Editing Galena, Alaska (section)

==History==

===Prehistory and early history===
The Koyukon [[Athabascan]]s had seasonal camps in the area and moved as the wild game migrated. In the summer many families floated on rafts to the [[Yukon River]] 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 1920 near an Athabascan fish camp called Henry's Point. It became a supply and point for nearby [[Galena|lead ore]] mines that opened in 1918 and 1919, and from which Galena takes its name.<ref name="dec">[http://www.dec.state.ak.us/SPAR/CSP/sites/galena.htm state.ak.us]</ref>

===Military air base===
In 1941 and 1942, during World War II,<ref name="dec" /> a military air field was built adjacent to the civilian airport, and the two facilities shared the runway and flight line facilities. This air field was designated Galena Air Force Station shortly after the split of the [[United States Air Force]] from the [[United States Army]], which occurred as a result of the [[National Security Act of 1947]]. During the 1950s, the construction of additional military facilities at Galena and the nearby [[Campion Air Force Station]], in support of Galena's mission as a [[forward operating base]] under the auspices of the 5072nd Air Base Group, headquartered at [[Elmendorf Air Force Base]], near [[Anchorage]], provided improvements to the airport and the local infrastructure, causing economic growth for the area.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

Following the end of the [[Cold War]], in 1993, operation of Galena Air Force Station was turned over to a contractor, and all military personnel were withdrawn with only small groups of active personnel visiting the base on an as-needed basis.<ref name="dec" /> The former military facility remains in use effectively as a [[forward operating site]] that is used{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}<!-- is it still used, in 2013?  no source indicates that it is. --> occasionally by the military. This use came under scrutiny by the [[Base Realignment and Closure]] Committee in the late 2000s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050702-brac-galena.htm|title=BRAC panel questions Galena status}}</ref> and was officially closed October 1, 2010. The Air Force retains responsibility for toxin cleanup in the area and engineers from [[Eielson Air Force Base]] in Fairbanks still visit the site on occasion.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} The base is now totally controlled by the City of Galena, the Galena School District and the Alaska Department of Transportation. The Alaska Wing of the [[Civil Air Patrol]] (CAP) was pursuing{{when|date=October 2013}} retaining one of the F-16 fighter hangars as a CAP facility for the CAP Wing in Galena, the "Yukon Squadron".{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

===Modern era===
[[File:Galena (13883832214).jpg|thumb|A home in Galena that was rebuilt after the flood of 2013]]
The City of Galena gained notoriety in 2011 when it was noted in media reports as being the US community which received the most benefits from lobbying efforts. The town evaded bankruptcy by aggressively lobbying for state and federal funds for the GILA boarding school in the town, which produced funds that turned the city's finances around.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

In May 2013, Galena suffered a catastrophic flood when the spring breakup on the Yukon River caused an ice jam approximately 20 miles downstream, backing up the river and affecting 90% of homes in the city. This flood was on a scale never seen before by Galena residents. In the part of town closest to the river, houses were submerged to the roofs in water, and properties on higher ground suffered damage as well. Most of the residents were able to evacuate in thanks to the efforts of the local airlines, volunteer missionary pilots, and the Alaska National Guard. Some of the residents chose to stay behind and took refuge in the few last remaining dry parts of town. The flood dike the Air Force built around both the runway and the GILA boarding school managed to keep the river from reaching them.<ref>{{cite news
 | last1=Hopkins
 | first1=Kyle
 | last2=Hallinen
 | first2=Bob
 | title=Galena counts its losses from Yukon River flooding
| work=Alaska Dispatch News News
 | date=June 15, 2013
| url=http://www.adn.com/article/20130615/galena-counts-its-losses-yukon-river-flooding
 | access-date=March 17, 2015 }}
</ref>  Efforts were made to help Galena rebuild, with the assistance of the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] and volunteer groups.<ref>{{cite web
|title=FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Open in Galena
|url=https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2013/07/06/4122-fema-disaster-recovery-center-open-galena
|website=fema.gov
|date=July 6, 2013
|access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref>