Economic Development Newsletter
January 2025
ESSEX, CONNECTICUT
Essex is the “child of three rivers” – the Connecticut, the Falls, and the Mud - and each has played vital roles in the town's evolution from agricultural to pre-industrial to post-industrialization. First settled in 1635, Essex is located in the lower Connecticut River Valley, bordered by the towns of Deep River, Westbrook, and Old Saybrook, and is comprised of three distinct villages—Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton—each with its unique historical narrative and active community engaged in preserving the rich heritage and promoting local culture.
The town is distinguished by its maritime history, particularly its involvement in the War of 1812, when British forces attacked and destroyed 28 vessels, marking a significant economic setback. Essex has evolved from a shipbuilding center to a more diversified economy that includes manufacturing, retail, restaurants, and a thriving tourism sector. In 2021, Essex was named the “Perfect Small American Town” by Yankee Magazine.
TOWN STATS
General
Current Population: 6,754
Median Age: 54
Median Household Income: $96,734
Economy
Top Industries
1. Manufacturing
2. Health Care and Social Assistance
3. Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services
4. Government
5. Construction
Housing
Median Home Value: $481,100
Median Rent: $1,285
Housing Units: 3,294
From 2024 Town Profiles courtesy of AdvanceCT and CT Data Collaborative.
ESSEX'S THREE VILLAGES
In addition to retailers and restaurants, including The Griswold Inn, one of America’s oldest continuously operated inns, Essex Village is home to “uniquely Essex” annual gatherings, including the Essex Ed Parade in February, Burning of the Ships in May, and the Trees in the Rigging celebration each December.
The Valley Railroad Company has operated the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat in Centerbrook since 1971, and over the last few years, the village has also become a destination for “foodies” with the Cheese Shop of Centerbook, Surfridge Brewing Co., Cooked Marketplace and Mercantile, Savour Café & Bakery, and Sayulita.
Ivoryton is a “well-preserved example of a nineteenth-century company town” and was a world center of the ivory industry. The Ivoryton Playhouse, constructed in 1911 as a recreation hall for the Comstock-Cheney factory, is believed to be the first continuously operating summer theatre in the United States and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Carey Duques, Land Use Official
Carey Duques, AICP, CZEO, became the Land Use Official for the Town of Essex in 2021. She previously worked in planning and wetlands for North Branford, CT, Medford, MA, and Salem, MA. In her current role, she staffs the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, and the Zoning Board of Appeals, enforcing the zoning and wetlands regulations. Carey also implements the Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD).
Since taking on her role, Carey has collaborated with several boards and organizations to implement key goals outlined in the PoCD, including supporting economic development and local businesses while also preserving the wonderful assets of the town. Carey collaborates with the Essex Conservation Commission and Essex Land Trust to preserve open space for recreational and passive use. In 2024, Essex and neighbors Deep River and Chester were awarded a grant for a tri-town coastal resiliency study to help identify specific strategies to protect the towns’ infrastructure and natural resources against the challenges posed by climate change, particularly the coastal impacts.
Carey is currently working with the PZC and their consultant to update the PoCD. Public input on the town's future vision is actively encouraged through meetings and a community survey.
Workforce and Accessible Housing
A critical component of Essex's continued growth and access for all residents, the town developed an Affordable Housing Plan in 2022 that identified strategies to increase the number of affordable housing units over the next five years in a manner that aligns with community values.
Recent developments have added to the housing options in town. Essex Place, a senior and affordable housing development in Centerbrook opened in 2017; Essex Station, with 52 units, was built in 2018, and The Lofts at Spencer’s Corner, built by HOPE Partnership, was finished in 2022 with 17 residential units.
What does a Planning and Zoning Commission do?
Planning and Zoning Commissions (PZC) are responsible for continuously reviewing, updating, and administering municipal zoning regulations. The regulations are periodically revised to conform to state statutes and changing concerns regarding development in the municipality they serve.
In addition, the PZC reviews applications for special exceptions. The Commission is responsible for developing and implementing the municipal Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) and reviewing subdivisions and re-subdivisions. They may also be responsible for reviewing site plans submitted by developers, and the commission can establish village districts to protect the distinctive character, landscape, and historic structures of designated areas in the municipality.
The CT River Museum
The Connecticut River Museum, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, is a private, not-for-profit educational institution that seeks to deepen appreciation of the River’s history and to inspire its stewardship by providing unique educational and recreational experiences to diverse audiences.
Dedicated to preserving the history of the Connecticut River and its people through exhibitions, programming, and the collection and protection of items of regional significance, museum visitors can explore three floors of exhibits in the 1878 Steamboat Warehouse Building and enjoy River views at the waterfront park at the base of Main Street in Essex. The museum also invites visitors to experience the Connecticut River by cruising aboard RiverQuest and sailing aboard Onrust.
In 2012, the historic Samuel Lay House was purchased and is currently being renovated. A series of enabling projects, from the installation of fire suppression systems and heat pumps, will allow the Museum to activate the building for the first time. The construction of a multipurpose space, which replaces a modern sunroom, will create a more practical space for programs for adults and children. Learn more and plan your visit: https://ctrivermuseum.org/