Essex

Formed January 1, 1799 (29^th county)

Essex County (37,3620), Elizabethtown* (746), Lake Placid (2, 274)

The Modern red brick 1996 courthouse replaced a classic 1825 structure.  It is located on Court Street and Williams Street.  United States Highway 9 is Court Street in Elizabethtown.  Einhorn, Yaffee and Prescott are the architects.  A number of supporting buildings are in the courthouse complex area.  Essex County was formed on January 1, 1799 from Clinton County as the 29^th county.  Essex was the first county seat until 1811 when Elizabethtown took the seat.  The county is named for Essex, England.  The county seat is named for Elizabeth Gilliland, wife of a landowner. 

Essex County government consists of a sheriff and 18 Legislators.  One County Court Judge serves Essex County.  The county is on the northeast border with Vermont.  Albany, New York is south and Buffalo, New York is southwest of the county.  The county center is 36.6 miles Southwest of Elizabethtown nearer Newcomb.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Clinton County and Vermont and Washington, Warren, Hamilton, and Franklin counties. 

The area of the county is 1916 square miles.  It is 3 out of 62 in the state.  It ranks 56 out of 62 in population in the state.  It has a density of 19.5 persons per square mile making it 61 out of 62 in the state.  Essex County has 16.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 87 passes north to south through the county from Clinton County to Warren County.  United States Highway 9 parallels Interstate Highway 87 from Clinton to Warren counties.  The highest point in New York, Mount Marcy, is in the county.  The county resembles the State of Ohio lying on its east side.  Elizabethtown is located in the northeast quarter of the county.  Lake Placid is in the northwest quarter of the county.  Elizabethtown is the county seat and Lake Placid is the largest city.  Elizabethtown is 2.0% of the county population although it is unincorporated.  Lake Placid is 6.1% of the county population.