[3] For millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans.

From the 16th to 18th centuries, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America.

In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

Fuller's Ranch provided accommodations for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail and was probably the first white settlement in McPherson County.

In 1867, McPherson County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Galva.

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence.

[6] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion through Galva to McPherson was abandoned and removed.

The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Galva to Pratt.

[9] Galva was laid out on land belonging to the Marion & McPherson Railroad Company in September 1879, and it served as a shipping point for grain and cattle.

[10][11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.48 square miles (1.24 km2), all of it land.

[12] Galva is situated on relatively flat topography with a single stream that only runs during wet weather through the south part of town, flowing southwest.

The land is highly productive agriculturally with wheat, milo, soybeans the principal crops.

Oil is still produced within the city limits and in the fields north, south and east of town.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[13] The 2020 United States census counted 834 people, 344 households, and 248 families in Galva.