Herkimer (village), New York

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Herkimer is a village in Herkimer County, New York, USA. The population was 7,498 at the 2000 census. The name comes from Nicholas Herkimer, a general of the Colonial militia, who died as a result of wounds received at the Battle of Oriskany.

As of 2000, the United States Census Bureau classified the village as a suburb of Utica, 11 miles to the west, and part of the Utica/Rome metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The Town of Herkimer surrounds the village, and they are referred together as "The Herkimers." There have been three referenda proposing to re-unite the two Herkimers, but they have all been narrowly defeated.

The village is the only municipality in the nation to be represented by three governments all of the same name: the village of Herkimer, which is in the town of Herkimer, which is in the county of Herkimer. The village is the county seat.

Herkimer County Community College, located in the northwest part of the village, was founded in 1966 by the Herkimer County Board of Supervisors.

1 History
- 1.1 Early history of Herkimer
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] History

The village was incorporated in 1807. Its charter was amended in 1832 to enlarge the village. In 1875, the village dispensed with their special charter and organized the village under the current state law. In the colonial period it was known as Palatine village, reflecting the origin of its early settlers.

[edit] Early history of Herkimer

In 1700, the region then was part of the domain of the mighty Mohawks of the Iroquois. Winding paths through the wilderness and the Mohawk River provided the only means of linking one Mohawk village to another. The first arrival of the Palatine Germans in New York State was in August 1708 and in the Mohawk Valley as early as 1720, with the advance guard arriving at Herkimer in 1722. Soon after 1722, a blockhouse and a church were erected in Herkimer village, the church being on the site of the present Reformed Church. A schoolhouse was erected 23 years afterward.

Because the population comprised mostly Germans and because of the rather flat topography, the area became known as “German Flatts.” Perhaps ironically, the state mismatched the Town of Herkimer's charter with the Town of German Flatts. Herkimer is relatively flat, while German Flatts -- which comprises the nearby villages of Ilion and Mohawk -- is quite hilly.

The community developed peacefully until the outbreak of the French and Indian War. Herkimer at that time was known as “Palatine village." Palatine became a battlegrounds of sorts when it became the site of a massacre. In 1758, the settlement on the south side of the river near the fort was attacked, and about 30 settlers were killed. General Nicholas Herkimer was in command of the fort, and he collected within the fort all the settlers he could gather.

[edit] Geography

Herkimer is located at 43°1′34″N, 74°59′25″W (43.026207, -74.990304)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 6.6 km² (2.5 mi²). 6.2 km² (2.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (4.72%) is water.

The Village of Herkimer is located in Central New York State, at the exact midpoint between Syracuse and Albany. It is Exit 30 on the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90).

The Herkimer/Middleville area is a favorite collecting area for rockhounds because of its vast deposits of large quartz crystals known as "Herkimer diamonds." Although the minerals are not true diamonds and not generally used as gemstones, they have become popular as curiosities. The minerals formed in Cambrian age limestones and dolostones, probably from ground water action after the original formation of the rock in an ancient sea. There are several commercial mines that cater to tourists. Customers can break up rock, or screen the soil, which has weathered from this rock. The crystals are resistant to weathering themselves.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 7,498 people, 3,184 households, and 1,687 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,201.2/km² (3,107.1/mi²). There were 3,528 housing units at an average density of 565.2/km² (1,462.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.15% White, 1.23% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 3,184 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.0% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the village, the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $24,762, and the median income for a family was $38,892. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $19,438 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,498. About 8.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.