Theresa, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theresa, New York
Town
Nickname(s):  "Land of Lakes"
Theresa, New York Location in New York Show map of New York Theresa, New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Jefferson
Area
• Total	69.99 sq mi (181.27 km2)
• Land	65.12 sq mi (168.66 km2)
• Water	4.87 sq mi (12.61 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,648
• Density	40.66/sq mi (15.70/km2)
Time zone	EST
• Summer (DST)	EDT
ZIP code	13691
Area code(s)	315
FIPS code	36-045-73528

Theresa is a small and friendly town located in Jefferson County, New York, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,648 people lived here. The town got its name from Theresa La Ray, who was the daughter of one of the first people to own land in the area.

Inside the town of Theresa, there is also a village that shares the same name, Theresa. Both the town and the village are in the northern part of Jefferson County, a bit north-northeast of the city of Watertown.

A Look Back: Theresa's History

The story of Theresa goes way back, even before Europeans arrived. Native American groups lived in this area as early as 841 B.C.

Early Native American Life

One of the first groups to live in the Theresa area was called the Meadowood Phase. These were early Woodland Indians who hunted and gathered food. We know they were here because tools like weapon points, fishing nets, and other items have been found near Muskellunge and Red lakes. Later, the Iroquois people used the Theresa area for hunting and fishing. They even had villages nearby and used the local rivers for trade and travel.

European Arrival and Early Settlement

The first Europeans to spend time in Theresa were not settlers, but smugglers. They used the Indian River as a busy route for their trade. There were waterfalls that made it tricky, so they had to move their goods and boats around them. Early pioneers sometimes found boats left behind by smugglers, which helped them settle the town.

The official settlement of Theresa began on January 4, 1800. A man named David Nelson bought a huge amount of land, about 220,000 acres (890 km²). This land was then divided up for people to buy and build homes. By 1810, mills were built near the waterfalls, and cattle were brought in. However, the War of 1812 slowed down the growth of the town.

Growth and Development

After the war, Theresa started to grow quickly. In 1814, a bridge was built across the river, and a dam and mill followed a year later. The Shurtliff and Ball families were the first to buy land in 1817. A military road, built in 1816, connected Theresa to other towns, bringing more settlers. Soon, taverns were built, and more businesses started to appear.

Within a few years, Theresa had its first blacksmith, brick maker, merchant, and doctor. The first schoolhouse was built in 1821. It was also used as a meeting place and even a temporary church. The first cemetery was created on land donated by an early landowner. Mail delivery started weekly in the 1820s, and by 1831, mail came three times a week. In 1849, the first telegraph office opened.

Town Formation and Major Fires

In 1841, Theresa officially became its own separate town, no longer part of Alexandria. The village of Theresa became an official village in 1871.

Theresa faced two big fires. The first was in 1859, destroying several homes, mills, and shops, including the bridge. Despite this, Theresa was a busy center for manufacturing and trade. The first railway, the Black River and Morristown Railroad, arrived in 1872, helping the town grow even more.

In the 1880s, Theresa's population grew by about 1,200 people, and businesses expanded. But there were no good fire safety measures. In 1890, the second major fire swept through the business district, destroying almost every business. About 40 buildings were lost. However, this led to the construction of newer, more modern buildings. The fire also led to building a town hall with businesses on the ground floor and meeting rooms upstairs. The money from these businesses helped build a village and fire hall, and a fire department with excellent equipment.

Modern Improvements

In later years, Theresa focused on improving its public services and recreation.

• In 1896, the town appointed its first attendance officer for schools.
• The first library opened in 1900 in the town hall.
• In 1901, an iron bridge was built at Hanson Crossing.
• The Town Fire District was created in 1931, covering the entire town.
• Modern voting machines were bought in 1937.
• In 1975, Theresa received a grant for nearly $31,000, being the first town in New York State to get such a grant.
• A skating rink and warming house were built in 1976.
• In 1978, the town bought 10 acres (40,000 m²) of land to build a park, which would include the skating rink, tennis courts, and basketball courts.

Theresa's Geography

Theresa covers a total area of about 70 square miles (181.3 km²). Most of this is land (65.12 sq mi or 168.7 km²), and about 4.87 square miles (12.6 km²) is water, which is about 7% of the total area.

The northeastern border of the town touches St. Lawrence County.

The Indian River flows through the town, heading northeast. Many lakes and swampy areas can be found in the northeastern part of Theresa.

Important roads in Theresa include New York State Route 26 and New York State Route 37, which run north-south. New York State Route 411 runs east-west and connects to Interstate 81 at the western edge of the town.

Population in Theresa

In 2000, there were 2,414 people living in Theresa. This included 869 households and 641 families. The population density was about 40.66 people per square mile (15.70 per km²).

About 38% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.78 people. The population was spread out, with 30.2% under 18 years old and 7.6% who were 65 or older. The average age in town was 34 years.

Famous People from Theresa

Theresa has been home to some interesting and important people.

Black Bart: The Mysterious Highwayman

One of the most famous people from Theresa was a highwayman known as Black Bart. He was born near Moon Lake, possibly named Charles E. Boles or C.E. Bolton. He moved to Illinois to join the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war, he went to San Francisco.

For eight years, Black Bart was known as the "Scourge of Wells Fargo" because he successfully robbed 27 stagecoaches. His luck ran out on November 3, 1883, during a robbery. He accidentally left behind a magnifying glass, a field glass case, and a handkerchief, which led to his arrest. Bart spent four years in San Quentin State Prison. After being released in 1888, he disappeared and was never seen again. Some people think Wells Fargo paid him to stop robbing coaches, but his disappearance remains a mystery.

Jim Biggers: The Town Character

Another notable person was Jim Biggers, a local mystery man. He was a wanderer who slept in caves, barns, or under large trees. People in town liked him and often gave him food and clothes, which he always accepted thankfully. In winter, he would wear many layers of pants and shirts to stay warm.

Jim Biggers was very good at math and would help anyone with their problems, seeming to know the answers by heart. He also kept up with local and world news, so shopkeepers would often save a chair for him to share the day's information. He loved to see big shows in Watertown and would walk all day to attend them. In his later years, he lived in a country home until he passed away.

Roswell P. Flower: Governor of New York

Roswell P. Flower was born in Theresa in 1835. He graduated from Theresa High School and went on to have a very successful career in politics.

• He served as assistant postmaster of Watertown, New York, from 1854 to 1860.
• He was a Congressman representing New York in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms.
• He became the Governor of New York, serving from 1891 to 1895.

The Presbyterian Church in Theresa has a special plaque honoring the Flower family.

Nicholas Doxtater Yost and Charles W. Yost

Nicholas Doxtater Yost, who was related to Governor Flower by marriage, moved to Theresa in 1837. His son, George Yost, became an important citizen and built a house that survived Theresa's big fires. A famous descendant of Nicholas Yost was Charles W. Yost, who served as a United Nations Ambassador.

Roscoe Drummond: Political Journalist

Roscoe Drummond (1902–1983) was also born in Theresa. He became a well-known political journalist. He worked for a long time with The Christian Science Monitor and wrote a popular newspaper column called "State of the Nation" for over 50 years.

Places and Communities in Theresa

The town of Theresa includes several smaller communities and natural landmarks:

• Bartletts Corners – A small community near the southeastern town line, south of Red Lake.
• Butterfield Lake – A lake partly located in the town, on the northwestern border.
• Chapel Corners – A spot on County Road 21, near Lake of the Woods.
• Coopers Corners – A community on routes NY-26 and NY-37, west of Theresa village.
• Crystal Lake – A lake near NY-26, close to the northwestern town line.
• Douglas Crossing – A community on NY-37, south of Theresa village.
• Grass Lake – A lake partly in Theresa and partly in St. Lawrence County.
• Hyde Lake – A lake on the western side of Theresa.
• Indian River – A river that flows through the town.
• Indian River Wildlife Management Area – A protected area for wildlife in the town.
• Lake of the Woods – A lake in the northern part of town, south of Grass Lake.
• Millsite Lake – A lake near the northwestern town line, south of Butterfield Lake.
• Moon Lake – A lake south of Bartletts Corners and Red Lake.
• Muskellunge Lake – A lake near the northeastern corner of Theresa, east of Bartletts Corners.
• Red Lake – A lake near Bartletts Corners and the northeastern town line.
• Rivergate – A community on County Road 46 and the Indian River, south of Theresa village.
• Shurtleff Corners – A location on the southeastern town line on NY-26.
• Sixberry Lake – A lake south of Millsite Lake.
• Stills Corner – A location near the western corner of Theresa.
• Stroughs Crossing – A location on NY-411 in the western part of the town.
• Theresa – The main village, located on the Indian River and NY-26.

See also

In Spanish: Theresa (Nueva York) para niños