Essex

Essex is located in the South East of England and has a population of around 1,500,000. It covers an area of 1,520 square miles Chelmsford is the county seat.

Industry

The coast line has many tourist resorts and is an extremely popular tourist destination. There is market gardening for London and some dairy and sheep farming. Oyster fisheries are also important. The main products from Essex are wheat, barley, sugar beets, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables. Industries include petroleum refining, chemicals, machinery, textiles, cement, processed foods, electrical goods, and nuclear power generation.

Geography

The eastern boundary is the North Sea and the southern boundary is formed by the River Thames. The land consists of undulating rural countryside, bordered by an irregular coastline. Streams and salt marshes are plentiful.

History

Once part of a large British kingdom, it was settled in the early 6th cent. by the Saxons. Essex was one of the early kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England and eventually included the modern counties of Essex and Middlesex, most of Hertfordshire, and London (almost the same area as the ancient British kingdom). It was conquered by the Mercians and became a subject state.

Essex County Flag