Town Information

  Essex is a hamlet at the east end of Titicus Reservoir in North Salem Westchester County, New York, fifty-seven miles north east of New York   City. The campus, which is bordered by Putnam County, New York, with the east town of Salem bordering Connecticut, offers a spectacular view   of the Titicus Reservoir. In New York State, a hamlet is a populated area within a town that is not part of a village. The term "hamlet" is not defined   under New York law (unlike cities, towns and villages), but is often used in the state's statutes to refer to well-known populated sections of towns   that are not incorporated as villages.

  A hamlet has no legal status (except in the Adirondack Park Agency's land-use classifications) and depends upon the town that contains it for   municipal services and government. A hamlet could be described as the rural or suburban equivalent of a neighborhood in a city or village. The area   of a hamlet may not be exactly defined and may simply be contained within the zip code of its post office, or may be defined by its school or fire   district. Residents of a hamlet often identify themselves more closely with the hamlet than with the town. Some hamlets proximate to urban areas are   sometimes continuous with their cities and appear to be neighborhoods, but they still are under the control of the town.

  Hamlets are sometimes called unincorporated communities. In fact, some hamlets are former villages that have dissolved their incorporation (Old   Forge in Herkimer County, Rosendale in Ulster County, and Andes in Delaware County, for example). Their land area, though, is within the   jurisdiction of a town, which is considered a municipal corporation under state law. For census purposes, the area around a hamlet may be formally   defined as a census-designated place, although most are not. A census location may have the same name as a hamlet, but the area defined by the   U.S. Census Bureau may differ somewhat from the local understanding of the hamlet. This is because hamlets do not have fixed boundaries and   area defined by the census is generally based on population density and may include a larger or smaller area than the local understanding of the   hamlet.

  Under common usage, most communities called hamlets above are actually known by most people as (unincorporated) village.

  Essex is a small, close knit community with many historic buildings that give it a quaint colonial charm. This charm has made the hamlet a popular   tourist destination, especially among the wealthy of New York City who have vacation homes along the reservoir.

	The Essex Coffee and Tea Company opened in 1994. It is owned and operated by Shelby Carlson who has turned it into a local hangout for teens and young adults. The shop frequently features small musical acts and hosts a weekly open mic performance.
	Essex Marina and Boat Works offers docking, fueling, and repair services for personal watercraft. Boat owners and marina employees are also welcome to the exclusive amenities the marina has to offer including a swimming pool, fitness center, and dockside restaurant.
	The Hamlet of Essex maintains a volunteer Fire Department which moved to a new, more centrally located firehouse in 2000.
	The Essex Police Station is located next to the town hall. It maintains a full time police force of its own and works very closely with the North Salem town police.
	Essex Town Hall houses all local government offices. It is responsible for maintaining the town’s many historical sites and offers many public service programs for those hoping to get involved with their community.
	Essex Books is owned by Reginald Kensington. Here most widely release books are available for purchase as well as a few more rare publishings that may not be found in larger chain stores. If the store doesn’t have what you are looking for, special orders can be placed.
	The Essex Library has a substantial collection of books and periodicals. It also is host to the town’s historical archives. Library cards can be obtained by any town resident or anyone with a valid Essex Academy ID.
	Essex Steam Train is a local railroad service that connects Essex to the Metro North Railroad. All the engines and cars are restored antiques that are maintained by the Essex Train Yard and the hamlet itself. The Essex Riverboat is a full size replica of a steam powered stern wheeler. This handsome ship is a popular ferry among tourists around the reservoir.
	The Center for Psychotherapy Inc. at Essex is a collective of mental health professionals that provide high quality mental health care. The current head of the center is Dr. Edward Cizko.
	Essex Savings Bank is a local credit union that provides banking services from personal savings to home ownership and small buisness loans.
	Essex Service Center is a certified motor vehicle repair, parts, and service location. Oil and tire changes, parts instillations and emissions testing are all available here as well as paint and other body work.
	Essex Flower Shoppe is a full service garden and landscaping center that provides all your outdoor decorating needs as well as beautiful house plants.
	Essex Veterinary Clinic provides all your pets’ veterinary needs. The highly trained staff can provide emergency care, vaccinations, and routine checkups for our four legged and feathered friends.
	Essex Barber Shop provides smart haircuts and close shaves at reasonable prices for men and boys alike.
	Essex Art Gallery provides showing space for talented local artists. If you would like to host an event at our gallery speak with our curator for pricing and availability.
	Essex Court House is located next to the Town Hall. Local infractions and small claims can be resolved here while larger offenses are left to town and county jurisdictions.
	Essex Consignment sells beautiful antique furniture and décor, as well as vintage handbags and other accessories.
	Essex Plaza is a quiet strip mall that includes the local grocery store, dry cleaners, liquor store, pharmacy, paint shop, and Chinese takeout.
	Essex Family Dentistry is owned and operated by the Szell family and provides high quality dental care from cleanings to root canals for patients of all ages.
	Underwater Construction Company is a division of Stark enterprises that operates Essex’s public water works, as well as maintaining Titicus and several other local reservoirs that provide clean drinking water throughout Westchester and New York counties.