Galva is a hopping small town in northwestern Illinois
Galva is one of several small cities between the larger hubs of Galesburg and Kewanee in northwestern Illinois. Its early railroad days earned it the motto “The City of Go.” “It’s a hopping, industrious little place,” says Tom Knapp, designated manager and broker for Re/Max Preferred Properties with 35 years of local experience. In 2014, two local businessmen founded the Back Road Music Festival, a country music concert series that takes place among the cornfields at Galva Park. The festival has become a destination event, drawing thousands to the city every summer.
Galva parks offer sports, playgrounds and shaded spots
On the southern side of the city, the Back Road Music Festival brings plenty of tourists to Galva Park, but the park is also a popular gathering spot for locals. Tall evergreen trees line the memorial walkway near baseball and softball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, a playground, a swimming pool and room for picnics. The smaller Wiley Park is close to the library and several churches, with a nine-hole disc golf course and plenty of shady spots. The fountain and memorial at Veterans Park offer space for rest and reflection near the downtown area. Residents who live near the railroad tracks west of downtown can walk to the shaded picnic spots and playground at Washington Park.
Tree-lined streets with a blend of early 1900s and midcentury homes
Most homes in the central section of town date to the early 1900s, but ranch-style homes built between 1950 and 1980 are also in the mix. Mature trees border the narrow residential streets, some of which include paved sidewalks. Lot sizes typically measure up to a quarter of an acre, with gravel driveways and detached garages. Nationals, Foursquares and bungalows sell for $50,000 to $100,000, while ranch-style homes cost $100,000 to $170,000. Some larger two-story houses sell for $170,000 to $230,000. Galva has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Back Road Music Festival is the highlight of the social calendar
Thousands of celebrants head to Galva Park every August for the Back Road Music Festival. Cornfields and windmills provide the backdrop to the full-day event, which lasts well into the night with food, beverages and big-name country artists. Alabama and BlackHawk headlined the 2025 event. Galva Park is also popular for watching the Fourth of July fireworks during Galva’s Freedom Fest. Wiley Park hosts the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series throughout June and July with ten weeks of Sunday evening concerts representing multiple genres. Around 80 percent of Galva’s residents share Scandinavian ancestry, and the neighboring historic village of Bishop Hill keeps old-world traditions alive. Cultural events fill the calendar, but September’s Jordbruksdagarna (Agricultural Days) celebration and the Julmarknad (Christmas Market) are the highlights.
Galva schools offer basic academics and a college option nearby
Galva Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade and receives a C-plus from Niche. For grades 7 through 12, students move to the B-minus-rated Galva Junior/Senior High School, where they can participate in the quiz-based Scholastic Bowl. Black Hawk College East Campus, a community college and trade school, is about 6 miles away.
Downtown offers coffee, pub fare and household essentials
Galva’s compact and walkable downtown offers several locally owned shops and eateries. Java fans can fuel up at the drive-through window at The Old Bank Coffee & Tea, and Uncle Nolan’s Diner serves hearty fare at breakfast and lunch. The garlic-breaded cheese curds and other pub grub favorites at Crescent City Tap have a strong local following. Takeout pizza is available at Casey’s General Store, a popular regional chain. Hathaway’s Hardware and Fresh Market has a grocery selection to supplement its household tools, home décor and garden supplies. Most residents head to Aldi, Walmart or Sullivan’s Foods in Kewanee for bigger grocery hauls.
Route 34 links to health care, rail lines and an airport
U.S. Route 34, the city’s main thoroughfare, offers the best starting point for the 10-mile drive to Kewanee and the 25-mile ride to Galesburg. In Kewanee, travelers can access the nearest Amtrak station and health care services at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center. More Amtrak lines serve the Galesburg station. Quad Cities International Airport in Moline is about 45 miles away, and commuters to Peoria have a 50-mile drive.
