Discover the County

The County of Essex is a great place to live, work and play!

We don't make a lot of noise but we win a lot of hearts and minds. People who come to work here for short stints tend to lay down roots and raise their families. We are one of Canada's best-kept secrets, blessed with long summers and moderate winters.

Essex County is bounded on three sides by water – Lake Erie to the south, the Detroit River to the west and Lake St. Clair to the north. We have unrivalled opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding. A drive along our historic coast offers one breathtaking water view after another. Our sunsets are spectacular.

We are Ontario's warmest county. We are its west coast and its down south. We offer some of the best birding and butterfly viewing spots in the country, including Holiday Beach, Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee, a national park and the southernmost point of mainland Canada. 

We are located about four hours from Toronto but just a few minutes from Detroit, which is actually to the north. It is not uncommon for Essex County residents to cheer on Detroit sports teams or take day trips to visit renowned art galleries and museums. Many Essex County residents actually commute to work in the United States.

Essex County has robust agricultural and manufacturing sectors and a rapidly expanding tourism industry, with commercial wineries and craft breweries. We have myriad conservation areas and parks and are fast becoming a cycling hotspot with an ever-expanding network of trails spanning an area of 1,851 square kilometres.

We are an attractive and affordable place to raise a family, offering advanced educational opportunities at the University of Windsor and St. Clair College. We offer a mix of rural and urban living in close proximity to big-city amenities in both Windsor and Detroit.

Essex County is made up of seven local municipalities, each of which has unique qualities and offers a wide range of services.

Things to do

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island maintains a full inventory of things to do and places to go in Windsor and Essex County.

Beaches and conservation areas

The Essex Region Conservation Authority has mapped all the area beaches and conservation areas. The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority provides similar information.