Essex County, Virginia

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Essex County is a county located in the Middle Peninsula in the U.S. state of Virginia; the peninsula is bordered by the Rappahannock River on the north and King and Queen County on the south. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,599.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Tappahannock.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Essex County was established in 1692 from the old Rappahannock County, Virginia (not to be confused with the present-day Rappahannock County, Virginia). The county is named for either the shire or county in England, or for the Earl of Essex.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (10.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> Its main town, Tappahanock, is focused at the Rappahanock River.

Adjacent counties

Westmoreland County – north
Richmond County – northeast
Middlesex County – southeast
King and Queen County – south
Caroline County – west
King George County – northwest

Major highways

National protected area

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (part) Hutchinson unit, Thomas unit

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

**Essex County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 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 or Alaska 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%

2000 Census

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 9,989 people, 3,995 households, and 2,740 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,926 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 57.96% White, 39.04% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $17,994. About 7.70% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Board of supervisors

Central District: John Magruder (I)
Greater Tappahannock District: Robert Akers (I)
North District: Sidney N. Johnson (I)
South District: Ronnie Gill
At Large: Bud Smith

Constitutional officers

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Christina A. Ambrose (I)
Commissioner of the Revenue: Kristen Andrews Foster (I)
Commonwealth's Attorney: Vince S. Donoghue (R)
Sheriff: Walter "Arnie" Holmes (I)
Treasurer: B. A. "Penny" Davis (I)

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.

Education

Essex County Public Schools (ECPS) is the public schools system for Essex County, Virginia, United States.<ref>http://www.essex.k12.va.us Essex</ref> The following schools make up the Essex County Public Schools system:

Tappahannock Elementary School (Grades PK - 4th)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Essex Intermediate School (Grades 5th - 8th)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Essex High School (Grades 9th - 12th)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other schools located in Essex County include:

St Margaret's School (Grades 8th - 12th, girls only)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tappahannock Junior Academy (Grades K - 10th)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Aylett Country Day School (Grades PK - 8th) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>