The Oneida village of Oriska was established at the confluence of the Oriskany Creek and the Mohawk River before 1766.

"[2] On August 5, 1777, during the American Revolution, Oriska was visited by the Tryon County militia led by Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer.

The American-aligned militia was en route to Fort Stanwix to help lift a siege by allied British forces.

[4] The Tory Mohawk who allied with the British later retaliated against Oriska, destroying "stock and provisions" of the village's residents.

In a letter dated November 30, 1778, Major General Philip Schuyler implores General Washington that "for the Support of the Communication and Security of Convoys" between Albany and Oswego "Another post to be Occupied by a like number [of 50 men] should be Established At or near Oriska," among seven other sites.Founders Online: To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 30 No … In June 1785, the area was surveyed by G. Lansing for a map entitled "Surveys & Partition of the Oriskany or Oriskary Patent," with seven allotments and numerous land claims noted.

The company's year of incorporation is commonly cited as the founding date for the resettled village.

[6] Oriskany had an aircraft carrier named after an American Revolutionary War battle fought there.

Among the monuments in the park are items from the ship itself including a bell, an anchor, and a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), all land.

The largest recorded ethnic ancestries are: American (33.0%), Italian (12.7%), Irish (11.2%), Polish (7.8%), German (7.7%), English (6.1%) representing successive historical waves of immigration to New York.