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	County Town: Chelmsford County Population: 1,600,000 (estimate)
	Bordered on the south by the Thames River and on the west by the North Sea, Essex is generally low-lying and flat. The fertile agricultural land close to the coast is largely reclaimed marsh.
	Historically the land of the East Saxons, there is little evidence of settlement prior to the Roman occupation of Britain. Colchester became the first municipality in Roman Britain, when it was captured by the Emperor Claudius I in 43 AD. The region subsequently came under alternate Saxon and Dane rule.
	Essex became prosperous through the wool trade in the early Middle Ages, with English wool being much sought after on the Continent. Flemish weavers came to the region in order to teach the art of weaving fine cloth to local peoples. During this period wealthy cloth merchants built many fine estates in the area.
	Due to its close proximity to London there are many commuter towns located around the south of the county, and the area is an important gateway to Europe through Stansted Airport and the sea ports of Harwich and Tilbury. Chelmsford is the administrative centre of Essex with Clacton-on-Sea and Southend-on-Sea being principal seaside resorts.
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