Essex County, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Essex County
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Lake Placid, in Essex County
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Location within the U.S. state of New York
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 New York's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New York |
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| Founded | 1799 | ||
| Named for | Essex | ||
| Seat | Elizabethtown | ||
| Largest CDP | Ticonderoga | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1,916 sq mi (4,960 km2) | ||
| • Land | 1,794 sq mi (4,650 km2) | ||
| • Water | 122 sq mi (320 km2) 6.4%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 37,381 | ||
| • Density | 20.8/sq mi (8.0/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 21st | ||
Essex County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,381. Its county seat is the hamlet of Elizabethtown. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Essex is one of only 2 counties that are entirely within the Adirondack Park, the other being Hamilton County. The county is part of the North Country region of the state.
Contents
History
When counties were established in the state of New York in 1683, the present Essex County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York state as well as all of the present state of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770, by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont. On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces, Charlotte County, contained the eastern portion.
In 1784, the name "Charlotte County" was changed to Washington County to honor George Washington, the American Revolutionary War general and later President of the United States of America.
In 1788, Clinton County was split off from Washington County. This was a much larger area than the present Clinton County, including several other counties or county parts of the present New York state (near Clunes).
Essex County was split from Clinton County in 1799.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,916 square miles (4,960 km2), of which 1,794 square miles (4,650 km2) is land and 122 square miles (320 km2) (6.4%) is water. It is the second-largest county in New York by land area and third-largest by total area.
Essex County is in the northeastern part of New York state, just west of Vermont along the eastern boundary of the state. The eastern boundary of Essex County is Lake Champlain, which serves as the New York – Vermont border at an elevation of just under 100 feet (30.5 m). The highest natural point in New York, Mount Marcy at 5,344 feet (1,629 m), is in the town of Keene.
The Ausable River forms a partial northern boundary for the county.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 9,477 | — | |
| 1820 | 12,811 | 35.2% | |
| 1830 | 19,287 | 50.6% | |
| 1840 | 23,634 | 22.5% | |
| 1850 | 31,148 | 31.8% | |
| 1860 | 28,214 | −9.4% | |
| 1870 | 29,042 | 2.9% | |
| 1880 | 34,515 | 18.8% | |
| 1890 | 33,052 | −4.2% | |
| 1900 | 30,707 | −7.1% | |
| 1910 | 33,458 | 9.0% | |
| 1920 | 31,871 | −4.7% | |
| 1930 | 33,959 | 6.6% | |
| 1940 | 34,178 | 0.6% | |
| 1950 | 35,086 | 2.7% | |
| 1960 | 35,300 | 0.6% | |
| 1970 | 34,631 | −1.9% | |
| 1980 | 36,176 | 4.5% | |
| 1990 | 37,152 | 2.7% | |
| 2000 | 38,851 | 4.6% | |
| 2010 | 39,370 | 1.3% | |
| 2020 | 37,381 | −5.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 33,714 | 90.2% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 610 | 1.63% |
| Native American (NH) | 74 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 229 | 0.61% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 7 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,769 | 4.73% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 978 | 2.62% |
Education
Private schools
- Mountain Lake Academy
- National Sports Academy
- North Country School
- Northwood School
- St. Agnes School
- St. Mary's School
Higher education
- North Country Community College
Transportation
Airports
The following public use airports are located in the county:
- Lake Placid Airport (LKP) – Lake Placid
- Marcy Field (1I1) – Keene
- Schroon Lake Airport (4B7) – Schroon Lake
- Ticonderoga Municipal Airport (4B6) – Ticonderoga
Bus
Essex County Public Transportation operates several accessible bus routes connecting the county's major communities. Between scheduled stops, riders may flag down buses or request to be let off almost anywhere. Riders may also request minor route deviations for a small fee with advanced notice. Fares generally cost a few dollars or less.
In 2020 and 2021, bus service was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Routes
The Champlain North route operates from Elizabethtown north to Wadhams, Whallonsburg, Essex, Willsboro, and to Keeseville, where riders may connect to Clinton County Public Transit bus routes.
The Champlain South route operates from Elizabethtown south to Westport, Mineville, Witherbee, Port Henry, Crown Point, and Ticonderoga. The service partially follows New York State Route 9N. Riders can connect to Amtrak's Adirondack train at Westport station for service to New York City and Montreal.
The Mountain Valley Shuttle operates from Elizabethtown west to Keene, Jay, Au Sable, Wilmington, and Lake Placid. Riders may connect to Clinton County Public Transit bus routes in Au Sable.
The Cascade Express route operates from Elizabethtown west to Keene, North Elba, Lake Placid, and Saranac Lake.
The Lake Placid XPRSS route operates within the village of Lake Placid. The bus is fare-free and supports tourism.
Rail
Amtrak's Adirondack service travels through Essex County once a day in each direction on its route between New York City and Montreal, stopping in Ticonderoga, Port Henry, Westport and Port Kent (seasonal). Amtrak also offers Thruway Motorcoach service connecting Lake Placid with Westport station.
The service was temporarily suspended from March 2020 through early April 2023 due to the closure of the Canadian/American border in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and related logistical challenges.
Communities
Larger settlements
| # | Location | Population | Type | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ‡Saranac Lake | 5,406 | Village | Northwest |
| 2 | Ticonderoga | 3,382 | CDP | Southeast |
| 3 | Lake Placid | 2,521 | Village | Northwest |
| 4 | ‡Keeseville | 1,815 | CDP | Northeast |
| 5 | Mineville | 1,269 | CDP | Southeast |
| 6 | Port Henry | 1,194 | CDP | Southeast |
| 7 | †Elizabethtown | 1,163 | CDP | Northeast |
| 8 | Wilmington | 937 | CDP | Northwest |
| 9 | Schroon Lake | 833 | CDP | Southeast |
| 10 | Willsboro | 753 | CDP | Northeast |
| 11 | Westport | 518 | CDP | Northeast |
| 12 | Willsboro Point | 382 | CDP | Northeast |
| 13 | Witherbee | 347 | CDP | Southeast |
† - County Seat
‡ - Not Wholly in this County
Towns
Hamlets
Villages
Notable people
- John Brown (1800–1859), an abolitionist who owned a farm in North Elba. His sons John Jr., Watson, and Owen all lived, when young, on their father's farm.
- Sophie Clarke (born 1989), winner of Survivor: South Pacific, from Willsboro.
- Vincent Colyer (1825–1888), was a successful American artist and humanitarian who worked to help freedmen and Native Americans; he was born in Bloomingdale.
- Henry Debosnys (1836–1883), Portuguese-born wife murderer and cryptographer
- Francis Donnelly of Olmstedville (1903–1980), at the time of his death in 1980 was the longest continually serving town elected official in the United States, having served as the Town of Minerva Supervisor and as that town's representative at the county level for 46 years
- Carlton Foster (1826–1901), Wisconsin lumberman, Wisconsin state legislator, and mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
- Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (born 1985), known professionally as Lana Del Rey, grew up in the town of Lake Placid.
- Inez Milholland (1886–1916), leader in the women's suffrage movement, is buried in Lewis Cemetery. Her family had a summer home in Westport, which is now the Meadowmount School of Music.
- Solomon Northup (1808 – c. 1863), born in Minerva as a free man, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841. Regaining freedom in 1853, he published his memoir that year, became nationally known and lectured on the abolitionist circuit. He became an inspiration for the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave.
- Johnny Podres (1932–2008), pitcher for Brooklyn Dodgers and 1955 World Series MVP, was born in Witherbee.
- Tom Tyler, silent film star, originally from Mineville.
- Eli Winch (1848–1938), born in the town of Wilmington, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and manufacturer.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Essex (Nueva York) para niños
