Welcome to the Essex County Government Center website. The world-famous, picturesque mountain village of Lake Placid, nestled in the scenic High Peaks of the Adirondacks and the shores of Mirror Lake in Essex County, is the proud site of legendary performances in two Winter Olympics. Hike in the highest peaks and vast pristine forests of the Adirondacks, or take your canoe and fishing pole to numerous ponds, lakes, and rivers.  Go boating on Lake Placid, relax in the lakeside towns along Lake Champlain or Schroon Lake, experience the rich history of Fort Ticonderoga, or explore the Ausable Chasm. Take a virtual tour of the Adirondacks. The County offers many more seasonal and year-round recreational and cultural activities. For reservations at the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport, please call (518) 873-3744. For facility use permit requests, storage or fee schedules, please visit the Fairgrounds website. (Background image: ADK’s, Fall 2018 – courtesy of Anna Reynolds.)