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Massena
City
EastMain.jpg
Motto(s): 
"Home of Friendly People"
Location in the State of Iowa
Location in the State of Iowa
Country  United States
State  Iowa
County Cass
Area
 • Total 0.69 sq mi (1.77 km2)
 • Land 0.69 sq mi (1.77 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,273 ft (388 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 359
 • Density 524.09/sq mi (202.43/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
50853
Area code(s) 712
FIPS code 19-50250
GNIS feature ID 0458849
Website http://www.cityofmassena.com/

Massena is a small city located in Cass County, Iowa, in the United States. It's known for its friendly people, which is even part of its motto: "The Home of Friendly People." In 2020, about 359 people lived there. Massena shares a special connection with Cumberland, Iowa, as they are considered sister communities. The city got its name from Massena (town), New York, which was named after a French military leader.

Where is Massena?

Massena is found among the gentle, rolling hills of Iowa. It's located where two main roads, Iowa Highway 92 and Iowa Highway 148, meet. The city covers an area of about 0.69 square miles (1.77 square kilometers), and all of it is land.

Massena is conveniently located about halfway between two larger cities: Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. It's also just 15 miles south of Interstate 80 in Iowa, a major highway.

Who Lives in Massena?

Massena has seen its population change over the years. Here's a quick look at how many people have lived there:

Historical populations
Year Pop. ±%
1890 279 —    
1900 475 +70.3%
1910 490 +3.2%
1920 500 +2.0%
1930 475 −5.0%
1940 479 +0.8%
1950 459 −4.2%
1960 456 −0.7%
1970 433 −5.0%
1980 518 +19.6%
1990 372 −28.2%
2000 414 +11.3%
2010 355 −14.3%
2020 359 +1.1%
Source: and Iowa Data Center
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census

Massena's Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 359 people living in Massena. These people lived in 150 households, and 90 of those were families. Most of the people living in Massena (about 93.3%) were White. A small number of people were from other racial backgrounds. About 0.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Massena was about 39.9 years old.

  • Nearly 30% of residents were under 20 years old.
  • About 20% were 65 years or older.
  • The city had slightly more males (52.4%) than females (47.6%).

Massena's Population in 2010

Back in 2010, Massena had 355 residents. There were 161 households. Most residents (99.4%) were White. About 2.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age was 44.3 years.

  • About 24% of residents were under 18.
  • About 19% were 65 or older.
  • The gender split was almost even, with 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

A Look Back: Massena's History

The city of Massena was officially planned out in 1886. The land for the city was bought by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1883 and 1884. The first city council meeting happened on March 21, 1887.

The city was first going to be named "Smith." However, the post office didn't allow this name because another city had a very similar one. So, the name "Massena" was suggested by Lume A. Stone. He was a soldier from the American Civil War who came from Massena, New York. His hometown was named after André Masséna, a French military leader who served under Napoleon.

Fun and Community Life

Massena has a lively community spirit!

  • The Massena Historical Society works to preserve local history. They have restored and offer tours of an old country schoolhouse, a barber shop, and a gas station. The schoolhouse, called Victoria No. 8, was moved into town from Victoria Township.
  • Every year on July 3rd, the local volunteer fire department hosts a street dance on Main Street. This event helps raise money for the fire department.
  • Massena also takes turns with Fontanelle, Iowa hosting the annual Fontanelle & Massena Independence Day parade.
  • Baseball is a big part of Massena's traditions. The local team, the Massena Red Sox, has been around since the 1920s!

Learning in Massena

Massena is part of the CAM Community School District.

Before 1959, Massena had its own school district. Then, it joined with Cumberland, Iowa to form the C & M Community School District. In 2003, C & M started sharing classes with the Anita Community School District from Anita, Iowa. This partnership was called CAM, which stands for Cumberland, Anita, and Massena.

In 2011, the C & M and Anita districts officially merged to create the CAM District. Today, Massena is home to the CAM Elementary School. The CAM High School and CAM Middle School are located in Anita, Iowa.

Local Economy and Businesses

Most of Massena's economy is based on agriculture, meaning many people are family farmers. Massena is also known as a "bedroom community." This means many residents live in Massena but travel to nearby cities for work. These cities include Atlantic, Iowa (the county seat of Cass County, Iowa), Greenfield, Iowa (the county seat of Adair County, Iowa), and Corning, Iowa (the county seat of Adams County, Iowa).

Massena has several local businesses that serve the community:

  • An agriculture co-op that also runs a filling station.
  • A John Deere service center.
  • A bank.
  • A hotel.
  • A medical center.
  • A tavern (a type of pub).
  • A grocery store.
  • Two mechanics.
  • A welder.
  • A craft store.
  • A sale barn.
  • You can also find a chiropractor, a massage therapist, and several beauticians in town.

Places of Worship

Massena is home to several churches:

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