Essex
Census-designated place in Flathead County, Montana
Essex is an unincorporated community (census-designated place) in Flathead County, Montana, with 44 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 3,868 ft (1,179 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Pinnacle, 5.3 miles N.
- 44residents (2020 Census)
- 3,868 ftelevation · 1,179 m
- 0.5 sq miland area · 1.3 km²
- 85 / sq mipopulation density
- 59916ZIP code
About Essex
Essex is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Flathead County, Montana, United States. Named for a county in England, Essex (originally known as Walton) began as a small town on the Great Northern Railway’s main line in 1890. As of the 2020 census, Essex had a population of 44.
Located in the northwestern part of the state, Essex lies along the BNSF's Hi-Line route, near Glacier National Park, 31 miles (50 km) southwest of East Glacier and 26 miles (42 km) southeast of West Glacier. Amtrak's Empire Builder makes a flag stop at Essex station: scheduled westbound at 8:44 pm and eastbound at 8:37 am. Essex is also home to a small BNSF Railway yard. Historically, it was used to replenish coal and water for steam locomotives, and to base helper units used to assist trains over Marias Pass. It is still used to base snow-clearing crews in wintertime.
The Izaak Walton Inn hotel is near the Amtrak station platform, but closed in March 2026 due to the bankruptcy of its parent company (LOGE).
Essex is also home to the Glacier-Waterton hamfest, which claims to be the oldest continually running such amateur radio event in the world, beginning in 1934 and held during the third full weekend in July at an area RV park.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Essex weather: 7-day forecast
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Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).
Live webcams in Essex
Webcams: Windy.com
Living in Essex
- Median household income
- $60,250
- Median home value
- $316,700
- Median age
- 55.6
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Map of Essex
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Essex Street View
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Open in Google Maps ›Essex, MT population
Essex had 44 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 44 |
|---|---|
| Density | 85 per sq mi (33 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Essex at a glance
| State | Montana (MT) |
|---|---|
| County | Flathead County |
| Type | Census-designated place |
| Population | 44 (2020) |
| Land area | 0.52 sq mi (1.3 km²) |
| Water area | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km²) |
| Elevation | 3,868 ft (1,179 m) |
| Coordinates | 48.2847° N, 113.6103° W |
| ZIP code | 59916 |
| Census code (GEOID) | 3024700 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Essex
- Pinnacle5.3 mi N
- Snowslip7.7 mi E
- Martin City20.7 mi W
- East Glacier Park Village21.0 mi NE
- Hungry Horse22.0 mi W
- Coram22.4 mi NW
- West Glacier23.1 mi NW
- Bigfork24.7 mi SW
- Swan Lake25.6 mi S
- Columbia Falls27.4 mi W
- Woods Bay28.2 mi SW
- Helena Flats28.8 mi W
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Essex
What county is Essex in?
Essex is in Flathead County, Montana.
What is the population of Essex, MT?
44 people lived in Essex at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Essex, MT?
The ZIP code of Essex is 59916.
What is the elevation of Essex?
3,868 feet (1,179 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Essex?
Pinnacle (5.3 mi), Snowslip (7.7 mi), Martin City (20.7 mi), East Glacier Park Village (21.0 mi), Hungry Horse (22.0 mi).
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