[3] Ponte Tresa is first mentioned in 818 as ad Tresiae Pontem, though this comes from a 12th-century copy of the earlier document.

[4] The history of the town is closely tied to the Tresa river crossing, which was first mentioned in 590 by Gregory of Tours.

The name of the municipality, and the neighboring, Italian town of Lavena Ponte Tresa, both come from the river.

From the Middle Ages until the opening of the Melide causeway in 1847, the municipality provided strategically important connections to Italy.

Below the bridge there were fish ponds, which were mostly stocked with eels that belonged to the Bishop of Milan.

[4] At Rocchetta, in the area above the town, lie the ruins of the Comacine masters castle of S. Martino, which was destroyed in the war between Como and Milan (1118–27).

During the Middle Ages, Ponte Tresa enjoyed certain responsibilities and privileges in connection with border control, tolls and upkeep on the bridge.

The Duke of Milan granted the village a tax exemption, which was confirmed by the Swiss Confederation in the 15th century.

[4] Ponte Tresa had an area, as of 1997[update], of 0.41 square kilometers (0.16 sq mi).

Of the rest of the land, 0.19 km2 (0.073 sq mi) or 46.3% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.03 km2 (7.4 acres) or 7.3% is either rivers or lakes.

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Per fess gules and argent, four barrulets azure; resting upon the line of partition a five-arched bridge or, ensigned of a mule sable; swimming in the waters in base three eels sable.

Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks Italian (79.8%), with German being second most common (13.3%) and French being third (2.6%).

[7] The age distribution, as of 2009[update], in Ponte Tresa is; 50 children or 6.2% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 76 teenagers or 9.4% are between 10 and 19.

The station is served by regular trains, operating every 15 minutes during weekday daytime, and every half-hour at other times.

The railway station is also served by Autopostale buses to Luino, Monteggio and Novaggio.

[16] In the 2007[update] Gran Consiglio election, there were a total of 524 registered voters in Ponte Tresa, of which 278 or 53.1% voted.

[19] From the 2000 census[update], 605 or 78.7% were Roman Catholic, while 59 or 7.7% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.

The wettest month is May during which time Ponte Tresa receives an average of 226 mm (8.9 in) of rain.

The driest month of the year is December with an average of 70 mm (2.8 in) of precipitation over 5.8 days.

In the lower secondary school system, students either attend a two-year middle school followed by a two-year pre-apprenticeship or they attend a four-year program to prepare for higher education.

The professional program lasts three years and prepares a student for a job in engineering, nursing, computer science, business, tourism and similar fields.