shoe and textile industries, and the growth and decline of the maritime industries, including fishing, privateering, and the China trade. The Essex National Heritage Area is one of 49 heritage areas designated by Congress, affiliated with the National Park Service. The Essex National Heritage Commission is a non-profit organization chartered to promote tourism and cultural awareness of the area, connecting people to the places of Essex County, MA. The commission's mission is to promote and preserve the historic, cultural and natural resources of the ENHA by rallying community support around saving the character of the area. This is accomplished through the commission's projects and programs, which include Partnership Grant Program, Explorers membership program, photo safaris, and the annual September weekend event Trails & Sails, as well as other important regional partnership building projects like the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway, and the Border to Boston trail. Communities The towns and cities of Essex County are listed below. Cities Amesbury Beverly Gloucester Haverhill Lawrence (traditional county seat) Lynn Methuen Newburyport Peabody Salem (traditional county seat) Towns Andover Boxford Danvers (Salem Village) Essex Georgetown Groveland Hamilton Ipswich Lynnfield Manchester-by-the-Sea Marblehead Merrimac Middleton Nahant Newbury North Andover Rockport Rowley Salisbury Saugus Swampscott Topsfield Wenham West Newbury Census-designated places Andover Boxford Essex Ipswich Rockport Rowley Salisbury Topsfield Other villages Annisquam Ballardvale Beverly Farms Bradford Byfield Clifton Magnolia Merrimacport Rocks Village Plum Island See also List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income Essex Junto Tinker's Island Lovecraft Country Registry of Deeds (Massachusetts) National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Massachusetts Notes References Hurd, Duane Hamilton. History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many Pioneers and Prominent Men. Volume 1. Volume 2 Published 1888 by J.W. Lewis and Co. Newhall, James Robinson. The Essex Memorial, for 1836: Embracing a Register of the County. Published 1836. Lewis, Alonzo and James Robinson Newhall. History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts: Including Lynnfield,Saugus, Swampscott and Nahant.Published 1865 by John L. Shorey 13 Washington St. Lynn. Perley, Sidney. The Essex Antiquarian. Volume 1 1897.Volume 3 1899.Volume 6 1902.Volume 8 1904 Various. Early Massachusetts Vital Records 1600–1849 Further reading External links Registries Located in Salem, Massachusetts. Located in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Maps Other sites Official website. Official website. Essex County Sheriff's Department 1643 establishments in Massachusetts 1999 disestablishments in Massachusetts Counties in Greater Boston Massachusetts counties Populated places disestablished in 1999 Populated places established in 1643