The region of upper Torysa was situated along the ancient transit road. The Vandals passed through it already in the period of Roman provinces. The beginnings of Slavic settlement are dated to the 7th-9th century. The historical development of the settlement of this area was very compound. The cadastral areas of villages respect the natural river basin of the upper flow of Torysa river from Lipany up the river stream. Natural conditions determined givens destined the utilization of this area – for agriculture, forestry and water resources. In the past, this region was backward with narrow offer of job opportunities, but it coexisted together with its age-old traditions – cultural, social and economical ones. The previous regime influenced the development of this region mainly by two political decisions – founding of the military troops training area Javorina in the Levočské vrchy Mts. And planned construction of a dam on the Tichý potok river meant an almost 40 years lasting closure of building in 4 affected villages. The initiation of some projects that ought to bring the solution of many actual problems was successful thanks to the good cooperation among non-governmental organization "People and water", different non-profit organizations and the villages of the region. Out of them the most important is the program "Village of the Third Millennium" the aim of which is to motivate the inhabitants of the upper Torysa region to be engaged in the process that can bring them economical, social and cultural effects.