Essex Township, Kankakee County, Illinois

Essex Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,480 and it contained 686 housing units.^[2]

Essex Township
Township
Location in Kankakee County
Kankakee County's location in Illinois
Coordinates: 41°09′32″N 88°11′19″W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Kankakee
Established	August 1, 1855
Government
• Supervisor	Don Babjak
Area
• Total	36.23 sq mi (93.8 km2)
• Land	35.64 sq mi (92.3 km2)
• Water	0.59 sq mi (1.5 km2)  1.63%
Elevation	584 ft (178 m)
Population  (2010)
• Estimate  (2016)[1]	1,414
• Density	41.5/sq mi (16.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	60424, 60481, 60913, 60917, 60935, 60941, 60961
FIPS code	17-091-24465

History

The now lost towns of Tracy, Oklahoma, and Clarke City, which housed coal miners in the 1800s, were located in Essex Township.^[3]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the township has a total area of 36.23 square miles (93.8 km²), of which 35.64 square miles (92.3 km²) (or 98.37%) is land and 0.59 square miles (1.5 km²) (or 1.63%) is water.^[2]

Cities, towns, villages

• Essex

Adjacent townships

• Reed Township, Will County (north)
• Custer Township, Will County (northeast)
• Salina Township (east)
• Pilot Township (southeast)
• Norton Township (south)
• Greenfield Township, Grundy County (west)
• Braceville Township, Grundy County (northwest)

Cemeteries

The township contains these two cemeteries: North Essex and South Essex.

Major highways

• Illinois Route 17

Airports and landing strips

• Lagrange Airport
• Rashs Acres Airport

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2016 (est.)	1,414	[1]
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

Government

The township is governed by an elected Town Board of a Supervisor and four Trustees. The Township also has an elected Assessor, Clerk, Highway Commissioner and Supervisor. The Township Office is located at 315 North Pine, Essex, IL 60935.

Political districts

• Illinois's 11th congressional district
• State House District 75
• State Senate District 38

School districts

• Herscher Community Unit School District 2
• Reed Custer Community Unit School District 255U