Massena

Town in St Lawrence County, in the far north of New York State; population (2000) 13,100. Massena lies on the Grass, Raquette, and St Lawrence rivers, 110 km/68 mi southwest of Montréal, Québec.

The town was named after one of Napoleon's marshals by the first European settlers, who arrived in 1792. In the course of the 19th century, it became a popular health spa. Following the construction of a canal linking the Grasse with the St Lawrence in 1900, industrialization took place, led by the founding here in 1903 of the Aluminum Company of America. The production of aluminium remains central to the economy, along with the manufacture of engine blocks and car components. Massena is the headquarters of the St Lawrence Development Corporation and the site of major installations on the St Lawrence Seaway, such as the Moses-Saunders Power Dam, the Massena Intake, and the Eisenhower and Snell locks. Part of Robert Moses State Park is situated in the north of the town. Massena is connected by bridge with the city of Cornwall, Ontario.