Essex County, Massachusetts

This article is about the county in Massachusetts. For the town in this county, see Essex, Massachusetts. For the county in England, see Essex. For all other uses, see Essex (disambiguation).

Essex County, Massachusetts
Location in the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts's location in the U.S.
Founded	1643
Seat	Salem & Lawrence County government abolished in 1999
Largest city	Lynn
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	828.53 sq mi (2,146 km²) 500.67 sq mi (1,297 km²) 327.86 sq mi (849 km²), 39.57%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	743,159 1,483/sq mi (573/km²)

Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 743,159. It has two traditional county seats: Salem and Lawrence. Its county government was abolished in 1999, though it continues to exist as a historic geographic area.

History

Printed in 1812, this political cartoon illustrates the electoral districts drawn by the Massachusetts legislature to favor the incumbent Democratic-Republican party candidates of Governor Elbridge Gerry over the Federalists, from which the term gerrymander is derived. The cartoon depicts the bizarre shape of a district in Essex County as a dragon.

The county was created by the Massachusetts General Court on May 10, 1643, when it was ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires". Essex initially contained Salem, Lynn, Wenham, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Gloucester, and Andover.

Essex County is famous as the area that Elbridge Gerry districted into a salamander-like shape in 1812 that gave rise to the word gerrymandering.

Law and government

Like several other Massachusetts counties, Essex County exists today only as a historical geographic region, and has no county government. All former county functions were assumed by state agencies in 1999. The sheriff (currently Frank Cousins) and some other regional officials with specific duties are still elected locally to perform duties within the county region, but there is no county council, commissioner, or county employees. Communities are now granted the right to form their own regional compacts for sharing services. See also: League of Women Voters page on Massachusetts counties.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 828.53 square miles (2,145.9 km²), of which 500.67 square miles (1,296.7 km²) (or 60.43%) is land and 327.86 square miles (849.2 km²) (or 39.57%) is water. Essex County is adjacent to Rockingham County, New Hampshire (north), the Atlantic Ocean (east), Suffolk County (south), and Middlesex County (west). All county land is incorporated into Towns or Cities.

Essex County includes the North Shore, Cape Ann, and much of the Merrimack Valley.

Adjacent counties

• Rockingham County, New Hampshire (north)
• Suffolk County (south)
• Middlesex County (west)
• Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (northwest)

National protected areas

• Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
• Salem Maritime National Historic Site
• Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
• Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	57,879		—
1800	61,196		5.7%
1810	71,888		17.5%
1820	74,655		3.8%
1830	82,859		11.0%
1840	94,987		14.6%
1850	131,300		38.2%
1860	165,611		26.1%
1870	200,843		21.3%
1880	244,535		21.8%
1890	299,995		22.7%
1900	357,030		19.0%
1910	436,477		22.3%
1920	482,156		10.5%
1930	498,040		3.3%
1940	496,313		−0.3%
1950	522,384		5.3%
1960	568,831		8.9%
1970	637,887		12.1%
1980	633,632		−0.7%
1990	670,080		5.8%
2000	723,419		8.0%
2010	743,159		2.7%

As of the census of 2010, there were 743,159 people, 306,754 households, and 185,081 families residing in the county. The population density was 1508.8 people per square mile (558/km²). There were 287,144 housing units at an average density of 574 per square mile (221/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.0% White, 3.8% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.20% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 16.5% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.4% were of Irish, 15.1% Italian, 9.9% English, 5.6% French and 5.0% French Canadian ancestry according to Census 2010. 80.8% spoke English, 10.2% Spanish, 1.4% French, 1.2% Italian and 1.0% Portuguese as their first language.

There were 275,419 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.10% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,576, and the median income for a family was $63,746. Males had a median income of $44,569 versus $32,369 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,358. About 6.60% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

In 2006, Essex County received the dubious honor of being named number one on Forbes Magazine's list of most overpriced places to live in the U.S. The magazine cited high living costs and expensive real estate as the major reasons Essex County was picked over cities with higher mean real estate values (San Diego, New York, Honolulu.)

Cities, towns, and villages*

Amesbury incorporated 1666 from Salisbury. Andover established in 1646 (then the southern part of North Andover). Shawsheen Village Ballardvale Beverly incorporated 1668 from Salem. Boxford incorporated 1685 from Rowley. Bradford incorporated 1668 from Rowley. Annexed by Haverhill 1897. Danvers incorporated 1757 from Salem. Essex incorporated 1819 from Ipswich. Georgetown incorporated 1838 from Rowley. Gloucester settled 1623. Groveland incorporated 1850 from Bradford. Hamilton incorporated 1793 from Ipswich. Haverhill founded 1640. Ipswich established 1634. Lawrence incorporated 1847 from Methuen and Andover. Lynn established 1629, named Lynn 1637. Lynnfield incorporated 1814 from Lynn. Manchester-by-the-Sea incorporated 1645. Marblehead incorporated 1635. Merrimac incorporated 1876 from Amesbury.

Methuen incorporated 1725 from Haverhill. Middleton incorporated 1728 from surrounding towns—Salem, Topsfield, Andover, etc. Nahant incorporated 1853 from Lynn. Newbury founded 1635. Byfield (a village of Newbury) Newburyport incorporated 1764 from Newbury. North Andover (original Andover Parish) incorporated April 7, 1855. Peabody incorporated 1855 from Danvers. Rockport incorporated 1840 from Gloucester. Pigeon Cove (a village of Rockport) Rowley founded 1639. Salem founded 1626. Salisbury established 1640. Saugus incorporated 1815 from Lynn. Swampscott incorporated 1852 from Lynn. Topsfield established 1650. Wenham settled 1638. West Newbury incorporated 1819 from Newbury.

*Villages are census divisions, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

Politics

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic
2008	39.01% 136,905	59.36% 208,323
2004	40.5% 135,114	58.2% 194,068
2000	35.4% 110,010	57.5% 178,400
1996	30.6% 89,120	58.7% 171,021
1992	31.7% 102,212	43.6% 140,593
1988	48.6% 148,614	49.7% 151,816
1984	54.8% 162,152	44.8% 132,353
1980	43.8% 130,252	39.0% 116,173
1976	41.6% 125,538	55.0% 165,710
1972	46.5% 138,040	53.0% 157,324
1968	35.4% 99,721	61.0% 171,901
1964	25.3% 71,653	73.4% 210,135
1960	42.9% 126,599	56.9% 167,875

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 13, 2010
Party		Number of Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	158,409	32.98%
	Republican	57,759	12.02%
	Unaffiliated	261,600	54.46%
	Minor Parties	2,619	0.55%
Total		480,387	100%

Education

Essex County is home to several libraries and schools, both public and private.

Libraries

• Merrimack Valley Library Consortium - Northern Essex and Middlesex County Libraries
• North of Boston Library Exchange - Southern Essex and Middlesex County Libraries

Secondary education

• Amesbury Public Schools
  • Amesbury High School serves Amesbury and South Hampton
• Brooks School - North Andover
• The Pingree School - South Hamilton
• The Governor's Academy - Newbury
• Pentucket Regional School District - Groveland, Merrimac, West Newbury.
• Triton Regional School District - Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury.
• Masconomet Regional School District
  • Masconomet Regional High School serves Topsfield, Boxford and Middleton
• Newburyport Public Schools
• Phillips Academy
• St. Johns Prep - Danvers
• Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Central Catholic High School - Lawrence

Higher education

• Endicott College
• Gordon College (Massachusetts)
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Marian Court College
• Massachusetts School of Law
• Merrimack College
• Montserrat College of Art
• North Shore Community College
• Northern Essex Community College
• Salem State University
• Zion Bible College

Essex National Heritage Area

See also: List of Registered Historic Places in Essex County, Massachusetts

On November 12, 1996, Essex National Heritage Area (ENHA) was authorized by Congress. The heritage area consists of all of Essex County, MA a 500-square-mile (1,300 km²) area between the Atlantic Coast and the Merrimack Valley. The area includes 34 cities and towns; two National Historic Sites (Salem Maritime National Historic Site and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site); and thousands of historic sites and districts that illuminate colonial settlement, the development of the 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. 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.

See also

• Essex Junto
• Lovecraft Country
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Massachusetts

References

Essex County References

• Arrington, Benjamin F. Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts Volume 2. Volume 3 Biographical. Volume 4 Biographical. Published 1922 by Lewis Historical Publishing Company. Unfortunately books.google have mistakenly not put Volume 1 online in Full View mode.
• 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

External links

• Essex County Registry of Deeds -Salem Mass.
• Northern Essex Registry of Deeds - Lawrence Mass.
• Merrimack Valley Planning Commission.
• 1872 Map of Essex County from the 1872 Atlas of Essex County.
• 1884 Atlas of Essex County. Some plates missing. Also at Salemdeeds below.
• Visitor Information from the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce
• Peabody Essex Museum - Salem Mass.
• National Register of Historic Places listing for Essex Co., Massachusetts.
• Map of cities and towns of Massachusetts
• Essex National Heritage Area
• Salisbury Point Railroad Historical Society. Specializing in the History of the Boston and Maine Railway and Essex County railroads.
• Atlases of Essex County. Several Atlases and Maps of Essex County Towns. 1795, 1830, 1872-Beers, 1884-Walker.