New York State Route 56
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 56 (NY 56) is a north–south state highway
in eastern St. Lawrence County, New York
, United States
. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 3
in the town of Colton
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 37
southwest of Massena
in the town of Louisville
. NY 56 follows the Raquette River
for most of its length and serves the village of Potsdam
, where it passes by the campus of Clarkson University
.
in the town of Colton
to NY 420
south of Massena
. In the vicinity of Massena, NY 56 was originally routed on West Hatfield Road. NY 56 was realigned ca. 1937 to follow a new highway into Massena, where it ended at a junction with NY 420 (Main Street) just south of where NY 420 ended at NY 37
.
In the mid-1950s, construction began on a new alignment for NY 37 around the southern edge of Massena. The highway opened to traffic by 1958; however, NY 56 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 56 in Massena is still state-maintained as NY 970C, an unsigned reference route designation for Andrews Street between NY 37 and Main Street (itself unsigned NY 970B).
NY 56A was an alternate route of NY 56 between Potsdam
and Norfolk
in St. Lawrence County
. The route began in Potsdam, headed northwest to Madrid
, then turned northeast and continued to its northern terminus in Norfolk. NY 56A was assigned in 1930 and removed in 1980.
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 eastern 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 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...
in the town of Colton
Colton, New York
Colton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 1,453 at the 2000 census. The town, originally named Matildaville, is named after early settler Jesse Colton Higley....
. 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...
southwest 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....
in the town of Louisville
Louisville, New York
Louisville is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 3,195 at the 2000 census. The town is reportedly named after a French king, but it is pronounced as "Lewis-ville."...
. NY 56 follows 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....
for most of its length and serves 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....
, where it passes by the campus of Clarkson University
Clarkson University
-The Clarkson School:The Clarkson School, a special division of Clarkson University, was founded in 1978 as a unique educational opportunity. The School offers students an early entrance opportunity into college, replacing the typical senior year of high school with a year of college...
.
History
NY 56 was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York to an alignment extending from NY 3New 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...
in the town of Colton
Colton, New York
Colton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 1,453 at the 2000 census. The town, originally named Matildaville, is named after early settler Jesse Colton Higley....
to NY 420
New York State Route 420
New York State Route 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 in the town of Stockholm. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 37 in the village of...
south 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....
. In the vicinity of Massena, NY 56 was originally routed on West Hatfield Road. NY 56 was realigned ca. 1937 to follow a new highway into Massena, where it ended at a junction with NY 420 (Main Street) just south of where NY 420 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 Massena. The highway opened to traffic by 1958; however, NY 56 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 56 in Massena is still state-maintained as NY 970C, an unsigned reference route designation for Andrews Street between NY 37 and Main Street (itself unsigned NY 970B).
NY 56A
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....
and Norfolk
Norfolk (CDP), New York
Norfolk is a hamlet in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 1,334 at the 2000 census.This community is in the Town of Norfolk.-Geography:Norfolk is located at ....
in 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...
. The route began in Potsdam, headed northwest to Madrid
Madrid, New York
Madrid is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 1,828 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Madrid in Spain.The Town of Madrid is in the northern part of the county, north of Canton....
, then turned northeast and continued to its northern terminus in Norfolk. NY 56A was assigned in 1930 and removed in 1980.