New Jersey

Essex

863,728
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Essex

Essex, New Jersey, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 17,785. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 863,728.

Its recorded population peaked at 929,986 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Newark (NJ, 1776), and 182 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020863,728
2010783,969
2000793,633
1990778,206
1980851,116
1970929,986
1960923,545
1950905,949
1940837,340
1930833,513
1920652,089
1910512,886
1900359,053
1890256,098
1880189,929
1870143,839
186098,877
185073,950
184044,621
183041,911
182030,793
181025,984
180022,269
179017,785
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, New Jersey.

Skirmish at Newark (NJ, 1776)
1776

Historic places in Essex

National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex, New Jersey.

South Orange Station
South Orange
Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company
Newark
Edison National Historic Site
West Orange
Newark City Hall
Newark
Williams-Harrison House
Roseland
Bloomfield Station
Bloomfield
St. Patrick's Pro Cathedral
Newark
South Orange Fire Department
South Orange Village
Pennsylvania Station
Newark
Carnegie Library
Montclair
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Newark
Community Hospital
Newark
House that Lives, The
Montclair
Newark Female Charitable Society
Newark
Temple B'Nai Abraham
Newark
Montclair Art Museum
Montclair
Krueger Mansion
Newark
House of Prayer Episcopal Church and Rectory
Newark
Trinity Cathedral
Newark
Ballantine, John, House
Newark
Stone Eagles
Montclair
Pine Street Historic District
Montclair
St. Lucy's Church
Newark
Montclair Railroad Station
Montclair
Browse all New Jerseyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in New Jersey

Explore census history and historic records for more New Jersey counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Essex County, New Jersey

This page charts the census history of Essex County, New Jersey. 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, New Jersey first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 17,785.
What is the population of Essex?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Essex had a recorded population of 863,728.
When did Essex's population peak?
Essex's recorded population peaked at 929,986 in 1970.
Were any battles fought in Essex?
1 documented military engagement took place in Essex, including Skirmish at Newark (NJ, 1776).
How many historic places are in Essex?
182 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Essex, New Jersey.
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