ESSEX COUNTY, NY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

Biographical Review: Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Clinton and Essex, New York (1896) – 552 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.08.29.1655.AR

Essex County, New York: A Genealogical Overview

Comprising the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks region, Essex County is New York’s second-largest county by area but one of its least populated. It is defined by its rugged mountain terrain, pristine lakes, and a history centered on the iron industry, forestry, and tourism. For genealogists, it presents the challenges and rewards of researching families in a remote, often harsh environment, with connections to abolitionism and the birth of the American conservation movement.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Essex County was created from a larger northern county as settlement pushed into the Adirondacks.

  • 1799: County Formed: Essex County was established on March 1, 1799.
  • Parent Entity: It was formed from Clinton County.
  • Subsequent Formations: None.
  • Name Origin: Named after the county of Essex in England.
  • County Seat History: Elizabethtown has been the county seat since the county’s formation.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The mountainous interior was primarily used as a hunting ground by the Haudenosaunee (Mohawk) and Algonquin peoples.
  • Colonial Fortifications: Its Lake Champlain shoreline was strategically vital. The French built Fort St. Frédéric and later Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga), which were sites of major battles in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.
  • Post-Revolutionary Settlement: Settlement of the interior was slow and difficult. Pioneers were drawn by the prospect of farming in the narrow valleys and, more importantly, by the discovery of vast iron ore deposits.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Iron Industry: From the early 19th to the early 20th century, Essex County was a national leader in iron production. Mines and forges in Moriah, Tahawus, and other locations produced high-quality iron used for ships, bridges, and railroads.
    • John Brown: The abolitionist John Brown owned a farm in North Elba, which he intended as a community for freed slaves. His farm is now a State Historic Site, and he is buried there.
    • Adirondack Park: Growing concern over deforestation led to the creation of the Adirondack Forest Preserve in 1885 and Adirondack Park in 1892, with Essex County at its core. This marked a turning point in American conservation.
    • Tourism & Olympics: The area, particularly Lake Placid, became a popular resort destination. Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

  • County Courthouse: The Essex County Clerk’s Office is located in Elizabethtown, NY.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: Statewide registration began in 1880. Due to the remote nature of the county, compliance may have been inconsistent in early years.
  • Essential Records and Archives:
    • Essex County Historical Society / Adirondack History Museum: Located in Elizabethtown, it is the main repository for county history and genealogical materials, with a research library.
    • Adirondack Research Library of the Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake (in neighboring Hamilton County) has materials relevant to the entire Adirondack region.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Ticonderoga Historical Society: Focuses on the history of this historically significant town.
    • Local town historians are crucial resources in this geographically large county.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Clinton County (north)
    • Franklin County (northwest)
    • Hamilton County (west)
    • Warren County (south)
    • Washington County (southeast)
    • Addison County, Vermont (east, across Lake Champlain)
    • Chittenden County, Vermont (east, across Lake Champlain)

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