Essex County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Essex County Courthouse in Tappahannock | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°56′N76°57′W / 37.94°N 76.95°W /37.94; -76.95 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1692 |
| Seat | Tappahannock |
| Largest town | Tappahannock |
| Area | |
• Total | 286 sq mi (740 km2) |
| • Land | 257 sq mi (670 km2) |
| • Water | 29 sq mi (75 km2) 10.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,599 |
| • Density | 41.2/sq mi (15.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Essex County is acounty located in theMiddle Peninsula in theU.S. state ofVirginia; the peninsula is bordered by theRappahannock River on the north andKing and Queen County on the south. As of the2020 census, the population was 10,599.[1] Itscounty seat isTappahannock.[2]
Essex County was established in 1692 from the oldRappahannock County, Virginia (not to be confused with the present-dayRappahannock County, Virginia). The county is named for either theshire or county in England, or for theEarl of Essex.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km2), of which 257 square miles (670 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (10.1%) is water.[3] Its main town, Tappahanock, is focused at the Rappahanock River.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 9,122 | — | |
| 1800 | 9,508 | 4.2% | |
| 1810 | 9,376 | −1.4% | |
| 1820 | 9,909 | 5.7% | |
| 1830 | 10,521 | 6.2% | |
| 1840 | 11,309 | 7.5% | |
| 1850 | 10,206 | −9.8% | |
| 1860 | 10,469 | 2.6% | |
| 1870 | 9,927 | −5.2% | |
| 1880 | 11,032 | 11.1% | |
| 1890 | 10,047 | −8.9% | |
| 1900 | 9,701 | −3.4% | |
| 1910 | 9,105 | −6.1% | |
| 1920 | 8,542 | −6.2% | |
| 1930 | 6,976 | −18.3% | |
| 1940 | 7,006 | 0.4% | |
| 1950 | 6,530 | −6.8% | |
| 1960 | 6,690 | 2.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,099 | 6.1% | |
| 1980 | 8,864 | 24.9% | |
| 1990 | 8,689 | −2.0% | |
| 2000 | 9,989 | 15.0% | |
| 2010 | 11,151 | 11.6% | |
| 2020 | 10,599 | −5.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[4] 1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6] 1990-2000[7] 2010[8] 2020[9] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[8] | Pop 2020[9] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,239 | 5,871 | 55.95% | 55.39% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,224 | 3,743 | 37.88% | 35.31% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 46 | 61 | 0.41% | 0.58% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 86 | 62 | 0.77% | 0.58% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 3 | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 13 | 40 | 0.12% | 0.38% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 192 | 450 | 1.72% | 4.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 349 | 369 | 3.13% | 3.48% |
| Total | 11,151 | 10,599 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[10] of 2000, there were 9,989 people, 3,995 households, and 2,740 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 4,926 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.96%White, 39.04%Black orAfrican American, 0.55%Native American, 0.81%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.32% fromother races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 3,995 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% weremarried couples living together, 14.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,395, and the median income for a family was $43,588. Males had a median income of $29,736 versus $22,253 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,994. About 7.70% of families and 11.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.
Essex is represented by Republican Ryan T. McDougle in the Virginia Senate, Republican M. Keith Hodges in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Robert J. "Rob" Wittman in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 72 | 19.94% | 278 | 77.01% | 11 | 3.05% |
| 1916 | 77 | 20.32% | 302 | 79.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 101 | 24.05% | 319 | 75.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 60 | 15.63% | 315 | 82.03% | 9 | 2.34% |
| 1928 | 195 | 37.79% | 321 | 62.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 101 | 19.27% | 420 | 80.15% | 3 | 0.57% |
| 1936 | 116 | 17.98% | 527 | 81.71% | 2 | 0.31% |
| 1940 | 145 | 20.92% | 547 | 78.93% | 1 | 0.14% |
| 1944 | 179 | 25.98% | 508 | 73.73% | 2 | 0.29% |
| 1948 | 221 | 33.95% | 329 | 50.54% | 101 | 15.51% |
| 1952 | 610 | 52.45% | 545 | 46.86% | 8 | 0.69% |
| 1956 | 597 | 55.48% | 328 | 30.48% | 151 | 14.03% |
| 1960 | 606 | 54.25% | 509 | 45.57% | 2 | 0.18% |
| 1964 | 789 | 50.90% | 760 | 49.03% | 1 | 0.06% |
| 1968 | 791 | 36.55% | 897 | 41.45% | 476 | 22.00% |
| 1972 | 1,482 | 62.58% | 808 | 34.12% | 78 | 3.29% |
| 1976 | 1,380 | 50.55% | 1,306 | 47.84% | 44 | 1.61% |
| 1980 | 1,581 | 52.93% | 1,280 | 42.85% | 126 | 4.22% |
| 1984 | 2,120 | 61.63% | 1,300 | 37.79% | 20 | 0.58% |
| 1988 | 2,038 | 60.56% | 1,294 | 38.45% | 33 | 0.98% |
| 1992 | 1,897 | 48.59% | 1,583 | 40.55% | 424 | 10.86% |
| 1996 | 1,627 | 46.05% | 1,668 | 47.21% | 238 | 6.74% |
| 2000 | 1,995 | 52.08% | 1,750 | 45.68% | 86 | 2.24% |
| 2004 | 2,304 | 53.04% | 2,007 | 46.20% | 33 | 0.76% |
| 2008 | 2,379 | 44.35% | 2,934 | 54.70% | 51 | 0.95% |
| 2012 | 2,602 | 45.85% | 3,016 | 53.15% | 57 | 1.00% |
| 2016 | 2,657 | 49.46% | 2,542 | 47.32% | 173 | 3.22% |
| 2020 | 3,075 | 49.77% | 3,038 | 49.17% | 65 | 1.05% |
| 2024 | 3,245 | 53.42% | 2,775 | 45.69% | 54 | 0.89% |
Essex County Public Schools (ECPS) is the public schools system for Essex County, Virginia, United States.[12] The following schools make up the Essex County Public Schools system:
Tappahannock Elementary School (Grades PK - 4th)[13]
Essex Intermediate School (Grades 5th - 8th)[14]
Essex High School (Grades 9th - 12th)[15]
Other schools located in Essex County include:
St Margaret's School (Grades 8th - 12th, girls only)[16]
Tappahannock Junior Academy (Grades K - 10th)[17]
Aylett Country Day School (Grades PK - 8th)[18]
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Places adjacent to Essex County, Virginia | |
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Municipalities and communities ofEssex County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| Town |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
