Theresa,
New York, on the banks of the swiftly flowing Indian
River in Jefferson
County, is both the "Gateway to the Adirondacks"
and part of New
York state's world famous Thousand
Island Region. Rivers, streams and waterfalls are
rivaled by the mighty Lake
Ontario, which borders the county to the west, and
the St.
Lawrence River, which is the northern boundary. Canada
lies across the St. Lawrence River.
Theresa
was one of the last towns settled in Jefferson County.
Situated in the northern tip, just south of beautiful St.
Lawrence County, the remote locale of Theresa was
covered in dense stands of timber, separated by
sparkling lakes. A road was constructed from the town
of Evans
Mills to Theresa High Falls in 1817, and slowly
the town emerged there. The numerous lakes slowed down
the establishment of dairy farms, Jefferson County's
main industry, but they became well known to area
anglers.
Theresa's
Butterfield
Lake is considered part of the Black
Lake Watershed, formed by the powerful Indian
River. A yearly bass
tournament is held here. Grass
Lake, a cold, spring-fed lake, is explored by
divers. Other Theresa lakes include Moon, Hyde,
Crystal, Millsite, Red, Sixberry, Muskalonge and Lake
of the Woods. Many of these are stocked
with trout, walleye and steelhead. Theresa's lakes
range from half mile to several miles in length. These
apparently were favorite Native American hunting and
fishing grounds, as many artifacts have been
discovered here.
Due to
their remoteness, Theresa residents developed a
self-sufficient economic base that holds true today.
Cheese manufacturing is a primary industry for this
agricultural and dairy town. Half a dozen Limburger
cheese factories operate here, as well as four English
and Yankee cheddar cheese factories.
The
town of Theresa's population is 2,414 (2000 Census).
Within the town boundaries lies the village of
Theresa, with a population of 812. The hamlets of
Bartletts Corners, Douglas Crossing, Rivergate and
Coopers Corners are also included. The median
household income was reported as $37,000 per year.
Jefferson
County is one of upstate
New York's most spectacular regions. An
outdoorsmen's delight, its four distinct seasons bring
tourists from all over. Winter looks like a Currier
and Ives print here, with the modern additions of
snowmobiles and skis to the picture. In summer months,
boaters white-water raft down Theresa's Indian River
and the nearby Black River. Divers explore old
shipwrecks in Lake Ontario.
Theresa,
New York residents claim a pristine scenic landscape
and some of the best fishing lakes in the area.
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