New York State Route 420
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 420 (NY 420) is a north–south state highway
in St. Lawrence County, New York
, United States
. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 (US 11) in the town of Stockholm
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 37
in the village of Massena
. NY 420 passes through undeveloped regions of St. Lawrence County for most of its routing and briefly overlaps with NY 11C
in the hamlet of Winthrop.
NY 420 was originally part of Route 32, an unsigned legislative route
created by the New York State Legislature in 1908. The Winthrop–Massena portion of Route 32 became part of the signed NY 56 in the mid-1920s; however, NY 56 was realigned in 1927 to follow a new alignment well to the south of Winthrop. The former routing of NY 56 between Winthrop and Massena was redesignated as NY 420 as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. NY 420 was extended southward to its current terminus south of Winthrop in 1980.
. The route heads north as a two-lane highway through forested areas and across both branches of the St. Regis River
to the hamlet of Winthrop, the first area of significant development along the highway. Here, the two branches of the St. Regis River converge and NY 420 meets NY 11C
. NY 420 turns northeastward, overlapping NY 11C for two blocks before splitting from it in the center of Winthrop.
The route heads northwest from Winthrop, passing through heavily forested areas of St. Lawrence County
. As NY 420 passes out of Stockholm and into Norfolk
, the forests surrounding the highway begin to taper off and give way to small pockets of residences and cultivated fields. The amount of homes along the route begin to increase upon intersecting Plum Hill Road, at which point NY 420 becomes lined with residences for much of its run through north Norfolk. However, the string of homes ends near the northern town line, and the highway becomes flanked by forests once more as it curves northward and enters the town of Massena
.
In Massena, the forests along NY 420 subside slightly as it passes by industrial warehouses and residences. The route curves back to the northwest as it enters the village of Massena
. Just past the village line, NY 420 crosses the St. Lawrence Subdivision, a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation
. The highway continues on, curving northward to cross the Raquette River
. It curves back to the northwest on the northern riverbank and passes by a mixture of homes and commercial establishments before intersecting NY 37
south of the village center. NY 420 ends here; however, the road continues north into the heart of the village as Main Street.
extending from North Lawrence to Ogdensburg
via Winthrop and Massena
. When the first set of posted routes in New York
were assigned in 1924, all of Route 32 west of Massena became part of NY 3
while the section east of Winthrop was incorporated into NY 2. The Winthrop–Massena segment of Route 32 did not initially receive a designation; however, by 1926, it had become the northwestern-most portion of NY 56, a highway linking Brighton
to Massena via Nicholville and Winthrop. In 1927, NY 56 was realigned to proceed west from Nicholville on modern NY 11B
to a new terminus in the village of Potsdam
. The former routing of NY 56 between Winthrop and Massena was left unnumbered until the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York when it was designated as NY 420.
The initial northern terminus of NY 420 was in the center of Massena at the junction of Orvis and Main Streets, where it ended at NY 37
. In the mid-1950s, construction began on a new alignment for NY 37 around the southern edge of the village. The highway opened to traffic by 1958; however, NY 420 continued to extend past the bypass into Massena until the early 1960s, when it was cut back to its junction with NY 37's new routing. The former routing of NY 420 in Massena is still state-maintained as part of NY 970B, an unsigned reference route designation for all of Main Street between NY 37 and NY 37B
.
On September 1, 1982, ownership and maintenance of County Route 51 (CR 51) from CR 110 north to US 11 in Winthrop was transferred from St. Lawrence County
to the state of New York
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. Also transferred to the state as part of the swap was CR 110 itself, an east–west highway extending from Stockholm Center to Coteys Corner. The segment of CR 51 given to New York became a southward extension of NY 420, which now began at NY 11C
(former CR 110) and briefly overlapped US 11 in Winthrop. The alignments of US 11 and NY 11C between Stockholm Center and Coteys Corner were flipped on June 13, 1992.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 (US 11) in the town of Stockholm
Stockholm, New York
Stockholm is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 3,592 at the 2000 census. The name was assigned by surveyors from Stockholm in Sweden....
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
in the village of Massena
Massena (village), New York
Massena is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Andre Massena, one of Napoleon's generals....
. NY 420 passes through undeveloped regions of St. Lawrence County for most of its routing and briefly overlaps with NY 11C
New York State Route 11C
New York State Route 11C is a short state highway located in St. Lawrence County in the northern part of New York, United States. NY 11C is a northern alternate route of U.S. Route 11 between the towns of Stockholm and Lawrence that serves the hamlets of Winthrop and Brasher Falls....
in the hamlet of Winthrop.
NY 420 was originally part of Route 32, an unsigned legislative route
Legislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
created by the New York State Legislature in 1908. The Winthrop–Massena portion of Route 32 became part of the signed NY 56 in the mid-1920s; however, NY 56 was realigned in 1927 to follow a new alignment well to the south of Winthrop. The former routing of NY 56 between Winthrop and Massena was redesignated as NY 420 as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. NY 420 was extended southward to its current terminus south of Winthrop in 1980.
Route description
NY 420 begins at an intersection with US 11 in the town of StockholmStockholm, New York
Stockholm is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 3,592 at the 2000 census. The name was assigned by surveyors from Stockholm in Sweden....
. The route heads north as a two-lane highway through forested areas and across both branches of the St. Regis River
St. Regis River
The St. Regis River is an river in northern New York in the USA. It flows into the Saint Lawrence River at the hamlet of St Regis in the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation. The Saint Regis River basin includes Upper and Lower St. Regis Lakes, and Saint Regis Pond in the Saint Regis Canoe Area.-External...
to the hamlet of Winthrop, the first area of significant development along the highway. Here, the two branches of the St. Regis River converge and NY 420 meets NY 11C
New York State Route 11C
New York State Route 11C is a short state highway located in St. Lawrence County in the northern part of New York, United States. NY 11C is a northern alternate route of U.S. Route 11 between the towns of Stockholm and Lawrence that serves the hamlets of Winthrop and Brasher Falls....
. NY 420 turns northeastward, overlapping NY 11C for two blocks before splitting from it in the center of Winthrop.
The route heads northwest from Winthrop, passing through heavily forested areas of St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
. As NY 420 passes out of Stockholm and into Norfolk
Norfolk (town), New York
Norfolk is a town in St. Lawrence County in the US state of New York. The town is in the northern part of the county and is north of Potsdam. The population was 4,565 at the 2000 census. The town's name is pronounced as "Nor-fork".- History :...
, the forests surrounding the highway begin to taper off and give way to small pockets of residences and cultivated fields. The amount of homes along the route begin to increase upon intersecting Plum Hill Road, at which point NY 420 becomes lined with residences for much of its run through north Norfolk. However, the string of homes ends near the northern town line, and the highway becomes flanked by forests once more as it curves northward and enters the town of Massena
Massena (town), New York
Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The town is on the northern border of the county and is nicknamed "The Gateway to the Fourth Coast". The population was 13,121 at the 2000 census. The town of Massena contains a village also called Massena...
.
In Massena, the forests along NY 420 subside slightly as it passes by industrial warehouses and residences. The route curves back to the northwest as it enters the village of Massena
Massena (village), New York
Massena is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Andre Massena, one of Napoleon's generals....
. Just past the village line, NY 420 crosses the St. Lawrence Subdivision, a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
. The highway continues on, curving northward to cross the Raquette River
Raquette River
The Raquette River, sometimes spelled Racquette, originates at Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Mountains in New York. long, it is the third longest river entirely in the state of New York....
. It curves back to the northwest on the northern riverbank and passes by a mixture of homes and commercial establishments before intersecting NY 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
south of the village center. NY 420 ends here; however, the road continues north into the heart of the village as Main Street.
History
In 1908, the New York State Legislature created Route 32, an unsigned legislative routeLegislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
extending from North Lawrence to Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
via Winthrop and Massena
Massena (village), New York
Massena is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Andre Massena, one of Napoleon's generals....
. When the first set of posted routes in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
were assigned in 1924, all of Route 32 west of Massena became part of NY 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
while the section east of Winthrop was incorporated into NY 2. The Winthrop–Massena segment of Route 32 did not initially receive a designation; however, by 1926, it had become the northwestern-most portion of NY 56, a highway linking Brighton
Brighton, Franklin County, New York
Brighton is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The population was 1,682 at the 2000 census. It was named after Brighton, England by early surveyors in the region....
to Massena via Nicholville and Winthrop. In 1927, NY 56 was realigned to proceed west from Nicholville on modern NY 11B
New York State Route 11B
New York State Route 11B is a state highway in northern New York, United States. It provides a parallel, more southerly east–west route to U.S. Route 11 between US 11 in Potsdam and US 11, NY 30, and NY 37 in Malone...
to a new terminus in the village of Potsdam
Potsdam (village), New York
Potsdam is a village located in the Town of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 9,425 at the 2000 census.The Village of Potsdam is in the eastern part of the town and is northeast of Canton, the county seat....
. The former routing of NY 56 between Winthrop and Massena was left unnumbered until the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York when it was designated as NY 420.
The initial northern terminus of NY 420 was in the center of Massena at the junction of Orvis and Main Streets, where it ended at NY 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
. In the mid-1950s, construction began on a new alignment for NY 37 around the southern edge of the village. The highway opened to traffic by 1958; however, NY 420 continued to extend past the bypass into Massena until the early 1960s, when it was cut back to its junction with NY 37's new routing. The former routing of NY 420 in Massena is still state-maintained as part of NY 970B, an unsigned reference route designation for all of Main Street between NY 37 and NY 37B
New York State Route 37B
New York State Route 37B is an east–west state highway located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. It serves as a business route of NY 37 through the village of Massena. While NY 37B enters the village, NY 37 bypasses it to the south. The western terminus of the...
.
On September 1, 1982, ownership and maintenance of County Route 51 (CR 51) from CR 110 north to US 11 in Winthrop was transferred from St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
to the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. Also transferred to the state as part of the swap was CR 110 itself, an east–west highway extending from Stockholm Center to Coteys Corner. The segment of CR 51 given to New York became a southward extension of NY 420, which now began at NY 11C
New York State Route 11C
New York State Route 11C is a short state highway located in St. Lawrence County in the northern part of New York, United States. NY 11C is a northern alternate route of U.S. Route 11 between the towns of Stockholm and Lawrence that serves the hamlets of Winthrop and Brasher Falls....
(former CR 110) and briefly overlapped US 11 in Winthrop. The alignments of US 11 and NY 11C between Stockholm Center and Coteys Corner were flipped on June 13, 1992.