Galena

History

Galena was founded in 1763 under the name Down's Cross Roads, after William Downs, a local tavern owner. The name was later changed to Georgetown Cross Roads sometime before 1813, and finally to Galena in 1858. The name comes from a supposed silver mine in the vicinity of the town, which extracted the metal from the lead ore known as galena. There is, however, no geological evidence for galena deposits on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and the story is likely apocryphal.

Geography

Galena is located at (39.341680, -75.878444). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,706
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,527
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  5,073
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,291
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,783
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,755
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,723
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  3,717

Largest nearby schools

• Galena Elementary School
  Elementary · Galena · 292 students · 11.7:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2025-10-27
  4 km E of Riverside, Maryland
• M 2.6 — 2021-06-25
  2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
• M 4.1 — 2017-11-30
  3 km NNE of Little Creek, Delaware
• M 2.64 — 2015-01-25
  4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania
• M 2.78 — 2009-07-01
  3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
• M 3.37 — 2008-12-27
  2 km NNE of Landisville, Pennsylvania