World Architecture Images- Essex

	Essential Architecture- New England Essex
architect
location	Connecticut
Essex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,505 at the 2000 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.6 km² (11.8 mi²). 26.8 km² (10.4 mi²) of it is land and 3.8 km² (1.5 mi²) of it (12.35%) is water. Demographics As of the census2 of 2000, there were 6,505 people, 2,811 households, and 1,776 families residing in the town. The population density was 242.4/km² (627.6/mi²). There were 2,977 housing units at an average density of 110.9/km² (287.2/mi²). There were 2,811 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87. In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $66,746, and the median income for a family was $88,888. Males had a median income of $54,053 versus $38,276 for females. The per capita income for the town was $42,806. About 0.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over. Culture The town of Essex sponsors an annual Groundhog Day parade. A large papier mache groundhog named "Essex Ed" is carried through town with revelers making noise in order to rouse him from his slumber and bring an end to winter. The town also sponsors a "Loser's Day Parade," which celebrates the 1814 event of having 29 ships burned in Essex harbor during a raid by British marines . [1] Every spring there is a Shad Bake sponsored by the Essex Rotary Club. The Great Attack Essex has a unique distinction among United States towns and cities: it is one of the few that was ever attacked by a foreign power. This occurred on April 8, 1814, and the results were disastrous for the American side. The economic losses incurred here were among the largest sustained by the United States during the War of 1812. Twenty eight vessels were burned and destroyed, with a value estimated to be close to $200,000.00. While this figure may seem a pittance by today's standards, it must be noted that a very large two story home in Essex would have been worth no more than $1,000.00 at that time. It was the English who inflicted this damage. Approximately 136 marines and sailors, under the command of Richard Coote, and apparently guided by an American, rowed past the unmanned fort in Old Saybrook, and arrived at the foot of Main Street in Essex close to 4 A.M. They quickly commandeered the town, getting a promise of no resistance from those in charge in return for promising not to harm the townspeople or burn their homes. Within six hours their mission was accomplished, and the British went downstream with two captured ships in tow, including the famous "Black Prince", a vessel that may well have been primarily responsible for this raid. In fact, Captain Richard Hayden, a prominent shipbuilder, had advertised this ship in a New York newspaper, stating that it was "a 315 ton sharp schooner that would make an ideal privateer." Volunteers from the nearby town of Killingworth fired at the retreating Englishmen from shore positions as they headed back to their main ships, anchored in Long Island Sound. Both the captured ships had to be destroyed by the British, who sustained a loss of two men. [2]
links	Website: http://www.essexct.gov/
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