Population36,438 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
High Peaks Above a Great Border Lake
Essex County, New YorkEssex County lies entirely within Adirondack Park, extending from Lake Champlain toward mountain country that includes Mount Marcy. Elizabethtown provides the county-government center, while the landscape ranges from low lakeshore elevations to New York’s highest summit. The Ausable River forms part of the county’s northern boundary. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 36,438 residents in Essex County, New York, on July 1, 2025.
Essex County at a Glance
Population36,438 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatElizabethtown
StateNew York
Established1799
ZIP CodesVary by address
Total Area, Including Water1,916.266 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Road InformationState transportation resources below
Area CodesSee local phone listings
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Discover Essex County
Essex County
Essex County was separated from Clinton County in 1799 and named for the English county of Essex. Elizabethtown became its county seat. Earlier jurisdictions covering the region were much larger, and later boundary adjustments also changed the county’s map. Its position entirely within Adirondack Park is central to its modern geographic identity. Lake Champlain forms the eastern boundary, while inland mountains create a dramatic change in elevation within the same county.
A lakeshore visit and a High Peaks trip offer very different experiences of Essex County. Lake Champlain provides the eastern reference line, while Mount Marcy in the town of Keene marks the state’s highest natural point. Elizabethtown supplies the county-government center between these broader landscapes. Choosing one part of the county first allows time for its local communities and avoids underestimating travel through a region defined by mountains and water.
What Shapes Us
Local Character
Elizabethtown provides the county-government center, while the landscape ranges from low lakeshore elevations to New York’s highest summit. The Ausable River forms part of the county’s northern boundary.
Community History
Essex County was separated from Clinton County in 1799 and named for the English county of Essex. Elizabethtown became its county seat.
Around the County
Lake Champlain provides the eastern reference line, while Mount Marcy in the town of Keene marks the state’s highest natural point.
From lakeshore to summit, the landscape changes profoundly.
A Closer Look
Essex County
Places and perspectives from Essex County
New York State Department of Transportation
New York & Atlantic Railway Receives $6.5 Million Federal CRISI Grant, Joining State and Private Funding in a $10.9 Million Partnership to Upgrade Four Locomotives with Cleaner Technology
Read the Story Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Essex County
Stories from every corner of Essex County.
New York & Atlantic Railway Receives $6.5 Million Federal CRISI Grant, Joining State and Private Funding in a $10.9 Million Partnership to Upgrade Four Locomotives with Cleaner Technology
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
State Department of Transportation to Host Two Public Information Meetings for Proposed Projects in Towns of Wirt and Burns, Allegany County
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
State Department of Transportation Announces Completion of $19.9 Million Bridge Replacement Project in Hamilton County
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Major Work on the Transformative Van Wyck Expressway Project
Oct 26, 2026 • 2 min read
War on Potholes: Governor Hochul Fills the One Millionth Pothole on State Roads in 2026
Oct 22, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
County photographs from Wikimedia Commons; images may be cropped for display.
- Whiteface-Lake Placid View.jpg — Aoliver476. CC BY-SA 4.0. Own work
- Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain from McKenzie Mtn.jpg — Mwanner. CC BY-SA 3.0. Own work
- Whiteface Mountain from Lake Placid Airport.JPG — Mwanner. CC BY-SA 3.0. Own work
Government
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Ausable Forks Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-06. 28 W CHURCH LN, AU SABLE FORKS, NY 12912. 518-647-5503.
Mountain View Campus – High; grades 06-12. 7530 COURT ST, ELIZABETHTOWN, NY 12932. 518-873-6371.
Crown Point Central School – Other; grades PK-12. 2758 MAIN ST, CROWN POINT, NY 12928. 518-597-3285.
Keene Central School – Other; grades KG-12. 33 MARKET ST, KEENE VALLEY, NY 12943. 518-576-4555.
Lake Placid Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-05. 318 OLD MILITARY RD, LAKE PLACID, NY 12946. 518-523-3640.
Minerva Central School – Other; grades PK-12. 1466 COUNTY RT 29, OLMSTEDVILLE, NY 12857. 518-251-2000.
Moriah Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-06. 39 VIKING LN, PORT HENRY, NY 12974. 518-546-3301.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Elizabethtown Community Hospital – Critical Access Hospitals. 75 Park Street, Elizabethtown, NY 12932. 518-873-6377.
New York statewide resources
Public Safety
Use these official resources for law-enforcement information, criminal-justice services, safety programs and public-safety assistance.
- New York State Police — State Police services, safety information, news and contact resources.
- Division of Criminal Justice Services — Criminal-justice programs, public-safety resources, statistics and services.
- Sex Offender Registry — Search New York State public sex-offender registry information.
- Missing Persons Clearinghouse — Official missing-person information and resources.
- Office of Victim Services — Information about victim compensation, assistance programs and local service providers.
- Traffic Safety — Statewide traffic-safety programs, education and highway-safety information.
- Homeland Security & Emergency Services — Preparedness, emergency management, fire prevention and homeland-security programs.
- NY.gov Safety & Justice Services — Search state services related to safety, justice and identification.
New York statewide resources
Emergency Services
For life-threatening emergencies call 911. These resources help with statewide alerts, preparedness, road conditions, disasters and emergency information.
- NY-Alert — Sign up for emergency notifications and public-safety alerts.
- Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services — Emergency management, disaster preparedness, fire prevention and response resources.
- Before an Emergency — Build an emergency plan, prepare supplies and learn how to stay informed.
- 511NY — Check traffic, transit, road closures, incidents and travel conditions.
- National Weather Service — Official weather forecasts, watches, warnings and severe-weather information.
- FEMA — Federal disaster preparedness, response and assistance resources.
- American Red Cross — New York — Disaster assistance, preparedness information, shelters and local services.
- New York State Police — State Police contacts and public-safety information.
New York statewide resources
State Parks
Plan a New York park trip with official park finders, camping tools, events, passes, historic sites and recreation information.
- Find a State Park — Search New York state parks by region, county and recreation options.
- New York State Parks — Main portal for parks, historic sites, recreation, events and visitor information.
- Camping — Camping information, policies and reservation guidance for state parks.
- Park Activities — Explore trails, boating, swimming, golf, birding and seasonal activities.
- Park Regions — Browse parks and recreation opportunities by New York State Parks region.
- Historic Sites — Explore state-operated historic sites, museums and heritage destinations.
- DEC Places to Go — Find state forests, wildlife areas, campgrounds and other DEC-managed lands.
- DEC Camping — Camping information for DEC campgrounds and backcountry areas.
New York statewide resources
Trails
Find hiking, biking and multi-use trails, maps, safety information and public-land recreation throughout New York.
- DEC Hiking — Hiking destinations, seasonal suggestions, trail guidance and Hike Smart NY safety information.
- New York State Parks Trails — Trail information for parks and historic-site properties.
- DECinfo Locator — Interactive map for trails, parking, campsites, lean-tos and state-managed lands.
- Empire State Trail — Official information for the statewide multi-use trail connecting major regions of New York.
- Accessible Recreation — Find accessible hiking, fishing, boating, camping and picnic locations.
- State Park Activities — Browse hiking, biking, snowmobiling and other outdoor recreation options.
- DEC Places to Go — Discover public lands and recreation areas across the state.
- Hike Smart NY — Safety, planning and preparedness information for New York hikers.
New York statewide resources
Utilities
Find consumer help for electric, gas, water, telephone and cable services, plus energy-assistance and utility-regulation information.
- Department of Public Service — Utility regulation, consumer information and Public Service Commission resources.
- File a Utility Complaint — Get help with regulated utility billing or service problems after contacting the provider.
- Ask PSC — Consumer information and answers about electric, gas, telephone, cable and water utility issues.
- Utility Consumer Assistance — Online consumer complaint and case-status system.
- Home Energy Assistance Program — HEAP information for eligible households needing help with heating and energy costs.
- NYSERDA — Energy-efficiency, clean-energy and consumer energy programs.
- New York State Broadband Program — State broadband information, mapping and connectivity programs.
- NY.gov Services — Search statewide housing, energy and utility-related services.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Ausable Forks Free Library – 9 Church Lane, Ausable Forks, NY 12912. 518-647-5596.
Hammond Library Of Crown Point – 2732 Main Street, Crown Point, NY 12928. 518-597-3616.
Elizabethtown Library Association – 8256 River Street, Elizabethtown, NY 12932. 518-873-2670.
Belden Noble Memorial Library Of Essex – 2759 Essex Rd., Essex, NY 12936. 518-963-8079.
Keene Public Library – 10928 Nys Route 9N, Keene, NY 12942. 518-576-2200.
Keene Valley Library Association – 1796 Main Street, Keene Valley, NY 12943. 518-576-4335.
Keeseville Free Library – 1721 Front Street, Keeseville, NY 12944. 518-834-9054.
New York statewide resources
Courts
Find courts, case information, forms, self-help guidance and court services through the New York State Unified Court System.
- New York Courts — Main portal for the New York State Unified Court System.
- Find a Court — Search courts by county, court type and case type.
- CourtHelp — Plain-language information for people handling common court matters.
- eCourts — Access public case information for supported New York court matters.
- Court Forms — Find statewide and court-specific forms.
- Programs & Services — Access ADR, accessibility, criminal-history search and other court-user services.
- Jury Service — Official New York juror information and service guidance.
- Law Libraries — Find court law libraries and legal-research assistance.
DMV
New York statewide resources
Transportation
Check traffic and transit conditions, travel information, state highways and transportation services before you go.
- New York State Department of Transportation — State highway, transportation program, project and safety information.
- 511NY — Live traffic, incidents, road conditions, transit and travel information.
- NYSDOT Travel Center — Travel tools, winter road conditions, transit information and trip-planning resources.
- 511NY TransLinks — Find public transportation, paratransit and travel links by region or county.
- New York State Thruway Authority — Thruway traffic, tolling, service areas and traveler information.
- MTA — Subway, bus, commuter rail and transit information for the New York metropolitan region.
- Amtrak New York — Intercity passenger rail information serving New York destinations.
- Travel Information, Advisories & Maps — State travel advisories, maps and road-information links.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Essex County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Essex County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
36,438 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
1,916.266 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
Start with Board of Elections, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with these official New York resources: DMV Office Locations and Reservations; Renew a License; Registrations. Choose the page for the service you need, then check its office or online instructions before making a trip. These links cover state services; they do not establish that every transaction is available at a county office.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
The VA explains how to find and appoint an accredited representative for benefit claims. Contact a representative to confirm availability before appointing them. For education benefits, use the GI Bill application guidance. These are national VA services available to eligible local residents, rather than a listing of county offices.
Search USAJOBS for federal positions and the Apprenticeship Finder for apprenticeship opportunities, using location filters to narrow the results. USAGov job-training guidance points to training programs and state resources. Check each listing for current availability, eligibility and application instructions; a search result does not guarantee an opening in the county.
Essex County was separated from Clinton County in 1799 and named for the English county of Essex. Elizabethtown became its county seat. Earlier jurisdictions covering the region were much larger, and later boundary adjustments also changed the county’s map. Its position entirely within Adirondack Park is central to its modern geographic identity. Lake Champlain forms the eastern boundary, while inland mountains create a dramatic change in elevation within the same county.
A lakeshore visit and a High Peaks trip offer very different experiences of Essex County. Lake Champlain provides the eastern reference line, while Mount Marcy in the town of Keene marks the state’s highest natural point. Elizabethtown supplies the county-government center between these broader landscapes. Choosing one part of the county first allows time for its local communities and avoids underestimating travel through a region defined by mountains and water.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 1,794.122 square miles of land and 122.144 square miles of water in Essex County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
In the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate series, Essex County had an estimated 37,275 residents on July 1, 2020, and 36,438 on July 1, 2025. Over that interval, the estimated population decreased by 837 residents, or about 2.2%. Both figures come from the same estimate vintage, which revises earlier years for a consistent comparison.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time to ExploreBrowse local places by the kind of day you have in mind.
Local Businesses
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