Essex, Maryland

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Essex, Maryland
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Essex, Maryland


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Maryland
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Baltimore
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 30.8
area_land_km2 = 24.7
area_water_km2 = 6.2
area_total_sq_mi = 11.9
area_land_sq_mi = 9.5
area_water_sq_mi = 2.4

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 39078
population_density_km2 = 1584.6
population_density_sq_mi = 4104.1

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 12
elevation_ft = 39
latd = 39 |latm = 18 |lats = 28 |latNS = N
longd = 76 |longm = 27 |longs = 6 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 21221
area_code = 410
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 24-26600
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0590171
website =
footnotes =

Essex is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 39,078 at the 2000 census.

History

Originally, Essex was ten blocks, running from Mace to Marlyn Avenues. It was begun in 1909 by the Taylor Land Company for those residents in Baltimore who wanted a place outside the city limits to perhaps grow a garden or to pursue some other rural activity. Land was cheap and sales were enhanced by a promotional pamphlet.

Henry Guttenberger built the first general store in Essex in 1910 on the corner of Eastern and Mace Avenues. Between 1911 and 1912, the Taylor Land Company donated the lots for Essex Methodist and St. John's Lutheran churches. They also donated the land where the volunteer fire department built their station. The permanent fire station opened in 1921.With the ever-growing population came the need to build schools. The elementary school opened in 1925 with 400 students. Essex Community College, now CCBC-Essex, was founded in 1957. Classes were first held at Kenwood High School, with fifty part-time and nine full-time students. In 1961, the college moved to Dorsey Avenue, and in 1968 moved to its present location, in Rossville. This site was owned by the Mace family, and the family burial plot is maintained and protected by the college.

A fire in August, 1957 destroyed an entire block of businesses on Eastern Avenue, and the business district never fully recovered from that catastrophe. The ten-alarm blaze caused a half million dollars in damages, and, in the time it took to repair the buildings, new shopping centers were built, changing the buying habits of consumers.

The Glenn L. Martin Company was the single biggest reason for the rapid growth of the area. Employment at the company peaked at more than 53,000 workers during World War II. In the years following, industry in the area dwindled, and much of the original Glenn L. Martin facility became the property of the State, including Martin State Airport. The remaining aerospace business followed a progression of corporate mergers and today is owned and operated by Lockheed Martin.

Another important company was Eastern Rolling Mill, which opened in 1919. The plant, at the head of Back River, produced carbon sheet steel. In 1944, Eastern merged with Industrial Stainless Steel, Inc. to form Easco. The plant then merged with the British company Avesta-Sheffield in the early 1990s finally shutting down operations in the late 1990s.

Today, there is interest in revitalizing the Essex area by including it in government-sponsored empowerment zones. Many neighborhoods have begun a "clean-up" of their areas, hoping to transform Essex into a place that will be ready to move into the next century. Improvements include removal of run down, low income housing including The Tall Trees Community, and the Riverdale Community; new medians and pavement on Eastern Avenue, a new single family home community called Waterview, and the auctioning of Middle River Station for commercial area. MD 43 Extended has opened which connects the old waterfront community and Carroll Island area with the booming White Marsh, MD commercial area.

Sources: Baltimore County Public Library

Geography and Climate

Essex is located at coor dms|39|18|28|N|76|27|6|W|city (39.307737, -76.451710)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.9 square miles (30.8 km²), of which, 9.5 square miles (24.7 km²) of it is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it (20.00%) is water. The town is mostly flat to gently rolling terrain, transitioning to marshland close to the Chesapeake Bay.

Essex lies within the transition zone between the humid subtropical climate and the humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers and chilly, moist winters. Its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and low elevation make Essex slightly milder than the inland suburbs of Baltimore.

:::::Average Monthly Temperatures and Precipitation for Essex, MD [http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USMD0147]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 39,078 people, 15,952 households, and 10,336 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,104.1 people per square mile (1,584.9/km²). There were 16,997 housing units at an average density of 1,785.1/sq mi (689.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 74.56% White, 20.98% African American, 0.55% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.26% of the population.

There were 15,952 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,978, and the median income for a family was $42,177. Males had a median income of $34,105 versus $26,215 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,550. About 10.0% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Famous Natives and Residents

* Anne K. Strasdauskas, former Sheriff of Baltimore County.
* Lady Shirley, 13th cousin to HRH Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales

References

External links

* [http://www.emrchamber.org/ The Essex-Middle River-White Marsh Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://e-mrrc.org/ The Essex-Middle River Renaissance Corporation]
* [http://www.co.ba.md.us/Agencies/community/essex.html Baltimore County Essex-Middle River Community Conservation Plan Summary]
* [http://www.co.ba.md.us/Agencies/economicdev/CommRevitalization/edd_essex.html Rediscover Essex]