Essex County, New York
Introduction
Essex County, New York is a county of New York State. Its name is from the name of a county in England, Essex, England. Its county seat is Elizabethtown.
Geography
Essex County is in the northeastern part of New York State, just west of Vermont along the eastern boundary of the State.
Demography
The population of Essex County according to the 2000 U. S. census was 38,851.
Economy
Law/Government
County Executive
Legislative body
History
When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Clinton 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 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.
Essex County was split from Clinton County in 1799.