About Essex County
Location
Located on Virginia's Middle Peninsula, Essex County is centrally situated just outside the Washington to Norfolk urban crescent. Nearby cities include:
- Washington, DC: 100 miles North
- Norfolk: 95 miles South
- Richmond: 45 miles SW
- I-95 / Exit #12: 47 miles
- I-295 / Exit #37: 38 miles
The historic cities of Fredericksburg (40 miles north) and Williamsburg (56 miles SE) are within an hour's drive. Bounded on the northeast by the Rappahannock River, Essex County has water access to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries including major port facilities at Hampton Roads.
The county's principal town, Tappahannock, dates back to a 17th century port settlement. Originally part of Old Rappahannock County, Essex County was formed in 1692 and named for either the English County or the Earl of Essex.
Topography
- Acreage: 167,200 acres / 261 sq. miles / 678 sq. kilometers
- Province: Coastal Plain
- Latitude/Longitude: 37° 56' North / 76° 52' West
- Elevation: Sea level to 200 ft.
- Drainage: Rappahannock River, Occupacia Creek, Hoskins Creek, Dragon Run Swamp, Piscataway Creek, Mount Landing Creek
Natural Resources
- Forests - 107,164 wooded acres (62.9% of county); most privately owned, Class 4.
- Water - Groundwater occurs in three major aquifer systems. Adequate groundwater supplies exist in good quality for present and distant future. Water table aquifer is 50 to 140 feet below the surface and may be highly mineralized. Upper artesian is 150 to 200 feet below the surface. The principal artesian is 200 to 400 feet below the surface.
- Minerals - Sand, shale, and gravel occur in large quantities.
Climate
Tappahannock area weather forecasts can be found on WRAR Weather Radio - 105.5 FM, VHF radio channel 2, Public service frequency 162.400.
- Annual average temperature 57.8°
- January average temperature 37°
- July average temperature 78°
- Annual average rainfall is 43.5 inches
- Annual average snowfall is 11.6 inches
- Heating degree days 1353
- Cooling degree days 3939
