[14] Arguably the most famous former inhabitant of the village was Colonel John Morris,[15] who later resided in East Hague, South Kirkby,[16] prior to being executed for treason.[17] The parish was part of the Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton ward, currently represented on the Wakefield Metropolitan District Council by three members of the Labour Party.[22] Few amenities exist in the village apart from the church, but North Emsall's proximity to Upton and South Elmsall mean that services are just a short journey away.This is likely due to the mechanisation of agricultural work, with has led to reduced dependency on manual labour, as well as improved education since the 1881 census, allowing more people to access different career paths.The population dropped in the 1961 census, which can again be linked to the local colliery, which closed around this time, forcing people to move away to find new employment.
Charts showing the changes in employment sectors in North Elmsall between 1881 and 2011