Essex, MA

Essex is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 21,924. Essex is home to the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Hadley College.

The first Europeans to visit what would become Essex were members of the Mayflower in 1620. The area that would become Essex was part of the large tract granted to William Phips by King Charles I in 1629. Phips named his estate " Essex" after the county of Essex in England where he was born and raised. The first settlement in what would become Essex was founded by Captain John Mason on November 1, 1630. The settlement grew slowly because it was difficult to transport goods overland through dense forested areas. However, by 1650 there were enough people living in Essex to form a church and select a minister.

In 1727, General James Abercrombie purchased an estate known as "Oaklands" which lay along the north bank of the Sudbury River near present-day Hadley Center. Abercrombie constructed a mansion on his property which he called "Abercrombie House". The mansion still stands today and is open for tours as part of the Abercrombie Estate Historical Park operated by Hadley Conservation Trustees Incorporated (HCT). In 1792, General Joseph Warren bought an estate known as " Warren House" which lay just south of Abercrombie House on what is now Warren Road in Hadley Center. Warren constructed a mansion on his property which he called " Warren House". The mansion still stands today and is open for tours as part of the Warren Estate Historical Park operated by HCT.

In 1802, Governor Thomas Hutchinson built a state house at Main Street and Washington Avenue in downtown Chelmsford which he called "The Castle". Hutchinson used parts of The Castle for official state functions until 1814 when he moved them to Boston Common due to concerns about British troops occupying Chelmsford during the War Of 1812 . In 1822, Governor John Aiken built a state house at Northampton Street and Washington Avenue in downtown Northampton which he called "The State House". Aiken used parts of The State House for official state functions until 1830 when he moved them back to Chelmsford due to concerns about British troops occupying Northampton during the War Of 1812 .

In 1850s-60s there were several waves of immigration into Essex including Irish immigrants who worked on farms or opened businesses such as grocery stores; Italians who worked at mills or construction sites; Jews who settled around Central Square; and Chinese immigrants who worked at restaurants or laundries around Broadway Square . By 1870 there were more than 20 different ethnic groups living in Essex including Irish Americans; Italian Americans; Jewish Americans; Greek Americans; Polish Americans; Portuguese Americans; Russian American ;and Armenian Americans .

I n 1890s-1920s there were several waves of immigration into Essex including Irish immigrants who worked on farms or opened businesses such as grocery stores ; Lithuanians who worked at factories ; Czechoslovakians who opened bakeries ; Slovaks who opened butcher shops ;and Greeks who settled around Central Square . By 1970 there were more than 100 different ethnic groups living in Essex including Irish American s ; Italian American s ; Jewish American s ; Greek American s ; Polish American s ; Portuguese American s ; Russian American s ;;and Armenian American s