Essex, England

Essex is a county located northeast of London, part of the East of England region. Because of its proximity to London and the economic magnetism which that city exerts, many of Essex's settlements function as dormitory towns[?] or villages where London workers raise their families.

The name of the county is derived from an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom called Essex.

The districts of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock are now unitary authority areas separate from Essex. The Lakeside shopping centre at Thurrock was one of England's first out-of-town shopping centres; it remains popular despite congestion on the nearby M25 motorway and competition from newer, more glamorous destinations.

Towns and villages

• Basildon
• Billericay[?]
• Bishops Stortford[?]
• Braintree
• Brentwood
• Chelmsford (the county town)
• Colchester
• Epping
• Great Baddow
• Harlow[?]
• Harwich
• Rayleigh[?]
• Rochford[?]
• Shelley[?]
• Shenfield[?]
• Southend-on-Sea
• Witham

The port of Tilbury[?] remains important and, despite the road crossing to Dartford[?] in Kent across the River Thames, a pedestrian ferry to Gravesend[?] still operates from Tilbury during limited hours.

Essex also contains Stansted Airport and several smaller aerodromes that have evolved from bomber or fighter bases constructed during the Second World War.

See also: Earl of Essex