanent American settlers. The next year, the US Department of War assumed control of the mines and leased
504-644: A speech from the hotel's Main Street balcony on July 23, 1856, supporting John Fremont's bid for presidency. Two years later, on July 25, 1858, Senator Stephen Douglas spoke from the same balcony. Other famous guests include Theodore Roosevelt , Mark Twain , Susan B. Anthony , Ralph Waldo Emerson , Horace Greeley , Frances Willard , Elizabeth Cady Stanton , Robert E. Lee , Chief Black Hawk , Millard Fillmore , and Zachary Taylor . General Winfield Scott Hancock stayed in Room 223 for an extended period of time. There are also several resorts and golf courses in
576-580: Is home to Galena High School . Galena was the home to nine Civil War generals. Foremost among these is Ulysses S. Grant, who first came to Galena with his wife Julia and children in 1860 to work in the family tannery and leather-good shop. A veteran of the Mexican–American War , Grant was called upon to train a regiment of volunteers raised in Galena when the Civil War broke out in 1861. Through
648-480: 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,
720-586: Is now inaccessible to steamboats. The first railroad built in Chicago, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad , was intended to join the two cities but construction ended in 1853 at Freeport . Trackage between Freeport and Galena was completed by the Illinois Central Railroad in 1854, and later extended west to Dubuque , Sioux City , and Council Bluffs . Galena received national attention in
792-549: Is one of many tributaries of the Mississippi River . According to the 2010 census, Galena has a total area of 4.167 square miles (10.79 km ), of which 4.16 square miles (10.77 km ) (or 99.83%) is land and 0.007 square miles (0.02 km ) (or 0.17%) is water. Galena is located in the Driftless Zone , an area that was not covered by glaciers during the recent ice ages. This area, which includes
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#1732801371516864-569: The City of New Orleans and the Illini and Saluki between Chicago and Carbondale. Another Illinois corridor service is planned for the former Black Hawk route between Chicago, Rockford and Dubuque. Amtrak, at the state of Illinois' request, did a feasibility study to reinstate the Black Hawk route to Rockford and Dubuque. Initial capital costs range from $ 32 million to $ 55 million, depending on
936-723: The 45th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment , was also brevetted a major general. Ely S. Parker drafted the Appomattox surrender terms of the Confederacy and was the only Native American general of the Union. President Grant appointed him Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1869. John Aaron Rawlins , who served a term as city attorney in 1857, was brevetted in 1865 and briefly served as Grant's Secretary of War . Brevetted brigadier general John C. Smith later served as Illinois Treasurer , Lieutenant Governor , and Grand Master of
1008-486: The Gulf of Mexico . Another line connected Chicago west to Sioux City, Iowa (1870), while smaller branches reached Omaha, Nebraska (1899) from Fort Dodge, Iowa , and Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1877), from Cherokee, Iowa . The IC also ran service to Miami , Florida, on trackage owned by other railroads. The IC, founded in 1851, pioneered the financing later used by several long distance U.S. railroads whose construction
1080-639: The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad ( reporting mark ICG ). October 30 of that year saw the Illinois Central Gulf commuter rail crash , the company's deadliest. At the end of 1980, ICG operated 8,366 miles of railroad on 13,532 miles of track; that year it reported 33,276 million ton-miles of revenue freight and 323 million passenger-miles. Later in that decade, the railroad spun off most of its east–west lines and many of its redundant north–south lines, including much of
1152-590: The Memphis and Charleston Railroad at Grand Junction, Tennessee and the Mobile and Ohio Railroad at Jackson, Tennessee. The Mississippi Central was the scene of several military actions from 1862 to 1863 and was severely damaged during the fighting. Company president, Absolom M. West succeeded in repairing the damage and returning it to operating condition soon after the end of the War. By 1874, interchange traffic with
1224-698: The Panama Limited, the Electric District appears as "Panama Orange" on Metra system maps and timetables. Additionally, the IC operated a second commuter line out of Chicago (the West Line ) which served Chicago's western suburbs. Unlike the electrified commuter service, the West Line did not generate much traffic and was eliminated in 1931. Amtrak presently runs three trains daily over this route,
1296-714: The Sioux , first noted lead deposits in the Upper Mississippi Valley . A 1703 French map identified the northwestern Illinois area as mines de plumb . Northwestern Illinois was inhabited by the Sauk and Meskwaki when the French arrived. In the 1690s, French trappers discovered the area and began mining the lead. However, conflicts with the Sioux prevented large-scale mining until Julien Dubuque's Mines opened across
1368-614: The "Pearl and Leaf Rivers Railroad" was built by the J.J. Newman Lumber Company from Hattiesburg , to Sumrall . In 1904 the name was changed to the Mississippi Central Railroad ( reporting mark MSC ). In 1906 the Natchez and Eastern Railway was formed to build a rail line from Natchez to Brookhaven . In 1909 this line was absorbed by the Mississippi Central. For a short time during the 1920s,
1440-438: The 1860s as the home of Ulysses S. Grant . Following a sharp decline in the demand for lead (which had been the city's chief income source during the early 19th century), Galena's population has dropped from 14,000 in the mid-19th century, to 3,396 in the early 21st century. Galena's official flag was adopted in 1976 to symbolize mining , agriculture , steamboats , and the nine American Civil War generals who lived in
1512-510: The 1880s, northern lines were built to Dodgeville, Wisconsin ; Sioux Falls, South Dakota ; and Omaha, Nebraska . Further expansion continued into the early twentieth century. The Illinois Central, and the other "Harriman lines" owned by E.H. Harriman by the twentieth century, became the target of the Illinois Central shopmen's strike of 1911 . Although marked by violence and sabotage in the southern, midwestern, and western states,
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#17328013715161584-665: The Galena Arts and Recreation Center. Turner Hall, a 19th-century building on Bench St., has been restored to serve as a performance venue and a popular wedding site. Galena is also home to several historic sites owned by the State of Illinois including the Old Market House, the Ulysses S Grant Home , and the E.B. Washburn Home . The Galena/Jo Daviess County Historical Society also owns a number of historical sites including
1656-573: The Galena and U.S. Grant Museum and the Old Blacksmith Shop. They are building a new museum building at the site of the Stillman Mansion property. Galena hosts dozens of major events a year, including the annual Halloween Parade which draws thousands of onlookers. Galena is a popular tourist destination hosting well over one million visitors each year. Galena is also popular with Chicagoans, many of whom keep second homes in
1728-568: The Galena area. In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, Galena Main Street was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places by the American Institute of Architects Illinois component (AIA Illinois) and was recognized by USA Today Travel magazine, as one of AIA Illinois' selections for Illinois 25 Must See Places. John O. Hancock opened the first school in September 1826. The Galena Academy followed in 1832. Galena
1800-633: The Illinois Central Railroad was important enough that the IC installed a Nutter hoist at Cairo, Illinois to interchange between its standard gauge equipment broad gauge used by the Mississippi Central. This allowed the trucks to be exchanged on 16-18 freight cars per hour; a Pullman car could be changed in 15 minutes. The original Mississippi Central line was merged into the Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad in several transactions finally completed in 1878. A line started in 1897 as
1872-603: The Port of Rosedale "Port of Rosedale Website" . Retrieved 17 November 2011 . Illinois Central Gulf The Illinois Central Railroad ( reporting mark IC ), sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America , was a railroad in the Central United States . Its primary routes connected Chicago , Illinois, with New Orleans, Louisiana , and Mobile, Alabama , and thus, the Great Lakes to
1944-405: The United States government controlled leases, after which the lands were put up for sale. In 1839, David Dale Owen made a geologic survey of the region. The Ordovician Galena limestone contained most of the galena ore, and peak productivity occurred between 1840 and 1850. By 1845 Galena was producing nearly 27,000 tons of lead ore annually, and Jo Daviess County was producing 80 percent of
2016-489: The United States. The original Mississippi Central line was chartered in 1852. Construction of the 255 miles (410 km) 5 ft ( 1,524 mm ) gauge line began in 1853 and was completed in 1860, just prior to the Civil War , from Canton, Mississippi to Jackson, Tennessee . The southern terminus of the line connected to the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad at Canton. It also connected to
2088-458: The adoption of a comprehensive plan. The plan outlines details on burying utilities, replacing parking with bike lanes and several beautification initiatives. This historic district has garnered the attention of dozens of volunteer groups who work to beautify and increase the utility of the area. As the premier street in the second most popular tourist destination in Illinois those planning Main Street must be focused on balancing new developments along
2160-568: The area. Galena is largely popular as a result of its historic walkable urbanism, a rarity among American cities. 85 percent of the structures in Galena are within the Galena Historic District , which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and greatly contributes to the city's popularity. The Old Market House State Historic Site , built in 1845, is a museum of local social history . Main Street
2232-509: The board of trustees. Charles S. Hempstead was elected the first mayor, with 185 of the 356 votes cast. The first US census of the town was also held that year, recording 1,900 inhabitants. Hempstead would serve until 1845. Indigenous peoples of the Americas traded galena with French traders as early as 1692. Julien Dubuque mined the ore in Iowa from 1788 until 1810. From 1807 until 1834,
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2304-580: The citizens gave him an Italianate two-story brick house, today recognized as the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site. He was selected as the candidate of the Republican Party for the 1868 presidential election . Grant was elected and served two four-year terms. He did not return to Galena. Augustus Louis Chetlain , who captained the regiment that Grant trained, was later brevetted to major general. Jeweler John E. Smith , who raised
2376-531: The city was 87.5% White , 0.8% Black or African American , 0.6% Asian , 0.5% Native American , 4.4% from other races , and 6.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 10.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the census of 2010, there were 3,429 people, 1,632 households, and 896 families residing in the city. The population density was 819.4 inhabitants per square mile (316.4/km ). There were 1,960 housing units at an average density of 470.0 per square mile (181.5/km ). The racial makeup of
2448-536: The city was 93.6% White , 0.5% African American , 0.7% Native American , 0.6% Asian , 3.7% from other races , and 1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.3% of the population. There were 1,632 households, out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.9% had someone living alone who
2520-541: The city. It stands at 1,063 feet (324 m) above sea level. Galena has a humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification : Dfa), with cold winters and hot summers. Annual precipitation is about 36 inches, with a distinct peak in summer. Because of the city's proximity to the Galena River, buildings have been threatened on numerous occasions by flooding. Eventually the Army Corps of Engineers built
2592-429: The city. Until the late 1980s, Galena was a small rural farming community. In 1990, local industries included a Kraft Foods cheese plant, Lemfco Foundry, John Westwick's foundry, and Microswitch, Inc. In the 1980s, Galena Mayor Frank Einsweiler initiated a tourist campaign. Since that time Galena's business district has emphasized its historic assets in the face of suburban development. Such long-standing businesses in
2664-702: The company to construct a line from the mouth of the Ohio River to Chicago and on to Galena . Federal support, however, was not approved until 1850, when U.S. President Millard Fillmore signed a land grant for the construction of the railroad. The Illinois Central was the first land-grant railroad in the United States. The Illinois Central was chartered by the Illinois General Assembly on February 10, 1851. Senator Stephen A. Douglas and later President Abraham Lincoln were both Illinois Central men who lobbied for it. Douglas owned land near
2736-685: The downtown area, including Stair's Grocery, Sullivan's Grocery, Clingman's Pharmacy, the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in Illinois, and Hartig Drug , closed their downtown locations. Clingman's and Hartig's relocated to the outskirts of Galena, while Stair's and Sullivan's closed their doors permanently because of competition. In late 2010, Clingman's joined the Hartig's family and moved their pharmacy to Hartig's Drugs location along Highway 20. The Country Fair in Grant Park has been an attraction that has helped increase tourist traffic to Galena as
2808-433: The end of 1970, IC operated 6,761 miles of road and 11,159 of track. In 1960, the railroad retired its last steam locomotive, 2-8-2 Mikado #1518. On August 31, 1962, the railroad was incorporated as Illinois Central Industries, Inc. ICI acquired Abex Corporation (formerly American Brake Shoe and Foundry Co.) in 1968. On August 10, 1972, the Illinois Central Railroad merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad to form
2880-419: The far northwestern corner of Illinois, escaped glaciation, while almost the entire state was glaciated, nearly to its southern tip. Because it escaped glaciation, this area is known for its hills, valleys, bluffs and considerable exposed rock. Horseshoe Mound is a hill located outside Galena that U.S. 20 winds around before entering Galena. The view from Horseshoe Mound is one of the most photographed spots in
2952-439: The first trustees. Incorporation was approved by the county board of trustees on October 2, and the first meeting of trustees occurred the next day. The 15th Illinois General Assembly (1836–37) codified the trustee election process. A steamboat was selected as the town seal on May 22, 1837. A state law governing local jurisdictions resulted in the town holding its first elections for mayor and aldermen on May 24, 1841, to replace
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3024-479: The former GM&O. Most of these lines were bought by other railroads, including entirely new railroads such as the Chicago, Missouri and Western Railway ; Paducah and Louisville Railway ; Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad ; and MidSouth Rail Corporation . In 1988, the railroad's parent company, IC Industries, spun off its remaining rail assets and changed its name to Whitman Corporation. On February 29, 1988,
3096-541: The growth of the city led settlers to encroach on native land claims, as they sought new veins of lead. Following a murder of a pioneer family near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin , by the Winnebago, Galena closed its mines for safety and European-American residents prepared for war. They constructed forts at nearby Elizabeth and Apple River ; although these were not used during the conflict, the forts provided residents with security and protection. The ensuing Winnebago War
3168-501: The lands out to operators. A large group of colonists led by Dr. Moses Meeker and James Harris arrived in 1823. Steamboat trade began in 1824. The first official lease of the mines on behalf of the US government was dated September 30, 1822 and made to James Johnson , brother of US Senator Richard Mentor Johnson . Martin Thomas, appointed by the government in 1824 to oversee mine leases,
3240-583: The lead in the United States. In 1852, the region produced 87 percent of the American output, and 10 percent of the world's, with pollutants from Galena's industry found as far away as Lake Matoaka in Tidewater Virginia . Once one of the most important cities in the state, Galena was a hub on the Mississippi River between St. Louis and St. Paul . Due to erosion, the Galena River
3312-463: The line operated a service named "The Natchez Route", running trains from Natchez to Mobile, Alabama through trackage agreements with the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad . At Natchez, freight cars were ferried across the Mississippi River to connect with the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway to institute through traffic into Shreveport, Louisiana . In 1967 the property of the Mississippi Central
3384-714: The main route including The Creole and The Louisiane . The Green Diamond was the Illinois Central's premier train between Chicago, Springfield and St. Louis. Other important trains included the Hawkeye which ran daily between Chicago and Sioux City and the City of Miami eventually running every other day between Chicago and Miami via the Atlantic Coast Line , the Central of Georgia Railroad and Florida East Coast Railway . The Illinois Central
3456-632: The most important lead ore . Native Americans mined the ore for use in burial rituals. The Havana Hopewell first traded galena in the area during the Middle Woodland period (c. 1–400 CE). However, the use of galena in the Havana territory is uncertain; very little has been identified in burial mounds. During the Mississippian period (900–1500 CE), galena saw use as body paint . In 1658 French explorers, probably via contact with
3528-466: The newly separated ICG dropped the "Gulf" from its name and again became the Illinois Central Railroad. On February 11, 1998, the IC was purchased for about $ 2.4 billion in cash and shares by Canadian National Railway (CN). Integration of operations began July 1, 1999. Illinois Central was the major carrier of passengers on its Chicago-to-New Orleans mainline and between Chicago and St. Louis. IC also ran passengers on its Chicago-to-Omaha line, though it
3600-409: The next decade: five major concepts have been supported. In 2010, the 32nd annual Halloween Parade attendance was estimated at 15,000. In 2011, TripAdvisor listed Galena among its top-ten "Charming Small Towns". Galena is located at 42°25′5″N 90°25′53″W / 42.41806°N 90.43139°W / 42.41806; -90.43139 (42.418171, −90.431472) along the Galena River , which
3672-581: The operation of the train, the Illinois Central combined the Panama Limited with a coach-only train called the Magnolia Star . On May 1, 1971, Amtrak took over intercity rail service. It retained service over the IC mainline, but dropped the Panama Limited in favor of the City of New Orleans. However, since it did not connect with any other trains in either New Orleans or Chicago, Amtrak moved
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#17328013715163744-490: The passing of the "magic carpet" ride of passenger rail service in the United States, which once dominated travel. The IC was one of the oldest Class I railroads in the United States. The company was incorporated by the Illinois General Assembly on January 16, 1836. Within a few months Rep. Zadok Casey (D-Illinois) introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives authorizing a land grant to
3816-435: The population was estimated at 10,000, rivaling the population of Chicago at the time. Galena developed as the largest steamboat hub on the Mississippi River north of St. Louis . Galena was the home of Ulysses S. Grant and eight other Civil War generals. Today, the city is a tourist destination known for its history, architecture, and resorts. The city is named for galena , the natural form of lead sulfide (PbS) and
3888-452: The present-day shore to the east. Track from Centralia north to Freeport would be abandoned in the 1980s, as traffic to Galena was routed via Chicago. In 1867, the Illinois Central extended its track into Iowa . During the 1870s and 1880s, the IC acquired and expanded railroads in the southern United States. IC lines crisscrossed the state of Mississippi and went as far south as New Orleans, Louisiana , and east to Louisville, Kentucky . In
3960-506: The recently completed Illinois and Michigan Canal . Upon its completion in 1856, the IC was the longest railroad in the world. Its main line went from Cairo, Illinois , at the southern tip of the state, to Galena , in the northwest corner. A branch line went from Centralia (named for the railroad), to the rapidly growing city of Chicago . In Chicago, its tracks were laid along the shore of Lake Michigan and on an offshore causeway downtown, but land-filling and natural deposition have moved
4032-488: The river in 1788. The French named the settlement as La Pointe , and early American settlers adopted this name as "The Point" after the United States acquired the territory in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Early documentation officially records the name as "Fever River" for the wild beans that grew there, an early name for the Galena River . This name did not appear to be widely used. George Davenport ,
4104-509: The route to an overnight schedule and brought back the Panama Limited name. However, it restored the City of New Orleans name in 1981, while retaining the overnight schedule. This was to capitalize on the popularity of a song about the train written by Steve Goodman and performed by Arlo Guthrie . Willie Nelson 's recording of the song was #1 on the Hot Country Charts in 1984. Illinois Central ran several other trains along
4176-460: The route. Once in operation, the service would require roughly $ 5 million a year in subsidies from the state. On December 10, 2010, IDOT announced the route choice for the resumption of service to begin in 2014 going over mostly CN railway. Presidents of the Illinois Central Railroad have included: Several locomotives and rolling stock formerly owned and used by Illinois Central are preserved, and many of them reside in parks and museums across
4248-569: The strike was effectively over in a few months. The railroads simply hired replacements, among them African-American strikebreakers, and withstood diminishing union pressure. The strike was eventually called off in 1915. The totals above do not include the Waterloo RR, Batesville Southwestern, Peabody Short Line or CofG and its subsidiaries. On December 31, 1925, IC/Y&MV/G&SI operated 6,562 route-miles on 11,030 miles of track; A&V and VS&P added 330 route-miles and 491 track-miles. At
4320-468: The support of local congressman Elihu B. Washburne , Grant became Galena's first general when promoted by Abraham Lincoln on May 17, 1861. Washburne later served a brief stint as Grant's Secretary of State and then as Minister to France . Victories at Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain prompted Lincoln to promote Grant to lieutenant general on March 3, 1864, giving him command of all Union Armies . Grant returned victorious to Galena in 1865 and
4392-587: The terminal in Chicago. Lincoln was a lawyer for the railroad. Illinois legislators appointed Samuel D. Lockwood , recently retired from the Illinois Supreme Court (who may have given both lawyers the oral examination before admitting them to the Illinois bar), as a trustee on the new railroad's board to guard the public's interest. Lockwood, who would serve more than two decades until his death, had overseen federal land monies shortly after Illinois' statehood, then helped oversee early construction of
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#17328013715164464-517: The waterway, and the transition to commercial stores with the charm provided by natural areas and long standing businesses. Trolley Cars follow parade routes north and south on Main Street and connect shopping to parks and wineries. The town is home to several wineries in the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA . In the area, there are 450 vineyards and 100 wineries available to visit. Main Street in downtown Galena has
4536-449: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.71. In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 19, 4.2% from 20 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males. The median income for
4608-524: Was also a major operator of commuter trains in the Chicago area, operating what eventually became the "IC Electric" line from Randolph Street Terminal in downtown Chicago to the southeast suburbs. In 1987, IC sold this line to Metra , who operates it as the Metra Electric District . It still operates out of what is now Millennium Station , which is still called "Randolph Street Terminal" by many longtime Chicago-area residents. In honor of
4680-455: Was commissioned to survey the mines in 1826. The name "Galena" was purportedly proposed during a town meeting that year; rejected names included Jackson, Harrison, and Jo Daviess. After Thomas platted the town, starting in June 1827, settlers could lease plots from the government. The land remained in government possession until the leasing system was eased out in 1836–37. When Jo Daviess County
4752-505: Was founded in 1827, Galena was named its county seat. This established the first courts in Galena; previous legal proceedings were heard in front of the Superintendent of Lead Mines. 21 million pounds of lead were mined in Galena from 1825 to 1828, and the population skyrocketed in that time from 200 to 10,000. Local native tribes, then mostly Meskwaki and Ho-Chunk, permitted settlers to mine in established areas in Galena. However,
4824-448: Was little more than a skirmish, but as a result, the US annexed more lands near the city in the resulting 1829 Treaty of Prairie du Chien which they forced on the Winnebago. A meeting of townspeople on February 1, 1830, established the first fire department. At a town meeting at the county courthouse on September 7, 1835, sixty-five residents approved a motion for incorporation as a town. Eight days later, five individuals were elected as
4896-618: Was never among the top performers on this route. Illinois Central's largest passenger terminal, Central Station , stood at 12th Street east of Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Due to the railroad's north–south route from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes, Illinois Central passenger trains were one means of transport during the African American Great Migration of the 1920s. Illinois Central's most famous train
4968-418: Was one of the first in the state to require architectural review of exterior building modifications. Zoning restrictions against wood-structure buildings contributed to the prevalence of brick buildings. All along Main Street the architectural style and historic feel create a unique atmosphere. Efforts to improve the existing infrastructure while preserving the character of this neighborhood continued in 2003 with
5040-438: Was partially financed through a federal land grant . The Canadian National Railway , via Grand Trunk Corporation , acquired control of the IC in 1998, and absorbed its operations the following year. The Illinois Central Railroad maintains its corporate existence as a non-operating subsidiary. In 1971, Steve Goodman released a folk anthem, " City of New Orleans " about riding on Illinois Central's "Monday-morning rail" train and
5112-422: Was sold to the Illinois Central Railroad. Notes Bibliography Further reading Galena, Illinois Galena is the largest city in and the county seat of Jo Daviess County, Illinois , United States. 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
5184-461: Was the Panama Limited , a premier all-Pullman car service between Chicago and New Orleans, with a section breaking off at Carbondale to serve St. Louis. In 1949, it added a daytime all-coach companion, the City of New Orleans , which operated with a St. Louis section breaking off at Carbondale and a Louisville section breaking off at Fulton, Kentucky . In 1967, due to losses incurred by
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