− | '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | + | '''Essex''' is a county (1991 population of 1,495,600) in southeast [[Directory:England|England]], on the Thames River and the North Sea, one of the “Home Counties” of [[Directory:London, England|London]]. |
| + | Chelmsford is the county seat. The land rises from the low, irregular coastline to undulating pastoral country. Streams and salt marshes are plentiful. The chief crops of Essex are [[wheat]], [[barley]], [[sugar beet|sugar beets]], [[potato|potatoes]], [[fruit|fruits]], and [[vegetable|vegetables]]. There is market gardening for London and some [[dairy]] and [[sheep]] farming. [[Oyster]] fisheries are also important. Industries include petroleum refining, chemicals, machinery, textiles, cement, processed foods, electrical goods, and nuclear power generation. |