Herkimer, village, seat (1791) of Herkimer county, central New York, U.S., on the north bank of the Mohawk River, 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Utica. The site, settled about 1725 by Palatinate Germans, was known as German Flats. Fort Dayton was built in 1776 during the American Revolution, and from there General Nicholas Herkimer departed for the Battle of Oriskany (August 6, 1777), where he was mortally wounded; his home (1764), 8 miles (13 km) east of the village, is preserved as a state historic site. The village (incorporated 1807) is within the town (township) of Herkimer (organized 1788). The village is the seat of Herkimer County Community College (founded 1966), part of the State University of New York system. Library furniture is manufactured in the village. Pop. (2000) 7,498; (2010) 7,743.