Ilion, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ilion, New York
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Village
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 Ilion, New York
Location in New York
Ilion, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Herkimer |
| Towns | German Flatts, Frankfort |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.55 sq mi (6.61 km2) |
| • Land | 2.49 sq mi (6.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 407 ft (124 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,646 |
| • Density | 3,066.99/sq mi (1,184.21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13357
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| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-37275 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0953587 |
Ilion is a small village in Herkimer County, New York, United States. It is part of the Mohawk Valley region. In 2020, about 7,646 people lived there.
The village is mostly in the northern part of the town of German Flatts. A very small piece of it is also in the town of Frankfort. Ilion is located south of the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal.
Contents
History of Ilion
The name "Ilion" comes from an old name for the ancient city of Troy.
Early Settlement and Growth
The first people to settle in the Ilion area were Germans around 1725. They were part of a land grant called the Burnetsfield Patent. These early settlers built their homes along Steele Creek, which flows into the Mohawk River. They also built many mills along the creek.
After the American Revolution, a small community grew in the area. It was first called "New London." Some buildings in this part of the village still use the name "London" today.
Remington Arms and the Erie Canal
Ilion really started to grow around 1816. This was when Eliphalet Remington made his first rifle. He later started the famous Remington Arms company, which made firearms.
The village grew even more when the Erie Canal was finished in 1825. The canal helped with trade and connected the area to products from the Great Lakes region. This made it easier for businesses to grow.
Naming and Incorporation
In 1843, the people of the community wanted a post office. They needed to choose a name for their village. Eliphalet Remington did not want the village named after him. So, they decided to name it Ilion.
The village of Ilion officially became a village in 1852. Ilion is one of only twelve villages in New York that still uses its original special rulebook, called a charter. Most other villages have changed to a more common village law.
Recent Changes
In December 2023, the company RemArms LLC announced a big change. The Remington Arms factory in Ilion would close permanently in March 2024. This meant about 300 jobs would be lost. The factory property was sold to a new owner in December 2024.
Geography of Ilion
Ilion is found in the northwest part of the town of German Flatts. The village covers about 2.55 square miles (6.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
The village is on the south side of the Mohawk River. To its east, you will find the village of Mohawk.
Population of Ilion
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,876 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,711 | 29.0% | |
| 1890 | 4,057 | 9.3% | |
| 1900 | 5,138 | 26.6% | |
| 1910 | 6,588 | 28.2% | |
| 1920 | 10,169 | 54.4% | |
| 1930 | 9,890 | −2.7% | |
| 1940 | 8,927 | −9.7% | |
| 1950 | 9,363 | 4.9% | |
| 1960 | 10,199 | 8.9% | |
| 1970 | 9,808 | −3.8% | |
| 1980 | 9,450 | −3.7% | |
| 1990 | 8,888 | −5.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,610 | −3.1% | |
| 2010 | 8,053 | −6.5% | |
| 2020 | 7,646 | −5.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 8,610 people living in Ilion. There were 3,425 households, which are groups of people living together. The average household had about 2.47 people.
About 26.6% of the people in the village were under 18 years old. The median age, which is the middle age of all the people, was 37 years.
Landmarks in Ilion
The large factory that used to belong to Remington Arms is a very important building in the village. It covers about 1 million square feet. This property once included the Remington Museum and the company's offices.
Several other buildings in Ilion are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. These include:
- The First United Methodist Church
- The Thomas Richardson House
- The Remington Stables
- The United States Post Office
Education in Ilion
For many years, Ilion had its own school district called Ilion Central School District. It had three buildings: Remington Elementary, Barringer Road Elementary, and Ilion Jr/Sr High School. Their sports teams were called the Golden Bombers.
School District Changes
In 2013, the Ilion school district joined with the Mohawk Central School District. Before this, the Ilion district faced some challenges. It was one of the poorer school districts in New York. Many students qualified for free or low-cost lunches.
Even though the school buildings were in good shape, the district could not afford many programs. For example, they only offered Spanish as a foreign language. They also had only four AP courses, which are college-level classes for high school students.
New School District
There had been talks about merging school districts since 2009. Finally, in early 2013, voters approved the merger of the Mohawk and Ilion school districts. The new district is called the Central Valley Central School District.
Classes for the new Central Valley Central School District began in the 2013–2014 school year. Ilion's high school building became the main high school for the new district. Barringer Road Elementary stayed open. Remington Elementary was later sold and now houses Pathways Academy, a special program for students who need a different learning environment.
Transportation in Ilion
Two main highways pass through Ilion. New York State Route 5S runs east–west along the northern side of the village. New York State Route 51 (Central Avenue/Otsego Street) goes north–south through the center of the village.
Notable People from Ilion
Many interesting people have connections to Ilion, including:
- Brian Angelichio: A coach for the Minnesota Vikings football team.
- Phoebe Brand: An actress.
- Boots Day: A professional Major League Baseball player.
- Jane Douglas: The first woman to be hired by the United States federal government.
- Christine McConnell: A baker, artist, and YouTube star.
- Andrew D. Morgan: A lawyer and former head of the New York State Hospital Commission.
- Eliphalet Remington: The person who started Remington Arms.
- May Gorslin Preston Slosson: An educator and a supporter of women's right to vote.
- Peter H. Turner: A politician from Wisconsin.
See also
In Spanish: Ilion (Nueva York) para niños
