Galena is located in Jo Daviess County in the state of Illinois, United States. It serves as the county seat and is the largest city within the county. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 3,308.
The city was named after galena, a mineral found in local ore that formed the foundation of the region's early lead mining economy. A significant portion of the city, encompassing a 581-acre area known as the Galena Historic District, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.