Essex County History
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Backdrop for military battles, mining, logging, Olympics
Located in the northeastern part of the state, Essex County encompasses 1,907 square miles of varied terrain, extending westward from Lake Champlain into the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. One of the state's most scenic counties, it is also among its most historic. Its rugged mountains and pleasant valleys have provided the backdrop for military battles, mining, logging, anti-slavery activities, women's suffrage, international athletic competitions, and outdoor adventure. The county was established in 1799 and consists of eighteen townships. It is governed by a Board of Supervisors, with the county seat located in Elizabethtown.
In 1609, French explorer Samuel de Champlain and a party of Algonquin Indians journeyed southward from Canada exploring the lake which today bears his name. Lake Champlain, the main waterway connecting the St. Lawrence River with the Hudson and Mohawk River valleys, possessed strategic positions at Crown Point and Ticonderoga for armies invading from the north and south. The Champlain Valley was subsequently the scene of intermittent hostilities for the next two centuries.
Around 1731, the French fortified Crown Point and soon built Fort. St. Frederic. In 1755, Fort Carillon was erected at Ticonderoga and during the French and Indian Wars became the position of French power in the Champlain Valley. In 1757, Montcalm used Ticonderoga as his base of operations against the English at Fort William Henry. In 1758, however, the English assembled an army of 15,000 men at Lake George. They advanced northward in 1759 and captured the forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point.
As the colonies and England headed toward war, the forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point resumed their strategic importance. In 1775, Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga with little effort. With Ticonderoga in American hands, Crown Point also surrendered. Burgoyne invaded in 1777. With only a small garrison at Ticonderoga, the Americans had little chance of holding back the British and retreated.
The earliest European colonists in Essex County were the French
settling around Fort St. Frederic. After the French and Indian Wars, William Gilliland, a New York Irishman, procured land on the Boquet River and brought settlers in 1765. Early settlers were attracted by rich soil, a wealth of timber and minerals, and water power provided by the rushing streams. Sawmills, grist mills, tanneries and iron forges sprang up. Ship building, charcoal making, and other manufacturing enterprises developed, but it was logging and iron mining that soon became the most important industries.
In the mid-nineteenth century, the county's population and economic activity were at their peak. Citizens were divided and seriously conflicted over issues of slavery, but in 1946, 70% of Essex County voters were in favor of black suffrage. Anti-slavery efforts and Underground Railroad activities were reported. In 1949, John Brown settled in North Elba to support a farming community of free blacks known as "Timbuctoo". During the Civil War, over 1,300 Essex County men joined in the effort.
In the late nineteenth century, the Adirondack Park was established by the state to preserve the region as "Forever Wild." Essex County lies entirely within the boundaries of the Adirondack Park. The county's fascinating history continued into the twentieth century with prominent figures such as Inez Milholland, nationally known for her role in the women's suffrage movement. Lake Placid became known internationally after hosting Winter Olympic Games in 1932 and again in 1980.
Today, tourism is increasingly important to the county with over two million visitors coming to the area each year. With hundreds of miles of wilderness trails and mountain views from Lake Champlain to the High Peaks, there is spectacular scenery for all to enjoy.