Massena, New York

For the village located within this town, see Massena (village), New York.
Massena
Town
Town of Massena
Nickname(s): Gateway to the Fourth Coast
Massena

Location within the state of New York

Coordinates: 44°55′49″N 074°53′33″W / 44.93028°N 74.89250°W / 44.93028; -74.89250Coordinates: 44°55′49″N 074°53′33″W / 44.93028°N 74.89250°W / 44.93028; -74.89250
Country United States
State New York
County St. Lawrence
Incorporated 1802
Government
 • Type Town council
 • Town supervisor Tim Currier
Area
 • Total 56.14 sq mi (145.4 km2)
 • Land 44.37 sq mi (114.9 km2)
 • Water 11.77 sq mi (30.5 km2)
Elevation 200 ft (61 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 10,067
 • Density 180/sq mi (69/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 13662
Area code(s) 315
FIPS code 36-46030
GNIS feature ID 979205
Website www.massena.us

Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. Massena is located along the northern border of the county, just south of the St. Lawrence River and the Canada–US border. The population was 10,883 at the 2010 census.[1] The town of Massena contains a village also named Massena. The town and its village are named after André Masséna, a general and Marshal of France during the Napoleonic Wars.

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.[2]

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

Economy

The economy of early Massena was partly based on health spas, but the modern town is involved in power production, aluminum production at ALCOA, and the commerce of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Massena is home to an Alcoa Aluminum plant, the longest continually operating aluminum facility in the world, and a former Reynolds Metals Company plant, now called Alcoa East (temporarily idled in July 2009). Alcoa currently employs over 900 people at its facilities in Massena.

Massena is also home to a former General Motors aluminum engine-casting plant which was closed in 2008, laying off or relocating over 600 employees. [3] The New York Power Authority also 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 Locks, part of the St. Lawrence Seaway which allows ships and vessels to pass through the St. Lawrence River and onto the Great Lakes.

On November 2, 2015, Alcoa announced the permanent closure of Alcoa East, and the idling of the smelter at the remaining plant, known as "Alcoa West". The Forgings and Extrusions facilities at Alcoa West were unaffected. The changes resulted in the loss of 487 jobs.[4] Through negotiations with New York State, 400 jobs were saved until 2019.

It was estimated in 2013 that nearly 30% of Massena residents live below the poverty line.[5] St. Lawrence County’s poverty rate is higher than both the state and federal rates and currently ranks the 5th highest in New York State. Limited economic opportunities mean fewer young adults return home after college, which is fueling rapid population declines and out of state migration.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1820944—
18302,070119.3%
18402,72631.7%
18502,8705.3%
18602,9251.9%
18702,560−12.5%
18802,7397.0%
18902,7400.0%
19003,90442.5%
19104,80623.1%
19208,97586.7%
193012,02934.0%
194012,9797.9%
195014,86214.5%
196017,93720.7%
197016,021−10.7%
198014,856−7.3%
199013,826−6.9%
200013,121−5.1%
201010,883−17.1%
Est. 20149,567[6]−12.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
The town's water tower.

Massena has attracted an array of immigrants throughout its history, with many citizens of French, Irish, German, Italian & Sicilian heritage.

In 2012, there were 10,536 people, down from 16,021 in 1970. As of the census[1] 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 per square mile (50.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town 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 out 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 2.91 and the average family size was 3.27.

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 median income for a household in the town was $28,391, and the median income for a family was $32,696. Males had a median income of $32,484 versus $18,819 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,111. About 16.9% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Massena

Transportation

The town is served by Massena International Airport, located east of Massena village, south of NY-37.

Radio

Resources

Some of the town's main employers are Dwight D. Eisenhower Lock, Robert Moses-Robert H. Saunders Power Dam, ALCOA, Massena Memorial Hospital, Highland Nursing Home, and St. Regis Nursing Home.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 202.
  3. ↑ http://innovationtrail.org/post/massena-starts-new-chapter-old-gm-plant-set-demolition
  4. ↑ http://northcountrynow.com/business/alcoa-idle-smelter-massenas-alcoa-west-will-not-modernize-east-plant-spite-deal-state-01566
  5. ↑ http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Massena-New-York.html
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ National Teachers Hall of Fame web site
  9. ↑ Reichler, Joseph L., ed. (1979) [1969]. The Baseball Encyclopedia (4th ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
  10. ↑ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1899, Biographical Sketch of Horace N. Polley, pg. 770
  11. ↑ Michaud, John D. III, ed. (2004) [2004]. More than Otis: No Bull! A Salute to Hollywood Actor Hal J. Smith (1st ed.). Massena, New York: Stubbs Printing.


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