History Of The Town :

Established in 1819, the town of Essex is a rural community of 3,267 today that retains much of its original natural splendor and small town character. Less than an hour's ride from Boston, about 25 miles away, Essex is a quaint and friendly coastal community that proudly welcomes visitors and new residents. Long noted as one of the original shipbuilding centers of New England, Essex maintains strong ties with its heritage by way of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum.

Today, Essex is known for its seemingly endless supply of antique shops and restaurants as well as for the Essex clam, which is a recognized symbol of pride and quality. Clamming remains one of the town's principal industries and there is a celebration for the bivalve in September at the annual Essex Clamfest.