Massena, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Massena Nikentsiake  (Mohawk)
Town
Town of Massena
Massena City Hall and Farmer’s Market
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 located in St. Lawrence County, New York, in the United States. It sits near the northern border of the county, close to the St. Lawrence River. This river also forms part of the border between Canada and the United States.

In 2020, about 12,433 people lived in Massena. The town of Massena also includes a smaller area called the village of Massena.

History of Massena

The town of Massena was first settled around 1792 by French lumberjacks. It was one of the earliest towns to be established in St. Lawrence County. Massena officially became a town in 1802. It was named after André Masséna, a famous military leader who served under Napoleon.

Massena has experienced some big natural events. In 1944, an earthquake shook the area. Later, in 1998, a major ice storm caused a lot of damage.

Geography and Climate

Massena is located just south of the St. Lawrence River. Two other important rivers, the Grasse River and the Racquette River, flow through the town.

Massena's Climate

Massena has a type of weather called a humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters.

Massena's Economy

The economy of Massena today is mostly based on three things:

• Power Production: Making electricity.
• St. Lawrence Seaway Commerce: Trading goods using the St. Lawrence Seaway.
• Alcoa Aluminum Plant: A large factory that makes aluminum.

The Alcoa Aluminum plant in Massena has been running for a very long time. It is the longest continuously operating aluminum facility in the world. This plant provides jobs for over 600 people in Massena.

The New York Power Authority also runs a big hydroelectric power dam nearby. It's called the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project and uses the power of the St. Lawrence River to make electricity. Massena is also home to the Eisenhower and Snell Locks. These are important parts of the St. Lawrence Seaway. They help ships travel through the St. Lawrence River all the way to the Great Lakes.

In 2015, there were some changes at the Alcoa plant. Some parts of the factory were going to close, which would have meant losing many jobs. However, after talks with New York State, many jobs were saved until 2019. Still, 487 jobs were lost due to these changes.

Population Changes in Massena

The town's water tower.

The number of people living in Massena has changed over time. In 1970, there were 16,021 people. By 2012, the population had gone down to 10,357. This was partly because there were fewer jobs in factories.

According to the 2000 census, there were 13,121 people living in Massena. The average household had about 2.98 people. The median age of people in the town was 36 years old.

Communities and Locations in Massena

Massena is home to several smaller communities and important locations:

• Barnhardt Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River. It is the northernmost point of land in New York State.
• Long Sault Island ("Isle au Long Saut") – Another island in the St. Lawrence River, located north of Massena village.
• Massena – This is a village found at the western edge of the town. It sits on both sides of the Grasse River.
• Massena Center – A small community (hamlet) northeast of Massena village.
• Massena Power Canal – A special waterway that connects the Grasse River to the St. Lawrence River.
• Massena Springs – A hamlet south of Massena village, near the Raquette River. This area used to have health resorts because of its special spring water.
• Raquette River – A hamlet east of Massena village, also by the Raquette River. It was first settled around 1804.
• Robert Moses State Park – A state park located in the northern part of the town.
• Rooseveltown – A hamlet near the eastern border of the town, by the Raquette River.
• Wiley Dondero Canal – A waterway built as part of the St. Lawrence power project.

Education in Massena

Most of the town and all of the village of Massena are served by the Massena Central School District. This district also covers parts of nearby towns like Louisville, Norfolk, and Brasher. It also includes a part of the Akwesasne area and the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.

Here are some of the schools in the area:

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

Transportation

New York State Route 37 is a main highway that runs along the edges of Massena. The town also has its own airport, Massena International Airport, located east of Massena village. You can also travel by bus from Massena to Syracuse using Trailways of New York bus service.

In the past, Massena was a stop for passenger trains. The New York Central Railroad used to have sleeping car service here until 1961. Regular local train service ended in 1964.

Radio Stations

Here are some of the radio stations that serve the Massena area:

• 1340 WMSA
• WVLF-FM Mix 96.1
• WRCD-FM 101.5 The Fox
• WYBG – AM 1050 (This station stopped broadcasting on June 30, 2015)

Notable People from Massena

See also

In Spanish: Massena (Nueva York) para niños