Townapedia

Essex, Illinois

Essex is a village of 1,026 people in Kankakee County, Illinois.

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Population1,026 +13.1% since 2019
Elevation589 ft 180 m
Land area2.4 sq mi
ZIP codes60424, 60935
Nearest airportGreater Kankakee Airport (IKK) 19 mi

Why visit Essex

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 23 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Essex

Essex is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 841 at the 2020 census, up from 802 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Kankakee-Bradley, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

From the Wikipedia article Essex, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Schools, colleges and libraries10

Braceville Elem School

School · 4.8 mi

209 N Mitchell St, Braceville

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Gardner Elem School

School · 5.9 mi

598 N Elm St, Gardner

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Gardner-South Wilmington Twp H S

School · 5.7 mi

500 E Main St, Gardner

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Reed-Custer Elementary School

School · 5.8 mi

162 S School St, Braidwood

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Reed-Custer High School

School · 5.2 mi

249 Comet Dr, Braidwood

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Reed-Custer Middle School

School · 5.1 mi

407 Comet Dr, Braidwood

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South Wilmington Grade School

School · 4.5 mi

375 Fifth Ave, South Wilmington

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Sowic-Ec Reed Custer

School · 5.8 mi

162 S School St, Braidwood

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Sowic-Educ & Life Skills-Reed Cus

School · 5.8 mi

162 S School St, Braidwood

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Sowic-Educ & Life Skills-Reed Cus

School · 5.1 mi

407 S Comet Dr, Braidwood

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History

Ira M. Lish (1855–1937), Illinois politician and lawyer, was born in Essex.

Unlike earlier underground coal mines exploited by coal miners living in the now lost, nearby settlements of Tracy, Oklahoma and Clarke City, open-pit mines were established near Essex.

From the History section of Essex, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Map of Essex

10 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 2.0 in of rainFebruary: 1.6 in of rainMarch: 2.5 in of rainApril: 3.5 in of rainMay: 4.8 in of rainJune: 4.6 in of rainJuly: 3.9 in of rainAugust: 3.7 in of rainSeptember: 3.2 in of rainOctober: 3.2 in of rainNovember: 2.6 in of rainDecember: 1.9 in of rainJanuary: 31°FFebruary: 35°FMarch: 48°FApril: 61°FMay: 72°FJune: 81°FJuly: 84°FAugust: 82°FSeptember: 77°FOctober: 64°FNovember: 48°FDecember: 36°FJanuary: 14°FFebruary: 17°FMarch: 27°FApril: 37°FMay: 49°FJune: 59°FJuly: 62°FAugust: 59°FSeptember: 51°FOctober: 40°FNovember: 29°FDecember: 20°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan31°F14°F2.0 in7.9 in
Feb35°F17°F1.6 in4.9 in
Mar48°F27°F2.5 in3.5 in
Apr61°F37°F3.5 in0.6 in
May72°F49°F4.8 in0.0 in
Jun81°F59°F4.6 in0.0 in
Jul84°F62°F3.9 in0.0 in
Aug82°F59°F3.7 in0.0 in
Sep77°F51°F3.2 in0.0 in
Oct64°F40°F3.2 in0.0 in
Nov48°F29°F2.6 in0.8 in
Dec36°F20°F1.9 in5.6 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dwight (13 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$108,250median household income
$228,200median home value
$1,143median monthly rent
34.3median age
23.2%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
89.5%of homes are owner-occupied
29.4 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1836%18 to 3415%35 to 6437%65 and over12%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Kankakee County has had 5 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.

  • 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
  • 2004-04-23: Severe Storms And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
  • 2001-01-17: Illinois Winter Snow Storms (Snowstorm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.

  • Braidwood 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
  • Diamond 8 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
  • Coal City 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
  • Dwight 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
  • Bourbonnais 16 mi east, about 26 min by car
  • Channahon 17 mi north, about 28 min by car
  • Elwood 17 mi north, about 27 min by car
  • Kankakee 18 mi east, about 29 min by car
  • Bradley 18 mi east, about 29 min by car
  • Morris 18 mi northwest, about 29 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.