Massena, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Massena Nikentsiake  (Mohawk)
Town
Town of Massena
Nickname(s):  Gateway to the Fourth Coast
Map highlighting Massena's location within St. Lawrence County.
Massena Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	St. Lawrence
Incorporated	1802
Named for	André Masséna
Government
• Type	Town council: Thomas Miller, Adrian Taraska, Deb Willer
Area
• Total	56.14 sq mi (145.42 km2)
• Land	44.34 sq mi (114.85 km2)
• Water	11.80 sq mi (30.56 km2)
Elevation	200 ft (61 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,433
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	13662
Area code(s)	315
FIPS code	36-46030

Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. Massena is along the county's northern border, just south of the St. Lawrence River and the Three Nations Crossing of the Canada–United States border. The population was 12,433 at the 2020 census. The town of Massena contains a village also named Massena.

History

The town was first settled circa 1792 by French lumberjacks. Massena was one of the first towns settled in St. Lawrence county and was incorporated in 1802. The town is named after one of Napoleon's field marshals, André Masséna, who commanded around that time.

The town suffered natural disasters in 1944 (earthquake) and in 1998 (ice storm).

Geography and climate

Massena is located just south of the St. Lawrence River, and the Grasse and Racquette rivers pass through town.

Climate

Massena has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb).

Economy

The modern town's economy is centered on power production, the commerce of the St. Lawrence Seaway, and an Alcoa Aluminum plant, the world's longest continually operating aluminum facility. Alcoa employs over 600 people at its facilities in Massena. Massena's economy has suffered for the past few decades due to the decline of American manufacturing and the automotive industry.

The New York Power Authority now operates a hydroelectric power generating dam, the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, on the St. Lawrence River adjacent to Massena. Curran Renewable Energy manufactures wood pellet fuel and mulch in the town. Massena is also home to the Eisenhower and Snell Locks, part of the St. Lawrence Seaway which allows ships and vessels to pass through the St. Lawrence River and on to the Great Lakes.

While on November 2, 2015, Alcoa announced the idling of the smelter at its "Alcoa West" plant, the facility remained open through negotiations with New York State, and 400 jobs were saved until 2019. The Forgings and Extrusions facilities at Alcoa West were unaffected. The changes resulted in the loss of 487 jobs.

It was estimated in 2013 that nearly 30% of Massena residents live below the poverty line. St. Lawrence County's poverty rate is higher than both the state and federal rates and ranks the 5th highest in New York State.

Demographics

The town's water tower.

By 2012 industrial employment had declined and there were 10,357 people in the town, down from 16,021 in 1970.

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,121 people, 2,510 households, and 3,454 families residing in the town. The population density was 293.7 inhabitants per square mile (113.4/km²). There were 5,880 housing units at an average density of 131.6 units per square mile (50.8 units/km²). The town's racial makeup was 96.80% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 1.25% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and .02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 5,510 households, of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.67.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The town's median household income was $58,391, and the median family income was $62,696. Males had a median income of $48,484 versus $46,819 for females. The per capita income was $25,111. About 6.9% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Massena

• Barnhardt Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River northeast of Massena village. The island is at the international border and is the northernmost point of land in New York.
• Long Sault Island ("Isle au Long Saut") – An island in the St. Lawrence River north of Massena village.
• Massena – A village at the western town line on both banks of the Grasse River.
• Massena Center – A hamlet northeast of Massena village.
• Massena Power Canal – A waterway connecting the Grasse River to the St. Lawrence River.
• Massena Springs – A hamlet south of Massena village by the Raquette River. The community was the site of health resorts and hotels based on sulphurous spring water.
• Raquette River – A hamlet east of Massena village by the Raquette River. It was first settled circa 1804.
• Robert Moses State Park – A state park in the northern part of the town.
• Rooseveltown – A hamlet near the eastern town line by the Raquette River.
• Wiley Dondero Canal – A waterway constructed as part of the St. Lawrence power project.

Education

Both the village and town of Massena are served by the Massena Central School District, which also serves most of Louisville, a portion of Norfolk and Brasher, and the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.

• Jefferson Elementary School (K-6)
• Madison Elementary School (K-6)
• Nightengale Elementary School (K-6)
• J. William Leary Junior High School (7–8)
• Massena Central High School (9–12)
• Trinity Catholic School (K-6)
• Holy Name of Jesus Academy (K-12)

Transportation

New York State Route 37, a northeast–southwest highway, passes along the outskirts of the town. The town is served by Massena International Airport, east of Massena village, south of NY-37. Trailways of New York provides bus service from Massena to Syracuse. The town had until 1961 been the terminus for New York Central Railroad (NYC) sleeping car passenger service on its St. Lawrence Division; the last sleepers came in from the NYC's Iroquois and the outgoing sleeper fed into the New York Special. The final run of regular local trains into the town was in 1964.

Radio

• 1340 WMSA
• WVLF-FM Mix 96.1
• WRCD-FM 101.5 The Fox
• WYBG – AM 1050 (defunct as of June 30, 2015)

In popular culture

Massena was a location featured in Me, Myself & Irene, released in 2000, starring Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger.

Massena was a location featured in the film Frozen River.

For Ellen, released in 2012, was filmed in Massena and the surrounding area.

Notable people

See also

In Spanish: Massena (Nueva York) para niños