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. Its county seat is Tappahannock.

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.

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

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

• US 17
• US 360

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

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	9,122		—
1800	9,508		4.2%
1810	9,376		−1.4%
1820	9,909		5.7%
1830	10,521		6.2%
1840	11,309		7.5%
1850	10,206		−9.8%
1860	10,469		2.6%
1870	9,927		−5.2%
1880	11,032		11.1%
1890	10,047		−8.9%
1900	9,701		−3.4%
1910	9,105		−6.1%
1920	8,542		−6.2%
1930	6,976		−18.3%
1940	7,006		0.4%
1950	6,530		−6.8%
1960	6,690		2.5%
1970	7,099		6.1%
1980	8,864		24.9%
1990	8,689		−2.0%
2000	9,989		15.0%
2010	11,151		11.6%
2020	10,599		−5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020

Essex County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 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%

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,989 people, 3,995 households, and 2,740 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km). There were 4,926 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km). 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.

• 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

• 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.

United States presidential election results for Essex County, Virginia

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,245	53.42%	2,775	45.69%	54	0.89%
2020	3,075	49.77%	3,038	49.17%	65	1.05%
2016	2,657	49.46%	2,542	47.32%	173	3.22%
2012	2,602	45.85%	3,016	53.15%	57	1.00%
2008	2,379	44.35%	2,934	54.70%	51	0.95%
2004	2,304	53.04%	2,007	46.20%	33	0.76%
2000	1,995	52.08%	1,750	45.68%	86	2.24%
1996	1,627	46.05%	1,668	47.21%	238	6.74%
1992	1,897	48.59%	1,583	40.55%	424	10.86%
1988	2,038	60.56%	1,294	38.45%	33	0.98%
1984	2,120	61.63%	1,300	37.79%	20	0.58%
1980	1,581	52.93%	1,280	42.85%	126	4.22%
1976	1,380	50.55%	1,306	47.84%	44	1.61%
1972	1,482	62.58%	808	34.12%	78	3.29%
1968	791	36.55%	897	41.45%	476	22.00%
1964	789	50.90%	760	49.03%	1	0.06%
1960	606	54.25%	509	45.57%	2	0.18%
1956	597	55.48%	328	30.48%	151	14.03%
1952	610	52.45%	545	46.86%	8	0.69%
1948	221	33.95%	329	50.54%	101	15.51%
1944	179	25.98%	508	73.73%	2	0.29%
1940	145	20.92%	547	78.93%	1	0.14%
1936	116	17.98%	527	81.71%	2	0.31%
1932	101	19.27%	420	80.15%	3	0.57%
1928	195	37.79%	321	62.21%	0	0.00%
1924	60	15.63%	315	82.03%	9	2.34%
1920	101	24.05%	319	75.95%	0	0.00%
1916	77	20.32%	302	79.68%	0	0.00%
1912	72	19.94%	278	77.01%	11	3.05%

Essex County Public Schools (ECPS) is the public schools system for Essex County, Virginia, United States. The following schools make up the Essex County Public Schools system:

Tappahannock Elementary School (Grades PK - 4th)
Essex Intermediate School (Grades 5th - 8th)
Essex High School (Grades 9th - 12th)

Other schools located in Essex County include:

St Margaret's School (Grades 8th - 12th, girls only)
Tappahannock Junior Academy (Grades K - 10th)
Aylett Country Day School (Grades PK - 8th)

• Tappahannock

Blandfield Brays Fork Bowler's Wharf Butylo Caret Center Cross

Champlain Dunbrooke Dunnsville Hustle Laneview (shares with Middlesex County)

Loretto Miller's Tavern Passing (shares with Caroline County) Supply Wares Wharf

• David George - black American ex-slave founder of Silver Bluff Baptist Church
• Former NBA player Xavier McDaniel once lived in this county.
• U.S. Senator Paul S. Trible Jr. was Commonwealth's Attorney of Essex County.
• Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter, 1809–1887. Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Confederate States Secretary of State.
• Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Chris Brown was born and raised in this county.
• Richard B. Garnett- Confederate States of America general who was killed while leading his brigade during Pickett's Charge.

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Virginia

• Official website
• Essex County Museum

37°56′N 76°57′W / 37.94°N 76.95°W / 37.94; -76.95