Herkimer County > Ilion
Population: 7,646
Ilion was named after the Greek form of the name for Troy. It’s pronounced: ILL’-ee-un.
For two centuries, the local economy relied heavily on Remington Arms, a gun manufacturer whose product line included assault weapons. In 2023, the company announced that it was moving to Georgia. Some – including Remington’s CEO and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik – blamed the departure on the gun-control movement in New York. Others noted aging factory buildings and equipment, investments by fickle equity firms, and the cost of a lawsuit filed after the Sandy Hook massacre.
(Note: In our research for the above, we came across just one newspaper with a headline declaring “A Farewell to Arms.” Kudos to you, Rome Sentinel.)
School districts: Central Valley CSD at Ilion-Mohawk
Emergency services: Ilion Ambulance Department, Ilion Fire Department
Fraternal organizations: American Legion, Elks, Masons
Not-for-profit cemeteries: Cedarville Cemetery, Ilion Cemetery, Norwich Corners Cemetery, Ukranian Greek Orthodox Cemetery, West Schuyler Cemetery
2020 Paycheck Protection Program: Loans to nonprofits in Herkimer County
Change agents:
Grants to local organizations have funded opioid abuse prevention, a new salt/sand storage building, and other initiatives.
Recent grants:
Catholic Charities
Corporation for National and Community Service - Washington, DC - $75,000 (2025)
Catholic Charities
Corporation for National and Community Service - Washington, DC - $77,500 (2024)
Catholic Charities
Jai and Satya Ahluwahlia Foundation - Little Falls, NY - $69,280 (2024)
Catholic Charities
NYS Office of Victim Services - Albany, NY - $372,476 (2025)
Catholic Charities
Polisseni Foundation - Rochester, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Catholic Charities
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $97,148 (2024)
Catholic Charities
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $199,000 (2024)
Herkimer Next
Jai and Satya Ahluwahlia Foundation - Little Falls, NY - $136,500 (2024)
Joseph Berberick Hose Co
Verizon Foundation - Basking Ridge, NJ - $1,500 (2024)
St. Augustine's Episcopal Church
Martha Steele Trust - Norwich, NY - $65,361 (2024)
Village of Ilion
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation - Albany, NY - $100,967 (2025)
Village of Ilion Police Department
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services - Albany, NY - $206,202 (2024)
Largest nonprofits in Ilion (by assets) include:
Free & Accepted Masons of New York
Ilion Cemetery Association
Marion Brill Scholarship Foundation
Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks of the USA
Knights of Columbus
Joseph Berberick Hose Co
Gurdwara Shri Isher Darbar
Ilion Fish and Game Club
Herkimer Next
Remington Arms Employees Club