Essex County, New York

Essex County
County
Lake Placid, in Essex County
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°07′N 73°46′W
Country	United States
State	New York
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)
• Total	37,381
• Density	20.8/sq mi (8.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	21st
Website	essexcountyny.gov

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.

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.

John Brown's Farm

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

Essex County, NY. 1858 map.

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.	Note	%±
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

2020 census

Essex County Racial Composition

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%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,851 people, 15,028 households, and 9,828 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km²). There were 23,115 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.84% White, 2.81% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races; 2.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the population, 22.0% were of French, 16.3% Irish, 13.0% English, 8.6% German, 7.1% American and 6.2% Italian ancestry; 95.2% spoke English, 2.2% Spanish, and 1.3% French as their first language.

There were 15,028 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.60% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.80% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 107.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,823, and the median income for a family was $41,927. Males had a median income of $30,952 versus $22,205 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,194. Of the population, 11.60% of individuals, 7.80% of families, 14.50% of those under the age of 18, and 8.60% of those 65 and older, were living below the poverty line.

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

Harris Lake in Newcomb

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

• Chesterfield
• Crown Point
• Elizabethtown
• Essex
• Jay
• Keene
• Lewis
• Minerva
• Moriah
• Newcomb
• North Elba
• North Hudson
• Schroon
• St. Armand
• Ticonderoga
• Westport
• Willsboro
• Wilmington

Hamlets

• Bloomingdale
• North Pole
• Olmstedville
• Port Kent
• Ray Brook
• Wadhams

Villages

• Lake Placid

Politics

Essex County is a swing county, having voted for the nationwide winner in every election beginning in 1980 with the exception of 1992. It voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 elections, switched to Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and then flipped to Donald Trump in 2016, then to Joe Biden in 2020. Before 1996, however, Essex, like most of the North Country, was powerfully Republican. Until Bill Clinton won it in 1996, it had voted for a Democratic presidential candidate only once since the Civil War, when Barry Goldwater lost every county in New York State in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Essex County, New York

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	8,982	46.59%	9,950	51.61%	348	1.80%
2016	7,958	46.22%	7,762	45.08%	1,498	8.70%
2012	6,647	39.76%	9,784	58.53%	286	1.71%
2008	7,913	42.55%	10,390	55.88%	292	1.57%
2004	9,869	51.72%	8,768	45.95%	445	2.33%
2000	8,822	49.18%	7,927	44.19%	1,189	6.63%
1996	6,379	37.55%	7,893	46.47%	2,714	15.98%
1992	8,278	43.63%	6,717	35.40%	3,978	20.97%
1988	10,350	60.48%	6,623	38.70%	140	0.82%
1984	12,114	69.94%	5,119	29.56%	87	0.50%
1980	9,025	53.16%	6,443	37.95%	1,510	8.89%
1976	10,194	60.59%	6,556	38.97%	74	0.44%
1972	11,763	70.22%	4,955	29.58%	34	0.20%
1968	9,377	61.07%	5,218	33.98%	760	4.95%
1964	5,837	35.19%	10,739	64.75%	9	0.05%
1960	11,557	64.56%	6,334	35.38%	10	0.06%
1956	13,930	82.11%	3,035	17.89%	0	0.00%
1952	12,800	75.53%	4,130	24.37%	16	0.09%
1948	10,287	69.90%	4,088	27.78%	342	2.32%
1944	10,128	68.44%	4,637	31.34%	33	0.22%
1940	11,868	68.01%	5,545	31.77%	38	0.22%
1936	11,599	67.88%	5,447	31.88%	42	0.25%
1932	10,062	63.74%	5,597	35.46%	127	0.80%
1928	10,462	66.34%	5,291	33.55%	17	0.11%
1924	8,553	73.96%	2,639	22.82%	373	3.23%
1920	8,042	77.48%	2,218	21.37%	119	1.15%
1916	4,643	65.39%	2,373	33.42%	84	1.18%
1912	3,127	44.20%	2,070	29.26%	1,878	26.54%
1908	5,167	69.09%	2,033	27.18%	279	3.73%
1904	5,385	70.88%	2,028	26.69%	184	2.42%
1900	5,064	70.31%	1,994	27.69%	144	2.00%
1896	5,356	74.24%	1,760	24.40%	98	1.36%
1892	4,636	60.39%	2,710	35.30%	331	4.31%
1888	5,043	62.28%	2,930	36.19%	124	1.53%
1884	4,551	61.06%	2,776	37.25%	126	1.69%

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.
• Robert Garrow, serial killer in the Syracuse area in the 1970s. He grew up in Moriah.
• Ben Goldwasser (born 1983), keyboardist for psychedelic rock band MGMT. He grew up in Westport.
• 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

• List of counties in New York
• Adirondack County, New York—a proposed new county
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New York

Further reading

• Sullivan, James; Williams, Melvin E.; Conklin, Edwin P.; Fitzpatrick, Benedict, eds. (1927), "Chapter I. Essex County.", History of New York State, 1523–1927 (PDF), vol. 2, New York City, Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., p. 583-85, hdl:2027/mdp.39015019994048, Wikidata Q114149636

External links

• Essex County
• Adirondack Almanack
• Essex County history pages
• North Country Community College
• Wilmington (Town of) Historical Society Archived February 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
• Template:Curlie