Dominated by International Business Machines Corp., the state's largest employer, Essex enjoys a high per capita income and bustling commercial base. The population of Essex mushroomed during the 1960s and 1970s as employment at IBM blossomed from about 500 workers in 1957 to 8,000 in the 1980s. The result was Chittenden County's first explosion of housing developments, condominiums, shopping centers and stores. Today employment at IBM hovers at about 7,000 people. The town has witnessed a new growth phase with the construction of the Circumferential Highway, which includes a four-mile stretch through Essex; but it still includes rural areas. Parks, hiking trails, tennis courts and municipal pools are among the many amenities enjoyed by residents of this town. The have proximity to the many cultural offerings in the town and Burlington to the west; at the same time they are just minutes away from the mountains to the east.
Essex Census 2000 Story