Form of government: town manager appointed by an elected selectboard

Name and title of highest elected official: Tom James, chairman of the Selectboard

Size of 2001-2002 fiscal year municipal budget: $6,636,135

Police emergency: 911

Fire emergency: 911

Ambulance: 911 (Essex Rescue)

Nearest hospital: Fletcher Allen Health Care, Medical Center Hospital of Vermont campus, 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401. Tel: (802) 656-2345

Library: Essex Free Library, intersection of Vermont routes 15 and 128, Essex Center. Tel: 879-0313

Brownell Library, 6 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction. Tel: 878-6955

Essex is 15 minutes by car from the Burlington International Airport and is served by four major Vermont roads: U.S. 289, Vermont Route 15, Vermont Route 117, U.S. 2A. The closest Interstate 89 exits are 12 and 15.

Bus service: Chittenden County Transportation Authority

Nearest rail service: Amtrak, Essex Junction

Electric: Central Vermont Public Service Corp.; Green Mountain Power Corp.; Vermont Electric Cooperative.

Water: Champlain Water District or private wells.

Natural gas: Vermont Gas Systems, Inc.

Cable: Adelphia Cable

Recycling: Essex is a member of the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD). Residents can use any of the district's seven drop-off sites or private haulers.

Trash Disposal: The nearest CSWD drop-off facility is on U.S. 2A. Also, private haulers.