Essex, Illinois

About Essex

Set in the eastern part of Illinois, Essex is a tiny community, home to 853 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

Essex holds the status of an incorporated village, one of the most intimate forms of local government in America. The community covers 2.33 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 366 residents per square mile.

📰 Essex News Today

• Diane Marie Essex Obituary (2026) - Aledo, IL - Prugh Funeral Service - 4th Street Legacy obituary · Aug 14
• Data center fears grow after massive land purchases in Chicago suburb FOX 32 Chicago · Jul 13
• Fred Sweet Obituary Mar 24, 2026 - Reeves - Baskerville Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home · Mar 24
• Biotechnology company to invest $1.5 billion in Illinois plasma-processing plant Capitol News Illinois · Mar 9
• Rita May Schott - View Obituary & Service Information R. W. Patterson Funeral Homes · Jun 22

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Essex Unique

• One of 6 places in the US named Essex — but the Illinois one has a character all its own.
• Positioned in eastern Illinois, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of Illinois — one of 1,461 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• A tight community feel that bigger cities can't replicate.
• Cost of living typically runs below the big-metro average.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 5 miles.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Essex

🏘️ Nearby Communities