Welcome to Essex Township Online!
New and Noteworthy
Substation Construction Project on 14750W Road
​Construction has started on the Heritage Prairie Substation for the project that was approved by Kankakee County. Signs are posted directing construction traffic to a strictly agreed upon route on Township roads. Attached is the Road Use Agreement that was negotiated for the compensation to repair the roads from this project. Also attached is the map outlining the construction route.
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*** For any complaints regarding Ilinois vehicle code violations (e.g. stop sign violations, speeding, etc.), please contact the appropriate law enforcement agencies ***
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Let’s Meet!
Our regular monthly meetings are always the last Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm at the Essex Village Hall. Feel free to stop in and say hello! We do not keep regular business hours but our contact information can be found in the About tab.
Our Services
The Illinois Township Code requires that every township perform three main duties:
Road and Bridge Maintenance
This function falls on the highway commissioner and is the largest share of the budget. Essex Township is responsible for 9 bridges over 20' long, 43 total miles of roadway, and 13 miles of gravel road. This responsibility does NOT include maintenance on roads within the village limits of Essex.
Property Assessment
This function is shared with Salina Township which makes up what is known as a Multi Township Assessing District.
General Assistance
A dedicated fund that is meant to provide financial aid or emergency relief to residents who don't qualify for other state or federal assistance. The township retains the help of an experienced case worker that reviews any requests and determines eligibility.
Our
Story
Essex Township was formed in 1855 when two townships that were once part of Vermillion County were taken and added to western Kankakee County. The township has a rich mining history, with evidence of some of the first mines as early as the 1870s, continuing through 1974. The township was once home to several lost mining communities including Tracy, Oklahoma, and Clarke City. Today the township is home to vast farmland, several recreational clubs, and the Village of Essex. Essex Township also maintains two cemeteries dating back to the Civil War.