The county that gave the world the word 'gerrymandering'

Entertainment · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1812, a resident of Marblehead created a legislative district so bizarre it birthed a new political term. Today, Essex County exists as a ghost of its former self—a historical region with no active county government, yet it remains a powerhouse of maritime history and industrial legacy.

Essex County was formally established by the Massachusetts Bay Colony on May 10, 1643. Originally composed of eight towns, including Salem and Lynn, it expanded in 1680 to include Haverhill, Amesbury, and Salisbury. While it was once a primary seat of colonial power, the county underwent a radical administrative shift in 1999. During this year, the county government was dissolved, and all former functions were assumed by state agencies. Today, while the sheriff and district attorney remain locally elected, there is no county council, commissioner, or county employees. The region is defined by its diverse industrial and maritime evolution. It was a hub for the 19th-century textile and shoe industries and a center for maritime activities like privateering and the China trade. This rich history led to its designation as the Essex National Heritage Area in 1996.

This 500-square-mile area, spanning from the Atlantic Coast to the Merrimack Valley, encompasses 34 cities and towns, including two National Historic Sites: the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. Geographically, the county is a diamond-shaped region in northeastern Massachusetts, where 41% of its 828 square miles is water. Despite its historical weight, it has faced modern challenges, recording more disaster declarations than most U.S. counties between 1964 and 2016 due to a combination of hurricanes, floods, and severe winter storms. It remains a significant population center, with 94.8% of its 809,829 residents (as of the 2020 census) living in urban areas.

The county is also a notable site of political evolution. The area remained a Republican bastion from the party's inception through the New Deal era. It has trended Democratic since 1936, with only Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan carrying the county for the GOP in the late 20th century. Furthermore, it is the birthplace of the term 'gerrymandering,' coined in 1812 by Elbridge Gerry, who was born and raised in the county's Marblehead.

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