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 the Dragon swamp on the south. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,151.

 Its county seat is Tappahannock.^[2]

History[edit]

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[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km²), of which 257 square miles (670 km²) is land and 29 square miles (75 km²) (10.1%) is water.^[3] Its main town, Tappahanock, is focused at the Rappahanock River.

Adjacent counties[edit]

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

National protected area[edit]

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