Essex Administrative County (pre-1974)

Created: 1889   Abolished: 1974

Statistics

Population

Population

Densities and rates of growth. Age structure: concentrations of young people, and of the old.
Industry

Industry

How people made their living: identifying farming communities, pit villages, mill towns and so on.
Social Structure

Social Structure

Social class and socio-economic groups. Concentrations of professionals, and of unskilled labourers.
Learning & Language

Learning & Language

How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified.
Agriculture & Land Use

Agriculture & Land Use

How we use the land; crops and farm animals.
Life & Death

Life & Death

Numbers of babies born. Deaths, especially infant deaths. Causes of death by age and gender.
Work & Poverty

Work & Poverty

Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work?
Housing

Housing

Numbers of houses. Overcrowding: persons per room. Amenities: central heating, baths and WCs.
Birthplace & Religion

Birthplace & Religion

Numbers going to church, and the kinds of churches they went to. The different religions of modern Britain.
Place marker map of Great Britain and Ireland

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
BILLERICAY RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
BRAINTREE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
CHELMSFORD RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
COLCHESTER PLU/RegD Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
DUNMOW RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
EPPING RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
HALSTEAD RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
LEXDEN AND WINSTREE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
MALDON RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
ONGAR RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
ORSETT RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
ROCHFORD RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
ROMFORD RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
SAFFRON WALDEN PLU/RegD Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
TENDRING RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WEST HAM RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
BARKING UD/MB Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BASILDON UD Local Government District 1955 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BELCHAMP RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BENFLEET UD Local Government District 1929 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BILLERICAY RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BILLERICAY UD Local Government District 1934 1955 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BRAINTREE RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BRAINTREE AND BOCKING UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BRENTWOOD UD Local Government District 1899 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BRIGHTLINGSEA UD Local Government District 1896 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BUCKHURST HILL UD Local Government District 1894 1933 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BUMPSTEAD RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
BURNHAM ON CROUCH UD Local Government District 1898 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
CANVEY ISLAND UD Local Government District 1926 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
CHELMSFORD MB Local Government District 1888 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 599.
CHELMSFORD RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
CHIGWELL UD Local Government District 1933 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
CHINGFORD UD/MB Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
CLACTON UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
COLCHESTER MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 599.
DAGENHAM MB/UD Local Government District 1926 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
DUNMOW RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
EAST HAM MB/UD/CB Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
EPPING RD Local Government District 1894 1955 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
EPPING UD Local Government District 1896 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
EPPING AND ONGAR RD Local Government District 1955 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
FRINTON AND WALTON UD Local Government District 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
FRINTON ON SEA UD Local Government District 1901 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
GRAYS THURROCK UD Local Government District 1894 1936 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
HALSTEAD UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
HALSTEAD RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
HARLOW UD Local Government District 1955 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
HARWICH MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 599.
HORNCHURCH UD Local Government District 1926 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
ILFORD UD/MB Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
LEIGH ON SEA UD Local Government District 1897 1913 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
LEXDEN AND WINSTREE RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
LEYTON UD/MB Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
LOUGHTON UD Local Government District 1900 1933 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
MALDON RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
MALDON MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 599.
ONGAR RD Local Government District 1894 1955 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
ORSETT RD Local Government District 1894 1936 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
PURFLEET UD Local Government District 1929 1936 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
RAYLEIGH UD Local Government District 1929 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
ROCHFORD RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
ROMFORD MB/UD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
ROMFORD RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
SAFFRON WALDEN MB Local Government District   1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 599.
SAFFRON WALDEN RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
SHOEBURYNESS UD Local Government District 1894 1933 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
SOUTHEND ON SEA CB/MB Local Government District 1892 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 599.
STANSTEAD RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
TENDRING RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
THURROCK UD Local Government District 1936 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
TILBURY UD Local Government District 1912 1936 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
WALTHAM HOLY CROSS UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
WALTHAMSTOW UD/MB Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
WALTON ON THE NAZE UD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
WANSTEAD UD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD UD/MB Local Government District 1934 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
WEST HAM CB/MB Local Government District 1886 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 599.
WEST MERSEA UD Local Government District 1926 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 603.
WITHAM UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
WIVENHOE UD Local Government District 1898 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
WOODFORD UD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 604.
BASILDON New Town     London Gazette, No. 38507, p. 145, 7 January 1949; Basildon New Town (Designation) Order, 1949.
HARLOW New Town     London Gazette, No. 37918, p. 1451, 28 March 1947; Harlow New Town (Designation) Order, 1947.
BARKING Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BASILDON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BRAINTREE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BRENTWOOD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BUCKHURST HILL Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CANNING TOWN Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CHELMSFORD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CLACTON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
COLCHESTER Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
DAGENHAM Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
EAST HAM Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
EPPING Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
GRAYS Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
HALSTEAD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
HARLOW Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
HARWICH Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
ILFORD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
LEYTON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
MALDON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
MANNINGTREE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
PITSEA Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
RAYLEIGH Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
ROMFORD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SAFFRON WALDEN Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SOUTHEND ON SEA Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
STANFORD LE HOPE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
STRATFORD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
TILBURY Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
WALTHAMSTOW Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
WEST HAM Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project

This unit was associated with the following other units:

Nature of association Other unit involved Type of unit Authority
was preceded by ESSEX Ancient County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.
was succeeded by ESSEX Modern (post 1974) County Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics)
was preceded by ESSEX Poor Law/Registration County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 602.

This unit was part of the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
ENGLAND Dep Country 1889 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 597.

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date Type of change Other unit involved Area transferred Authority
01 Oct 1933 was enlarged by gaining part of HERTFORDSHIRE part of Ware RD Area: 1 acres. Population in 1931: 0.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Order No. 77524. The Southend on Sea Extension Order, 1933; 18.9.1934. M. of H. Declaration under Section 145 of the LGA, 1933 (Alteration of Watercourses)
18 Sep 1934 was enlarged by gaining part of HERTFORDSHIRE part of Ware RD Area: 1 acres. Population in 1931: 0.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Declaration under Section 145 of the LGA, 1933 (Alteration of Watercourses)
18 Sep 1934 was reduced to enlarge HERTFORDSHIRE part of Epping RD Area: 3 acres. Population in 1931: 14726.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Order under Section 145 of The L.G.A., 1933. (Alteration of Watercourses)
14 Oct 1938 was reduced to enlarge EAST SUFFOLK part of Lexden and Winstree RD Area: 1 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; M. of H. Declaration under Section 145 of the LGA, 1933 (Alteration of watercourses)
14 Oct 1938 was reduced to enlarge EAST SUFFOLK part of Lexden and Winstree RD Area: 1 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; M. of H. Declaration under Section 145 of the LGA, 1933 (Alteration of watercourses)
14 Oct 1938 was enlarged by gaining part of EAST SUFFOLK part of Samford RD Area: 1 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; M. of H. Declaration under Section 145 of the LGA, 1933 (Alteration of watercourses)
14 Oct 1938 was enlarged by gaining part of EAST SUFFOLK part of Samford RD Area: 1 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; M. of H. Declaration under Section 145 of Local Government Act, 1933 (Alteration of watercourses)
01 Apr 1965 was enlarged by gaining part of CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND ISLE OF ELY PART OF SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE RD Area: 66 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Order, 1964; The London Government Act, 1963
01 Apr 1965 was reduced to create CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND ISLE OF ELY parts of Halstead, Saffron Walden RDs Area: 216 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Order, 1964; The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order, 1964
01 Apr 1965 was enlarged by gaining part of CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND ISLE OF ELY part of South Cambridgeshire RD Area: 66 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Order, 1964; The London Government Act, 1963
01 Apr 1965 was abolished to create GREATER LONDON East Ham, West Ham CBs and Barking, Chingford, Dagenham, Ilford, Leyton, Romford, Walthamstow, Wanstead and Woodford MBs and Hornchurch UD and part of Chigwell UD Area: 28279 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The London Government Act, 1963

Boundary Map of Essex Administrative County (pre-1974)

If the boundaries of the Administrative County changed over time, this map will show all the different boundaries.

Maps Census reports

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Essex Administrative County (pre-1974) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10186092

Date accessed: 08th April 2026