Essex County’s population declined by 5.05% from 2010 to 2020. This is significantly below the statewide average (excluding New York City) of a 1.73% increase, and well below the national average increase of 7.35%. Population is projected to continue to decline through 2040, down to approximately 70,000 residents (from approximately 80,000 in 2020).

Employment is concentrated in Lake Placid and Ticonderoga, with smaller pockets of employment found in Port Henry, Elizabethtown, and Saranac Lake. Given Essex County’s location inside Adirondack National Park, it is not surprising that nearly one-quarter of all jobs in the county are in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services. The largest share of jobs is in health care and education. Retail trade comprises less than 10% of the workforce, behind public administration.

Transit usage is highest among a few key groups, including older adults (age 65 and up), youth (age 17 and under), low-income households (less than $50,000/year), zero-car households, non-white individuals, individuals with limited English proficiency, and households where one or more residents has one or more disabilities. This map shows where there are the highest concentrations of these groups live.

Travel is centered around two distinct regions. In northwestern Essex County, the highest cluster of trips is centered around travel within Lake Placid, and to a lesser extent, between Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Wilmington. In southeastern Essex County, the highest cluster of trips is centered around travel within the hamlet of Ticonderoga, and to a lesser extent, the Ticonderoga – Port Henry – Elizabethtown corridor. There is minimal travel between these two regions.