The city of Galesburg is located on Interstate 74 in Northwest Illinois and is approximately 50 miles east of the Mississippi River (see map below).
The Illinois General Assembly organized the city under the provisions of "an Act to Incorporate the City of Galesburg" on February 14, 1857. The city is a home rule municipality and has operated under the Council-Manager form of government since 1956. The City Council is comprised of seven Councilmembers and a Mayor. The Councilmembers are elected, for four-year staggered terms, from defined wards. All city residents elect the Mayor for a four-year term.
Since 1873, the city of Galesburg has been the county seat of Knox County.
Look at Historic Preservation on this site to learn Galesburg's history.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
The City of Galesburg was chartered for the purpose of providing its residents with the following services: police protection, fire protection, water service, garbage collection, recycling collection, landscape waste collection, parks, campground, airport, golf course, indoor swimming pool, water-park, recreational programs, Public Library, community center, cemeteries and the care of streets and sidewalks.