Herkimer (village), New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herkimer, New York
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Village
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Herkimer Municipal Hall, September 2009
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_Herkimer_NY.png)
Location within Herkimer County
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 Herkimer (village), New York
Location in New York
Herkimer (village), New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Herkimer |
| Town | Herkimer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.70 sq mi (7.00 km2) |
| • Land | 2.59 sq mi (6.70 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2) |
| Elevation | 384 ft (117 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,234 |
| • Density | 2,795.21/sq mi (1,079.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13350
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| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-34121 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0952621 |
Herkimer is a charming village in New York. It sits on the north side of the Mohawk River. Herkimer is also the main town, or county seat, of Herkimer County. It is located about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Utica.
According to the 2020 Census, Herkimer had a population of 7,234 people. The village is named after the Herkimer family. They were Palatine German immigrants who settled here in 1723. A famous family member was Nicholas Herkimer, a general during the American Revolutionary War. He was injured in the Battle of Oriskany.
Herkimer is unique because its residents are served by three levels of government with the same name. These are the village, the town, and the county of Herkimer. Herkimer County Community College is also located in the northwest part of the village. It was founded in 1966.
Contents
Welcome to Herkimer, New York!
A Glimpse into Herkimer's Past
Early Settlements and Palatine Germans
For many centuries, the Iroquois Mohawk Native American people lived in this region. Their villages were connected by paths along the Mohawk River. In the early 1700s, they had two main villages in the Mohawk River Valley.
Many Palatine Germans arrived in New York in the early 1700s. They were seeking a new home away from religious conflicts in Europe. Queen Anne's government helped them travel to the New York Colony. In 1710, about 2,800 Germans arrived in present-day Manhattan. They first worked along the Hudson River to help make supplies for the British navy. Later, some moved upriver to settle along Schoharie Creek.
In 1722, Governor William Burnet allowed the Palatines to buy land from the Mohawk Nation. This land was near where West Canada Creek meets the Mohawk River. Many more settlers arrived between 1723 and 1725. They settled on both sides of the Mohawk River. This area was first called "Burnetsfield" after the governor.
The Burnetsfield Patent, granted in 1725, gave 100-acre (0.40 km2) lots to about 90 families. The area was also known as "German Flatts." This was because most settlers were German and the land was flat. It was the first European settlement this far west in the Mohawk Valley.
Soon after 1722, a blockhouse and a church were built in the village. This site later became the Reformed Church. A schoolhouse was also built in 1745.
Life During Wars: French and Indian, Revolutionary
During the French and Indian War, the town was attacked twice. French forces and their Native American allies attacked in 1757 and 1758. About 30 settlers lost their lives. Captain Nicholas Herkimer defended the fort, gathering settlers inside for safety.
The town faced several attacks during the Revolutionary War. Loyalists and Iroquois allies raided German settlements. Fort Dayton helped defend the village. In one event, some children who had been living with the Onondaga people returned to their families after the war. One child, Nicholas, had been adopted by an Onondaga chief and decided to stay with the tribe. He kept in touch with his birth family. He lived with the Onondaga on a reservation near Syracuse. He became an interpreter and negotiator.
The village of Herkimer was attacked for the last time in the war in 1782. About 500 Tories and Iroquois attacked. Two residents were killed. Most people reached the safety of the fort. Many horses and cattle were taken or killed. Several houses and barns were also burned.
Herkimer Becomes a Village
In 1788, the township of Herkimer was formed. The area became known as the "Village of Herkimer." In 1791, Herkimer County was created, and the village became its county seat. By 1797, the village had a courthouse, a jail, and a Reformed Dutch Church. It had about 40 houses and 250 people. The village officially became incorporated in 1807.
In the early 1800s, Herkimer had several businesses. These included whiskey distilleries and places to make potash. By the mid-1800s, the village had train service. The New York Central & Hudson River Railroad connected Herkimer to other towns. An electric trolley also linked villages like Little Falls and Syracuse. The Erie Canal, built from 1817 to 1825, also helped trade. It connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River.
Francis E. Spinner, a Herkimer native, was the treasurer of the United States during the time of President Lincoln. A statue of him stands in Myers Park today.
By the late 1800s, the village had a public library. The Folts Mission Institute opened in 1893. It was a training school for young women. In 1907, a monument was built to honor General Herkimer.
Many historic buildings in Herkimer are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Herkimer County Courthouse, the Herkimer County Jail, and The Reformed Church. In 2000, the United States Congress named the historic Erie Canal route as the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Herkimer village is part of this important area.
Exploring Herkimer's Geography
Herkimer is located in central New York state. It is roughly halfway between Syracuse and Albany. You can reach it from exit 30 on the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90). New York State Route 5 and New York State Route 28 also pass through the village. Herkimer has a total area of about 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2). A small part of this area is covered by water.
Rivers, Creeks, and Wildlife Areas
Herkimer is where the Mohawk River meets West Canada Creek. The Plantation Island State Wildlife Management Area is nearby. It covers about 300 acres (1.2 km2) of the Mohawk River floodplain. There is also a smaller wildlife area for fishing on West Canada Creek.
Discovering Herkimer Diamonds
The Herkimer area is famous for its unique quartz crystals. These crystals are known as "Herkimer diamonds." They look like real diamonds but are not. They are sometimes used in jewelry. These crystals formed in ancient limestone and dolomite rock. This happened long ago from groundwater action.
Many people enjoy searching for these crystals. You can visit commercial mines to look for them. Finding a crystal still partly in its host rock is considered very lucky!
Herkimer's Community and Life
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,220 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,359 | 93.4% | |
| 1900 | 5,555 | — | |
| 1910 | 7,420 | 33.6% | |
| 1920 | 10,453 | 40.9% | |
| 1930 | 10,446 | −0.1% | |
| 1940 | 9,617 | −7.9% | |
| 1950 | 9,400 | −2.3% | |
| 1960 | 9,396 | 0.0% | |
| 1970 | 8,960 | −4.6% | |
| 1980 | 8,383 | −6.4% | |
| 1990 | 7,945 | −5.2% | |
| 2000 | 7,498 | −5.6% | |
| 2010 | 7,743 | 3.3% | |
| 2020 | 7,234 | −6.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 | |||
As of the 2000 census, 7,498 people lived in Herkimer. There were 3,184 households. The village had a population density of about 3,107 people per square mile (1,200/km2).
Getting Around Herkimer
Interstate 90
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 28
News and Learning in Herkimer
Herkimer has one daily newspaper, the Times Telegram. It is published in nearby Utica. Herkimer is also part of the Utica media market. Three radio stations are licensed to Herkimer: WNRS (1420 AM), WXUR (92.7 FM), and WVHC (91.5 FM). WVHC is licensed to Herkimer County Community College.
The village is part of the Herkimer Central School District. Herkimer County Community College is a two-year college in the northwestern part of the village.
Sports and Famous Faces
The Herkimer Originals are a basketball team. They have played in the American Basketball Association since 2021. They use local places like Herkimer County Community College for their games.
- George Cogar (1932–1983), computer pioneer, businessman
- Scott Flansburg (born 1963), known for speed of mental calculation
- Jonas Folts (1808–1876), Wisconsin State Assemblyman and farmer
- Nicholas Herkimer (c. 1728–1777), American Revolutionary War general
- Charles S. Millington (1855–1913), U.S. congressman
- Donald J. Mitchell (1923–2003), U.S. congressman
- H.M. Quackenbush (1847–1933), inventor and industrialist
- Francis E. Spinner (1802–1890), treasurer of the United States during the Lincoln administration
- Abram B. Steele (1845–1913), lawyer and member of the New York State Assembly
- Horace H. Witherstine (1852–1924), physician and Minnesota state senator
See also
In Spanish: Herkimer (villa) para niños
