Then-Montclair mayor Robert J. Russo gave a statement in 2003 about secession, "I've watched Essex County burden our people, with very little to show for it.

[4] The county rises from generally flat in the east to the twin ridges of the Watchung Mountains in the western half, beyond which the land lowers again into the Passaic River valley.

The highest elevation is found at four areas scattered between Verona, North Caldwell, and Cedar Grove, reaching 660 feet (200 m) above sea level.

If the 0 °C isotherm is used, Cfa only exists in eastern Newark and the rest of the county has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa).

[26] Many of the county's smallest municipalities have population densities that are comparable to those of many big cities, and are well above the state's average which in turn is the highest in the nation.

For example, north and west sides of Newark have well-kept suburban areas such as Vailsburg and Forest Hill.

Belleville and Bloomfield are suburbs with historic Italian communities that, in spite of retaining a core Italian-American population, now have many immigrants from Latin America and Asia.

[27] Beginning at about the turn of the 20th century, Essex County led the state in the rebuilding and rehab of its housing stock.

Many reasons were cited: citywide incentives to encourage construction development, an improving local economy, the rising demand of low-cost housing so close to Manhattan.

Newark has since then become one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire Northeast,[28][29] and reported a gain in median income and drop in poverty rate.

Crime in this part of the county has traditionally been among the highest in the state and the country as well, but recently has also seen significant declines, mirroring its large neighbor to the east, New York City.

[38][citation needed] The 2010 United States census counted 783,969 people, 283,712 households, and 189,236 families in the county.

[39] The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $48.7 billion in 2021, which was ranked fourth in the state and was a 6.5% increase from the prior year.

[44] As of 2025[update], the Essex County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[45][46] Essex County's Commissioners are (with terms for president and vice president ending every December 31):[47][48][49][50][51] In February 2019, Romaine Graham was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Lebby Jones until her death the previous month.

[74] Essex County constitutes Vicinage 5 of the New Jersey Superior Court, which is seated at the Veterans' Courthouse in Newark, which also houses the Criminal Part; civil and probate cases are heard at both the historic Essex County Courthouse and at the Essex County Hall of Records, also in Newark, while family and chancery cases are heard at the Robert N. Wilentz Court Complex, also in Newark, with additional facilities in East Orange.

[77][78] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 10th congressional district is represented by LaMonica McIver (D, Newark).

[79] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).

The southern section starts at an overpass for Route 21 and passes over the Belleville Turnpike Bridge into border between Hudson and Bergen counties.

[107] Community Coach, and OurBus operate buses from Essex County to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.

Essex County has a large rail network, but most train service is geared toward the heavily utilized Newark/New York City commute.

[108] The North Jersey Coast Line from Bay Head or Long Branch also stops at Newark Airport and Newark Penn Stations before continuing to Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station or Hoboken Terminal.

It survived in part because it does not include street running, instead following the abandoned Morris Canal right of way before going underground.

It has one station in Bloomfield and one in Belleville on the old Orange Branch of the New York & Greenwood Lake Service of the Erie Railroad before entering Newark and turning onto the Morris Canal right of way.

With a free transfer, the PATH also provides service to Hoboken, as well as Greenwich Village, Chelsea, and Midtown Manhattan.

Newark Penn Station has service on the only high speed train in the Western Hemisphere, the Acela Express, to Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Newark Penn Station also offers services on the Cardinal to Chicago; Carolinian to Charlotte; Crescent to New Orleans; Keystone Service to Harrisburg; Palmetto to Charleston; Pennsylvanian to Pittsburgh; Northeast Regional to Newport News, Norfolk, and Lynchburg; Silver Star and Silver Meteor to Miami; and Vermonter to St. Albans all with intermediate stops.

Located on the Newark Bay it serves as the principal container ship facility for goods entering and leaving New York-Newark metropolitan area, and the northeastern quadrant of North America.

The PD Draw is an abandoned and partially dismantled railroad bridge across the Passaic River from Newark to Kearny.

Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township.

There are various attractions in Essex County, such as The Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey Historical Society, Montclair Art Museum, Turtle Back Zoo,[123] Thomas Edison National Historical Park,[124] and Grover Cleveland Birthplace.