Little Falls, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Little Falls
City
South Ann Street-Mill Street Historic District
Location within Herkimer County
Little Falls, New York Location in New York Show map of New York Little Falls, New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Herkimer
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	3.99 sq mi (10.33 km2)
• Land	3.84 sq mi (9.94 km2)
• Water	0.15 sq mi (0.39 km2)
Elevation	420 ft (128 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,605
• Density	1,199.84/sq mi (463.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	13365
Area code(s)	315
FIPS code	36-42741
GNIS feature ID	0955522

Little Falls is a city in Herkimer County, New York, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,605 people lived there. This makes it the second-smallest city in New York State by population.

The city is built on both sides of the Mohawk River. This spot was important because rapids in the river made it hard for boats to travel upstream. To help with travel, the Erie Canal was built. It was finished in 1825 and connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River.

Little Falls is located in the northeastern part of the town of Little Falls. It is east of Utica. The city has a beautiful location in a narrow, rocky valley. The Mohawk River drops about 45 feet (14 m) here, creating many small waterfalls.

History of Little Falls

Little Falls was first settled by Europeans around 1723. German families were given land here. It was the furthest west European settlement in New York at that time. Because people had to carry their boats around the waterfalls, it became a good place for trading. This was the first settlement in the area.

The early settlers faced attacks during the French and Indian War. In 1782, Iroquois Native Americans and Tories destroyed the small settlement. People did not move back until 1790. The village was known as "Rockton" or "Rock City" for a while. Little Falls officially became a village in 1811 and then a city in 1895.

Little Falls skyline

An early version of the Erie Canal was built in 1792. This helped the local economy grow. The full Erie Canal opened in 1825 and runs through the city. Lock 17 of the New York State Erie Canal is 40.5 feet (12.3 m) tall. It replaced three smaller locks from the first canal.

In the late 1800s, Little Falls became a major center for making cheese. Dairy farms were common in the area. The cheese was sent to big cities like New York City. In the 1900s, many immigrants came to Little Falls. They worked in factories making textiles, gloves, and other goods.

In 1900, over 10,000 people lived in Little Falls. The population reached its highest point in 1920 with more than 13,000 residents. Over time, more people moved to bigger cities. Also, many factories closed in the Mohawk Valley. This caused the population of Little Falls to decrease.

There were two serious train accidents near Little Falls in 1903 and 1940. In 1912, workers at two textile mills in the city went on strike. They were protesting a pay cut. The strike lasted into the next year and involved some conflict.

Famous People from Little Falls

Many interesting people have connections to Little Falls:

• Benjamin T. Babbitt started his career here. He later became famous for making soap.
• Justus D. Barnes was born in Little Falls. He was an actor in stage plays and silent films.
• Francis Bellamy, who wrote the United States Pledge of Allegiance, lived in the city.
• Natale H. Bellocchi, a diplomat, was born in Little Falls.
• David H. Burrell was an inventor who lived and worked here. He invented an important oil burner in 1885.
• Fred J. Douglas, a politician and US congressman, lived in Little Falls.
• Thomas Falvey was a state legislator and mayor. He lived in Little Falls.
• Nicholas Herkimer was a general during the Revolutionary War. A monument to him stands near his home outside the city.
• Wayne Levi, a professional golfer, was born in Little Falls.
• Ann Marcus was a co-writer for the TV show Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
• Mary Myers (pilot) was the first woman to fly a passenger balloon by herself.
• Dorothy Burney Richards was a conservationist. She founded Beaversprite and was born in Little Falls.
• Bill Warner was a motorcycle racer. He held a world record for motorcycle land speed. He was born in Little Falls.

Historic Places in Little Falls

Several places in Little Falls are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some of these include:

• James Sanders House
• Italian Community Bake Oven
• Little Falls City Hall
• Little Falls Historic District
• Overlook
• Emmanuel Episcopal Church
• South Ann Street-Mill Street Historic District
• The Overlook (Burrell) House
• The United States Post Office

Geography and Location

Little Falls covers about 3.99 square miles (10.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water. The city is mainly on the north side of the Mohawk River. It is near a waterfall that is smaller than another one in Cohoes. The tall cliff on the south side of the Mohawk River in the city is called Rollaway.

Several New York state roads meet in Little Falls. These include Route 5, Route 167, Route 169, and Route 170.

Local Media

Little Falls has local news from The Times Telegram. This newspaper is based in nearby Herkimer. The city also gets news from the Observer-Dispatch in Utica. Two radio stations, WIXT (1230 AM) and WSKU (105.5 FM), are licensed to Little Falls.

Population Changes

In 2000, there were 5,188 people living in Little Falls. About 25% of the homes had children under 18. The average household had about two people. The population included people of different backgrounds, with most being White.

The median age in the city was 42 years old. This means half the people were older than 42 and half were younger. About 21.8% of the population was under 18.

See also

In Spanish: Little Falls (Nueva York) para niños