Formed January 1, 1692 (17th county)
Essex County (10,644), Tappahannock (2,375)
The traditional red/brown brick Greek Revival structure was constructed in 1848 and remodeled in 1912 and 1926. The structure is on Prince Street at Cross Street. United States Highway 17 is one block west of the site. Warner Lewis, William A. Wright and James R. Micou provided the designs. The building was enlarged in 1962 and restored in 1967. It features a tower and columns in a complex of government structures. Veteran memorials are on the grounds. A 1996 District Courthouse augments the county structure. The county was formed on January 1, 1692 from Rappahannock County as the 17th county. There were 1729 and 1815 courthouses earlier in Tappahannock, the only county seat. Essex County is named for the Earl of Essex. The county seat name is Native American for “on the rising water.” Essex County is the birthplace to 2 Virginia Governors, David Jameson and George W. Smith.
Essex County government consists of a sheriff and 4 Supervisors. Eight Circuit Court Judges and Fifteen District Court Judges serve Essex, Caroline, Hanover, King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Sportsylvania, Stafford, and Westmoreland counties and Fredericksburg City and Sixty-two Magistrate Court Judges serve Essex, Caroline, Charles City, Gloucester, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland, and York counties and Fredericksburg, Poquoson, Richmond, and Williamsburg cities. Essex County is in the eastern part of the state. Richmond, Virginia is southwest and Alexandria, Virginia is northwest of the county. The county center is 5 miles West of Tappahannock. The county is surrounded clockwise by Westmoreland, Richmond, Lancaster, Middlesex, King and Queen, Caroline, and King George counties.
The area of the county is 286 square miles. It is 75 out of 133 in the state. It ranks 115 out of 133 in population in the state. It has a density of 37.22 persons per square mile making it 110 out of 133 in the state. Essex County has 22.3% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 17 enters the county from the northwest, Caroline County, and exits to the southeast, Middlesex County. United States Highway 360 goes northeast to southwest from Richmond County to King and Queen County. The county’s overall shape looks like a laser rifle pointing southeast. Tappahannock is located in the southeast quarter of the county. Tappahannock is the county seat and, as the only incorporated city, it is the largest city. It is 22.3% of the county population. The county seat is pronounced TAP-A-HAN-NOK.
Tappahannock
