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Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population was 723,419. It has two county seats: Salem and Lawrence6.
Law and government
Like an increasing number of 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 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. However, communities are now granted the right to form their own regional compacts for sharing services. See also: MassGov page on counties.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,146 km² (829 mi²). 1,297 km² (501 mi²) of it is land and 849 km² (328 mi²) of it (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.
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)
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 723,419 people, 275,419 households, and 185,081 families residing in the county. The population density was 558/km² (1,445/mi²). There were 287,144 housing units at an average density of 221/km² (574/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.44% White, 2.60% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 2.34% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.20% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 11.04% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.
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.
Cities, towns, and villages*
- Amesbury
- Andover
- Beverly
- Boxford
- Bradford
- Danvers
- Essex
- Georgetown
- Gloucester
- Groveland
- Hamilton
- Haverhill
- Ipswich
- Lawrence
- Lynn
- Lynnfield
- Manchester-by-the-Sea
- Marblehead
- Merrimac
- Methuen
- Middleton
- Nahant
- Newbury
- Newburyport
- North Andover
- Peabody
- Rockport
- Rowley
- Salem
- Salisbury
- Saugus
- Swampscott
- Topsfield
- Wenham
- West Newbury
Education
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School - Northeastern Essex County Massachusetts.
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium - Northern Essex and Middlesex County Libraries.
North of Boston Library Exchange - Southern Essex and Middlesex County Libraries.
- High school
- Amesbury High School serves Amesbury and South Hampton.
Triton Regional School District - Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury.
Masconomet Regional School DistrictHome of Masco soccer
- High school
- Masconomet Regional High School serves Topsfield, Boxford and Middleton. It is named for Agawam Chief Masconomo of local fame. Its school colors are red and white. Its mascot is a stylized Native American Chieftain.
Brooks School - North Andover Mass.
GDA - Governor Dummer Academy - Newbury, Mass.
St. Johns Prep - Danvers, Mass.
Endicott College - Beverly, Mass.
Montserrat College of Art - Beverly, Mass.
Northshore Community College - Danvers, Lynn, Beverly.
Northern Essex Community College - Haverhill, Lawrence.
Merrimack College - North Andover
Massachusetts School of Law - Andover, Mass.
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Hamilton, Mass.
- College
- Gordon College is a nondenominational Christian liberal arts college in Wenham, Massachusetts, United States. They are known for encouraging a wide variety of talents; whether it be from world-renowned speakers brought in by the Center for Christian Studies, art training from members of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) or genre-busting bands like Caspian.
See also
External links
- Essex County Registry of Deeds -Salem Mass.
- Northern Essex Registry of Deeds - Lawrence Mass.
- Merrimack Valley Planning Commission.
- 1872 Map of Counties, Towns, and Rail Lines of Massachusetts, Connnecticut, and Rhode Island.
- Peabody Essex Museum - Salem Mass.
- National Register of Historic Places listing for Essex Co., Massachusetts.
Massachusetts counties | Essex County, Massachusetts
Comté d'Essex (Massachusetts) | Condado de Essex (Massachusetts) | Essex County, Massachusetts
"Essex County, Massachusetts"