Page "Essex County, Massachusetts" Paragraph 4

Like several other Massachusetts counties, Essex County exists today only as a historical geographic region, and has no county government.

All former county functions were assumed by state agencies in 1999.

The sheriff ( currently Frank Cousins ) and some other regional officials with specific duties are still elected locally to perform duties within the county region, but there is no county council, commissioner, or county employees.

Communities are now granted the right to form their own regional compacts for sharing services.

See also: League of Women Voters page on Massachusetts counties.