Census Data for Essex
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Essex a population of 21,909 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Essex a population of 19,587 people.
The community of Essex is located in Chittenden County. The 2010 Census gave Chittenden County; a population of 156,769 people. This means that Essex had 12.49% of the county's total population, making it Chittenden's 2nd most populous community.
At the same time, Vermont had a population of 625,741 people, meaning that Essex had 3.13% of the total population of Vermont - making it the state's 2nd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Essex has a total area of 39.32 square miles [101.8 km²]. Of this total, 38.82 square miles [100.6 km²] is land, with the balance (1.26%) being water (0.49 square miles [1.3 km²]).
Chittenden County has a land area of 536 square miles [1,389.7 km²]. At 38.82 square miles [100.6 km²], Essex has 7.24% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like Essex, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the community.
- Things like population, area and housing for Essex reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Essex might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 44° 31' 38" (or 44.53°)
- Lon: -73° 4' 12" (or -73.07°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Essex had 8,146 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 19,587 people, this averages 2.4 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Essex had a land area of 38.82 square miles [100.6 km²]. This translates to 207.2 Housing Units per square mile [80 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Essex had 7,170 Housing Units, a population of 18,626 people and a land area of 39.01 square miles [101 km²]. This gives a density of 2.6 people per Housing Unit and 182.4 Housing Units per square mile [70.4 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Essex and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Chittenden County ...
The community of Essex is located in Chittenden County<4>.
The county had a population of 156,769 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 19,587 people, Essex represented 12.49% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of Essex has a population density of 498.2 people per square mile [192.3 people/km²], Chittenden County averages 292.2 people per square mile [112.8 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Chittenden County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Essex, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Essex. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Essex or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Essex, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Essex.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 44.527379° (or 44°31'38" N)
- Lon: -73.070115° (or -73°4'12" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 44.501991° (or 44°30'7" N)
- Lon: -73.093768° (or -73°5'37" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2 miles to the northeast<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1462091) to Essex. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Essex. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 44.513939° (or 44°30'50" N)
- Lon: -73.061516° (or -73°3'41" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 5,385 feet to the northwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Essex. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Essex.
Miscellaneous Information for Essex ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Chittenden County or the community of Essex:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 50 (Vermont)
- County Code: 007 (Chittenden County)
- Place Code: 24175 (Essex)
- State & County Code: 50/007 (Vermont / Chittenden County)
- State & Place Code: 50/24175 (Vermont / Essex)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Essex is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #1 (the New England Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Essex.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Essex. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Vermont: https://www.vermont.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Vermont's counties, including Chittenden, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 326 degrees and a distance of 2 miles. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 24 degrees and a distance of 5,385 feet. |