Virginia

Essex

10,599
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Essex

Essex, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 9,122. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 10,599.

Its recorded population peaked at 11,309 in 1840, and has since declined by roughly 6 percent.

On the ground today, 19 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202010,599
201011,151
20009,989
19908,689
19808,864
19707,099
19606,690
19506,530
19407,006
19306,976
19208,542
19109,105
19009,701
189010,047
188011,032
18709,927
186010,469
185010,206
184011,309
183010,521
18209,909
18109,376
18009,508
17909,122
Source

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

Historic places in Essex

National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex, Virginia.

Tappahannock Historic District
Tappahannock
Blandfield
Caret
Linden
Champlain
Edenetta
Chance
Elmwood
Loretto
Brooke's Bank
Loretto
Millers Tavern Rural Historic District
Millers Tavern
Cherry Walk
Dunbrooke
Wheatland
Loretto
Vauter's Church
Loretto
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

HalifaxHamptonHampton cityHanoverHarrisonburgHarrisonburg cityHenricoHenryHighlandHopewellHopewell cityIndependent CityIsle of WightJames CityKing and QueenKing GeorgeKing WilliamLancasterLeeLexington
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Everything a full report reveals about Essex County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Essex County, Virginia. 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, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 9,122.
What is the population of Essex?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Essex had a recorded population of 10,599.
When did Essex's population peak?
Essex's recorded population peaked at 11,309 in 1840.
How many historic places are in Essex?
19 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Essex, Virginia.
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