Massachusetts

Essex

809,829
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Essex

Essex, Massachusetts, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 57,913. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 809,829.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 23 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Andover Raid (King Philip's War), Haverhill Raid, Battle of Haverhill 1690, and 491 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020809,829
2010743,159
2000723,419
1990670,080
1980633,632
1970637,887
1960568,831
1950522,384
1940496,313
1930498,040
1920482,156
1910436,477
1900357,030
1890299,995
1880244,535
1870200,843
1860165,611
1850131,300
184094,987
183082,859
182074,655
181071,888
180061,196
179057,913
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Essex

Military engagements that took place in Essex, Massachusetts.

Andover Raid (King Philip's War)
1676
Haverhill Raid
1676
Battle of Haverhill 1690
1690
Raid on Haverhill 1690 (King William's War)
1690
Battle of Haverhill 1697
1697
Haverhill Raid (King William's War)
1697
Raid on Haverhill (1697)
1697
Raid on Haverhill 1697 (Hannah Duston)
1697
Haverhill Raid 1697 (King William's War)
1697
Raid on Haverhill MA 1697
1697
Haverhill Raid 1697 — Hannah Dustin Captivity
1697
Raid on Andover (MA, 1698)
1698
Raid on Haverhill (1708)
1708
Battle of Haverhill 1708
1708
Queen Anne's War – Raid on Haverhill MA 1708
1708
Haverhill Massacre 1708
1708
Abenaki Raid – Haverhill MA 1708
1708
Raid on Haverhill MA 1708
1708
Haverhill Raid (1708)
1708
Battle of Gloucester (Massachusetts, 1775)
1775
Bombardment of Gloucester 1775
1775
Raid on Gloucester (Cape Ann)
1775
Naval Action off Cape Ann (1776)
1776

Historic places in Essex

National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex, Massachusetts.

Harnden Farm
Andover
Perrin, William, House
Andover
Brown, Austin, House
Hamilton
March, Samuel, House
West Newbury
Perkins, John, House
Wenham
JOFFRE, (shipwreck)
Massachusetts
First Unitarian Church
Peabody
Sutton Block
Peabody
Woodberry-Quarrels House
Hamilton
Searles High School
Methuen
Jackson Terrace Historic District
Lawrence
Tenny Castle Gatehouse
Methuen
English High School
Lynn
Joseph Fenno House-Woman's Friend Society
Salem
Barker, Stephen, House
Methuen
Crombie Street District
Salem
Methuen Memorial Music Hall
Methuen
Emerson House
Haverhill
Derby Wharf Light Station
Salem
Peabody, George, House
Peabody
Wade House
Ipswich
Wilson, Shoreborne, House
Ipswich
US Customhouse
Newburyport
West Cogswell House
Salem
Browse all Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Other counties in Massachusetts

Explore census history and historic records for more Massachusetts counties.

PlymouthSuffolkWorcesterBarnstableBerkshireBristolDukesFranklinHampdenHampshireMiddlesexNantucketNorfolk
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Everything a full report reveals about Essex County, Massachusetts

This page charts the census history of Essex County, Massachusetts. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Essex

When does Essex first appear in the US census?
Essex, Massachusetts first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 57,913.
What is the population of Essex?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Essex had a recorded population of 809,829.
Were any battles fought in Essex?
23 documented military engagements took place in Essex, including Andover Raid (King Philip's War), Haverhill Raid, Battle of Haverhill 1690.
How many historic places are in Essex?
491 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Essex, Massachusetts.
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