It is close to the triple southern frontier with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. According to the latest census, of 2011, it had a population of 249,732 inhabitants, being the eighth largest city in the country.
The denomination of Galați probably comes from the Celtic tribe of the Gauls, who lived in this area in antiquity, or from the Galitia region, another alternative being the Cuman language called Gala(t), from the Arabian kalhat (fortress).
The economic environment developed around the Naval Shipyard, the Fluvial Port, the Steel Plant and the Mining Port.
In Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, Galați is the port where Count Dracula arrives, fleeing to Transylvania. Galati has long history because it is situated on the banks of the Danube, the most important European fluvial commercial route, the Danube-Main-Rhine navigation channel.
Although the first official historical attestation dates from 1445, Galați developed most certainly long before, starting as a fishing village on the Danube and, in 1913, becoming the third city in the country according to population numbers, after Bucharest and Iași.
Galați had an extraordinary development even if, before 1821, it was burnt to the ground, 3 times, by the Russians, the Otomans and the Greeks. In fact, the development of Galați began after 1830 and, during the Porto-Franco period (1837 - 1883), it became famous, being better known outside the country than within its frontiers, so that important figures of that period, like Alexandru Ioan Cuza and Costache Negri, who were preparing the union of the Romanian principalities, seriously considered Galați for the new capital of the Romanian Principality because of its well-developed commerce and economy.
Important events in the history of Galați:
| 1418: | possible documentary attestation in the list of Romanian Countries under the name of Glaff, possibly referring to Galați. |
| 1445: | first certain documentary a attestation of Galați in “Uricul lui Ştefan Vodă”, son of Alexandru cel Bun, given to Humor Monastery on 23 September. |
| 1484: | Galați is the only port in Moldavia. |
| 1631 | - 1633: The first Catholic wooden church is built here. |
| 1647: | The Fortified Church “Sfânta Precista” is finished, being built out of polished rock from the Roman Fortress of Tirighina-Barboși. |
| 1676: | A Russian mail service is established between Galați and Iași. In the same year, Delacroix notes in his journal that after Iași, Galați is the second largest city in Moldavia. |
| 1775: | The Russian Empire establishes its first Local Consulate. |
| 1805: | France and England establish vice-consulates here. |
| 1821: |
Galați is burnt to the ground for the third time by eterist Greeks and by the Ottomans. Previously, in 1771, it was robbed and set on fire by Tatars and in 1789 by Russians. |
| 1831: | The population of the city reaches 8,605 inhabitants. |
| 1832: | The first school in the county is established. It was called “Sfinții Arhangheli Mihail și Gavriil”. |
| 1834: | The first regular cruises in Galați, on Austrian ships. |
| 1837: | On the 1st of January, Galați is declared a free port (Porto-Franco), together with Brăila. |
| 1846: | A permanent ship cruise is established between Galați and Odessa. The city's first newspaper appears „Dunărea. Jurnal de navigație și de comerciu” (“The Danube. Navigation and trade journal”). |
| 1847: | Galați is visited by Franz Liszt. |
| 1850: | The United States of America establish a vice-consulate here. |
| 1856: | Galați becomes the seat of the European Danube Commission. |
| 1858: | The United States of America transform the vice-consulate into a full consulate. |
| 1867: | “Vasile Alecsandri” High School is established. At present, it is a National College. |
| 1869: | “Mihai Eminescu” park is inaugurated. |
| 1872: | On the 13th of September, King Carol I inaugurates the train station. |
| 1878: | The Military Marine Arsenal is established. |
| 1889: | “V.A. Urechia” Library is established. |
| 1911: | The first statue of the poet Mihai Eminescu is inaugurated. |
| 1914: | Galați had 16 foreign consulates. |
| 1919: | The high school of the Jewish Community is established. |
| 1926: | The first flight in Romania takes place between Galați and Bucharest. |
| 1930: | Galați had 112,000 inhabitants, being the 4th city in the Romanian Kingdom. It had 20 consulates and was considered the most European city in Romania. |
| 1965: | The construction of the Siderurgical Plant in Galați begins. It would become the symbol of the socialist country, associated with industrial independence from the U.S.S.R. |
| 1992 | Galați had 326,000 inhabitants, being the 5th city in Romania. |
| 1995: | The monument of the Revolution Heroes is inaugurated. |
| 2004: | On the 4th of May, the first and the biggest Information Technology Park in the country is established. |
