About Essex
Essex is a tiny community in southwestern Iowa with an estimated population of 721.
Officially, Essex is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 1.64 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 440 residents per square mile.
📰 Essex News Today
- David W. Porter Obituary | Nishna Valley Funeral Home | Shenandoah, IA Tribute Archive · Aug 17
- Remembering Rosie Stark KMAland.com · Jul 13
- Gerry Drake Obituary Jul 31, 2026 Dahn & Woodhouse Funeral Home · Jul 31
- Schedule - Essex Trojans (Essex, IA) Basketball 26-27 MaxPreps · Jul 9
- Iowa Master Farmers Pete and Dana Wenstrand embrace stewardship Farm Progress · Mar 17
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Essex Unique
- One of 6 places in the US named Essex — but the Iowa one has a character all its own.
- Positioned in southwestern Iowa, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
- Part of the fabric of Iowa — one of 1,026 recognized communities statewide.
Why People Love It Here
- Quiet streets and a slower rhythm — the kind of place people move to on purpose.
- Housing dollars stretch further here than in the nearest metro.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Essex
- Babe's
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Essex
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Essex
- Essex Elementary School
- Essex Junior-Senior High School
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
⚡ Quick Facts
StateIowa
TypeCity
Population (2024)721
Rank in state#361 of 940
Land area1.64 sq mi
Density440/sq mi
Coordinates40.8328, -95.3054