Demographics

thumb|right|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 Alcoa employs over 600 people at its facilities in Massena.

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.

Education

Both the entire village, and almost all of the town of Massena are served by the Massena Central School District,<!--UNI 18660--> which also serves most of the Town of Louisville, and portions of Norfolk and Brasher towns. Additionally, it contains a portion of the Akwesasne census-designated place, 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)

Media

Radio

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

Filming location

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

Infrastructure

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.

Notable people

  • Avery D. Andrews, brigadier general in the United States Army
  • William G. Bissell, Wisconsin State Senator, merchant, salesman and farmer, was born in Massena.
  • Stephanie Bissonnette, dancer and choreographer known for her role in the original&nbsp;Broadway&nbsp;production of the musical Mean Girls
  • Aaron Bogosian, former American Hockey League player
  • Zach Bogosian, National Hockey League player on the Minnesota Wild
  • Gary Danko, chef
  • Jim Deshaies, former Major League Baseball player, television color analyst
  • Follett Johnson, Medal of Honor recipient
  • Mike Hurlbut, retired professional hockey player, collegiate ice hockey coach
  • Bid McPhee, former Major League Baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
  • Horace N. Polley, Wisconsin State Assemblyman and farmer, was born in Massena
  • Myron Reed, Wisconsin State Senator and lawyer, was born in Massena.
  • Hal Smith, actor

See also

  • André Masséna, Napoleonic general.
  • Massena, Iowa, another community, named after Massena, NY

References