Essex [Middlesex County] was a parish named in 1820 from Essex, England. It was incorporated in 1852 as Old Saybrook then changed its name in 1854 to Essex. Its Native American name is "Patapoug".Area, 11.8 sq. miles. Population, est., 6,143. Voting districts, 3. Principal industries, boat building and repair, turbine blades, machine parts, novelties, naval lighting equipment and bent wire products.Essex includes the villages of Ivoryton and Centerbrook.