Little Falls, New York

This article is about the city. For the surrounding town, seeLittle Falls (town), New York.

Little Fallsis a city inHerkimer County, New York,United States. The population was 4,605 at the time of the2020 census,which is thesecond-smallest city population in the state,ahead of only the city ofSherrill.The city is built on both sides of theMohawk River,at a point at which rapids had impeded travel upriver. Transportation through the valley was improved by construction of theErie Canal,completed in 1825 and connecting theGreat Lakeswith theHudson River.

Little Falls
City
South Ann Street-Mill Street Historic District
Location within Herkimer County
Little Falls Little Falls
Coordinates:43°2′34″N74°51′27″W
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Herkimer
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
•Mayor	Deborah Kaufman (R)
•Common Council	Members' List Ward 1: • Jonathan Shaffer (R) • Teresa Lee (D) Ward 2: • Elizabeth Deming (R) • Gregory A. Santry (D) Ward 3: • Mark T. Ruffing (D) • Keith A. Chrisman (D) Ward 4: • Kimberley Kelley (D) • Edward Becker, III (R)
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	315
FIPS code	36-42741
GNISfeature ID	0955522
Website	www.cityoflittlefalls.net

The city is located at the northeastern corner of thetown of Little Fallsand is east ofUtica.

Little Falls has a picturesque location on the slope of a narrow and rockydefile,through which the Mohawk River falls 45 feet (14 m) in less than a mile (1.6 km), forming a number of cascades.

History

Little Falls was first settled by Europeans around 1723, whenGerman Palatineswere granted land under the Burnetsfield Patent. It was then the westernmost European settlement in the colony of New York. The need toportagearound the falls promoted a trading location on the site of the future city. It was the first settlement in the town.The settlers were attacked during the French and Indian War, but rebuilt their farms.

The small settlement here was destroyed by Iroquois Indians, mostlyMohawk,and Tories in June 1782. The village was not resettled until 1790, and it was known at times as "Rockton" and "Rock City." Little Falls was incorporated as a village in 1811, and reincorporated in 1827. The City of Little Falls was chartered in 1895.

Little Falls skyline

The Western Inland Canal (early attempt of the Erie Canal) was constructed in 1792 and helped the local economy. TheErie Canal,completed in 1825, passes through the city. Lock 17 of the New York State Erie Canal replaced the three locks of the original 1825 Erie Canal and is 40.5 feet (12.3 m) in height.

With dairy farms located throughout the town, Little Falls was a major center for the manufacturing ofcheesein the third quarter of the 19th century. Its products were shipped to market in New York City and other major cities. In the 20th century it attracted immigrants from eastern and southern Europe, who worked in factories for textiles, gloves and other products.

In 1900, 10,381 people lived in Little Falls. It had its peak of population in 1920 with 13,029. Increasing urbanization of larger cities and the decline of manufacturing in the Mohawk Valley in mid-century have led to a decline in population.

In 1903, a westboundNew York Centralspecial newspaper trainderaileddue to excessive speed on a sharp curve killing the engine crew. In 1940, a much more seriouscrashat the same location of a fifteen car luxury passenger train killed 31.

In October 1912, workers attwo textile mills in the city went on strikefollowing a decrease in pay. The strike, led by theIndustrial Workers of the World,lasted into the following year and saw a violent confrontation between strikers and police.

Notable people

• Benjamin T. Babbittoperated amachine shopin Little Falls early in his career; he became a 19th-centurysoapmanufacturing magnate.
• Justus D. Barnes,stage and silent film actor, was born in Little Falls.
• Francis Bellamy,author of theUnited States Pledge of Allegiance,lived in the city.
• Natale H. Bellocchi,diplomat, was born in Little Falls.
• David H. Burrell,inventor and gentleman farmer who lived and worked here, patented the first technically sound oil burner that could burn both liquid and gaseous fuels in 1885; in 1985, PresidentRonald Reagandeclared it "Oil Heat Centennial Year" because it marked 100 years since theU.S. Patent Officegranted Burrell the patent for his furnace.
• Fred J. Douglas,politician and US congressman, lived in Little Falls.
• Thomas Falvey,Wisconsin state legislator and mayor, lived in Little Falls.
• Nicholas Herkimer,Patriot general who commanded troops in theBattle of Oriskanyduring theRevolutionary War;he died of wounds suffered in that conflict; a monument to him was erected in 1896, at his home on the outskirts of the city.
• Wayne Levi,professional golfer, was born in Little Falls.
• Ann Marcus,co-writer of soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
• Mary Myers (pilot),first female to solo fly a lighter-than-air passenger balloon.
• Dorothy Burney Richards,conservationist and founder ofBeaversprite,was born in Little Falls.
• Bill Warner,a motorcycle racer and world motorcycle land-speed record holder, was born in Little Falls. Warner was killed in a motorcycle crash in July 2013 while trying to set a new record.

National Register of Historic Places

The following are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places: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, and theUnited States Post Office.

Geography

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.3 km²), of which 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) are land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km²), or 3.79%, are water.Little Falls is mostly on the north bank of theMohawk River,near a waterfall which was smaller than another waterfall on the river inCohoes.The cliff on the south bank of the Mohawk River in the city is known as Rollaway.

New York state routes 5,167,169and170converge on Little Falls. NY 170 has its southern terminus in the city, while NY 169 has its southern terminus south of the city, in the town ofDanube.

Media

Little Falls is served byThe Times Telegramof nearbyHerkimer,which was formed in 2015 by the merger of the locally basedEvening Timesinto Herkimer'sEvening Telegram,as well as theObserver-Dispatchin Utica. Two radio stations,WIXT(1230 AM) andWSKU(105.5 FM), are licensed to the city. Little Falls is also served by stations in the Uticatelevision market.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	5,387		—
1880	6,910		28.3%
1890	8,783		27.1%
1900	10,381		18.2%
1910	12,273		18.2%
1920	13,029		6.2%
1930	11,105		−14.8%
1940	10,163		−8.5%
1950	9,541		−6.1%
1960	8,935		−6.4%
1970	7,629		−14.6%
1980	6,156		−19.3%
1990	5,829		−5.3%
2000	5,188		−11.0%
2010	4,946		−4.7%
2020	4,605		−6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of thecensusof 2000, there were 5,188 people, 2,339 households, and 1,277 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,367.0 inhabitants per square mile (527.8/km²). There were 2,646 housing units at an average density of 697.2 per square mile (269.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.78%White,0.29%BlackorAfrican American,0.33%Native American,0.58%Asian,0.06% fromother races,and 0.96% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 2,339 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.4% weremarried couplesliving together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,965, and the median income for a family was $34,583. Males had a median income of $28,807 versus $21,040 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $15,139. About 9.3% of families and 16.6% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

In media

• Walter D. Edmonds' novel,Drums Along the Mohawk(1939), featured German families in this area in the Revolutionary era.
• The city's Main Street was featured in several scenes ofA Quiet Place(2018).

Archival Records

Business and legal records fromAlexander Ellice,James Phyn, and John Porteous comprise theLittle Falls Business and Legal Recordscollection atThe Buffalo History Museum.They range in date from 1764-1862 and are not digitized or online.

See also

• 1912 Little Falls textile strike
• Herkimer County Historical Society

External links

• City of Little Falls official website
• Little Falls community website
• Little Falls Historical Society
• Little Falls Canal Documentation Archive
• Little Falls Public Library Collection on New York Heritage
• "Little Falls".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 14 (9th ed.). 1882.