TELEPHONE COMPANY AND SERVICES:
Essex is served by Farmers Telephone Company as their local exchange carrier. Farmers
Telephone offers its customers the state of the art telephony service
provided by digital switching as well as fiber optic network for long
distance services. Farmers Telephone Company also offers a wide
variety of services to the community including cellular, paging and
Internet. Internet is also available to the nearby community of Shenandoah.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
We have the Wabash Trace, which is a family oriented 60 mile long
bike path running from Blanchard, Iowa to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
We have many area parks including Pierce Creek which offers camping
facilities and fishing. Viking Lake State Park and Campground is
located outside of Stanton, Iowa. Waubonsie State Park with many
trails to hike is located one hour away just outside Nebraska City.
There are many minor league baseball teams in the area. Youth from
across the United States come to nearby Shenandoah each year to play
ball. Community theatre is also an important part of the area, as many
towns have their own theatres in the area.
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY:
Industries ranging from farming to factories are quite prevalent in the area.
Local industries include:
Pella Windows
Eaton Transmission Corporation
Douglas and Lomason (car seats)
Traco (windows)
Parker Hannifen Corporation (hydraulic hoses)
Protocall (telemarketing)
Hoover NSK (bearings)
Earl May Garden & Seed Headquarters
JII/Sales Promotion
and other valuable industries.
The town of Essex has two grain elevators, Essex Elevator and Johnson Brothers Mills, Inc. We also have Johnny's Body Shop, Foote's Garage, Sheridan's Gas and Mini-market, Essex Day Care, Essex Furniture and Carpet, Essex Medical Clinic, Essex Hardware, Almquist Gas Company, Kirchert Electric, First National Bank, Johnson Locker Service, Sederburg Construction, Tyner Construction, Million Construction, and Farmers Telephone Company.
The town also includes a Post Office, Police Station, and a Volunteer Fire Department with EMT's and emergency technicians.
AGRICULTURE:
Agriculture plays an important role in this rural
community. We have a mixture of rolling hills and flat land. The
main crops are corn and beans. The growing season is from April
until harvest in late September through November. Some area
farmers also raise hogs and feed cattle.
LODGING & RESTAURANTS:
We are fortunate to have several fine
restaurants in the area including the Essex House, built in the
early 1900's as a railway hotel. It is now a restaurant serving
lunch and dinner and also offering two bed and breakfast rooms for
overnight guests. The dining rooms have exceptionally
beautiful ornate tin ceilings and an elegant decor. The varied
menu includes both plain cooked dishes and more elegant fare.
Owners Alan and Carolyn Poulter are from Essex, England. Alan
holds a degree in Culinary Arts. For more information please call:
1-800-309-3311 or email poulter@netins.net
The Railroad Inn, located on Hwy 48 in Essex, is a fine dining Restaurant, full-service Lounge, plus Bed and Breakfast. Contact by phone at 712-379-3267. This three-story brick hotel was built in l902. In 2000, Connie Freeman elegantly restored the hotel in the Arts & Crafts Design era. Connie Freeman and Mark Woldruff serve as your Innkeepers. You can relax in one of four guest suites, each with private baths. One bedroom features a Jacuzzi tub, another a claw foot tub. You can also enjoy fine dining in our Restaurant. Visit the Railroad Inn Website for menu, special events, pictures, and details here.
Some of the other fine restaurants in the area are The Lantern, The Depot Deli, Caniglia's, Tall Corn Restaurant, The Red Lion, The China Gate, and The China Gate Express, J. Bruners, and The Red Coach Restaurant.
Fast foods are available from Pizza Hut, Subway, McDonald's, Hardees, Godfather's and Dairy Queen.
Overnight lodging is provided by The Tall Corn Motel, The Red Lion Inn, The Clarinda Inn, Celebrity Inn, Inc. and Days Inn.
HISTORY:
Essex is known as a Swedish Community.
FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS:
Essex is known for the Labor Day
celebration which is help the first weekend in September. The
whole town supports this annual event. We have a carnival,
demolition derby, parade, queen contest, and flea market. Area
churches get together for a community service on Sunday morning,
and area organizations set up food booths all over town.
CHURCHES:
We have three churches located in the town of Essex
itself. They are St. John's Lutheran, The Presbyterian Church, and
Faith Covenant Church. There are many churches located outside of
town, as well as in nearby communities.
LIBRARY:
The local public library offers youth reading programs
throughout the summer.
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