Essex

The township of Essex consists of three villages: Essex, Centerbrook and Ivoryton, each part of the whole yet uniquely different.
      We are located half way between New York City and Boston, and a short commute to the capitol city of Hartford.
      Our villages were settled around the Falls River, which flows eastwardly from the hills of Ivoryton, through the plains of Centerbrook, along the rocky heights of Essex Village down to the sparking Connecticut River. A few short miles from Long Island Sound, Essex is well-known for its beautiful landscapes, majestic trees and gardens, and fascinating architecture. You can view a bit of history in our factory homes of Ivoryton, our churches and factories, and streets lined with Federal, Victorian, and Cape Cod houses. Even our town hall dates back to 1892.
      Here you'll find a long tradition of benevolence and volunteerism that brings a "can-do" vibrancy to our communities, reminiscent of our Yankee past.
      We have many cultural, historical and educational attractions as well, from the Essex Steam Train to the Ivoryton Playhouse to the Connecticut River Museum, Connecticut Audubon Ecotravel, the Bushy Hill Nature Center, and Sailing Masters of 1812 (whose members are attired in the traditional garb of a Navy midshipman of the time period).
      Essex is famous for hosting a multitude of parades, from Groundhog Day (with Essex Ed), to the "Burning of the Ships Parade" (celebrating the 1814 British raid that left 29 ships burning in the harbor). And many others as well. Parades in Essex are a way of life.
      Civic groups invigorate our town with community activism - groups such as the Rotary, Lions, Merchants Group, Historical Society, Garden Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a strong scouting program.
      Essex offers an outstanding culinary experience to residents and visitors alike - such hometown originals as the historic 1776 Griswold Inn, the renowned Cooper Beech Inn, Gabrielle's, the Black Seal, and Oliver's Tavern. For shoppers of all persuasions, we have art galleries, antique businesses, plenty of great shops and boutiques and a beautiful harbor to relax by.
      We are proud of our schools. Essex Elementary School offers an outstanding program. We participate in a regional secondary school with our neighbors in Chester and Deep River, and are currently upgrades to these facilities to a cost of more than forty million dollars.
      Emergency services are provided by a superbly trained and equipped volunteer fire department and ambulance corps, along with a professional constabulary.
      We invite you to come to our town and experience, explore and enjoy the small-town enchantment of Essex, Connecticut.

Warm regards,

Norman Needleman, First Selectman

Harbor Management

Harbor Wait List  &  Initial Application & Renewal Notice  &  Mooring Permit Policy
The Essex Harbor Management Commission  sends out wait list renewal letters. To remain on the Wait List an individual must pay $10.00 yearly. Those who do not will be removed from the list. Questions? Call  the Essex Harbor Master at 767-0032.

Veterans Services
( for more Veteran information, see www.ct.gov/ctva/site/default.asp )

You can now access your DD-214 on-line! Please pass this information on to retired military personnel you may know.
     The National Personnel Records Center has provided the following website for veterans to access their DD-214 online:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.

This may be particularly he helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes. Please see the details below.
     The National Personnel Records Center is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files.
     Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180 which can be downloaded from the online web site.
      The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time.
      Also, because the requester will be asked to supply all information
essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized.
      Veterans and next of kin may access this application at:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.

Disclaimer

The Town of Essex is dedicated to the practice of democracy and strongly believes in the free exchange of ideas. However, we also believe in maintaining a strict standard of excellence in all of the material associated with the Town of Essex web site, by virtue of links from this site. We do not favor one group over another, and any references herein to any organizations, specific commercial products, process, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, do not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the Town of Essex, its department or employees.

With respect to documents available from this server, neither the Town of Essex, its departments nor any of its employees make and warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately-owned rights.

Official, legal documents are on file in the Essex Town Hall for your examination. The Town of Essex, its officers, boards, commission, employees, and volunteers hereby disclaim any and all liability for any damages, whether direct or indirect, special, consequential, or otherwise, resulting from the use of the information herein provided.

The Town of Essex is not responsible for the content of any off-site pages referenced through links. The responsibility for the content rests with the organizations who are providing the information. Specific details regarding a document should be directed to the appropriate organization and not necessarily to the Town of Essex or Web Site Administrator.