Canvey Island

Canvey Island
Aerial view from the south east of Canvey Island
Canvey Island and the surrounding environment
Canvey Island is located in Essex
Canvey Island
Canvey Island
Location within Essex
Population38,170 (2011)[1]
• Density
  • Civil parish 2,031/km2 (5,260/sq mi)
  • Urban Area 4,703/km2 (12,180/sq mi) [2]
OS grid referenceTQ7882
Civil parish
  • Canvey Island
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCANVEY ISLAND
Postcode districtSS8
Dialling code01268
01374
PoliceEssex
FireEssex
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
Websitewww.canveyisland-tc.gov.uk
List of places
UK
England
Essex
51°31′30″N 00°34′21″E / 51.52500°N 0.57250°E / 51.52500; 0.57250

Canvey Island is a town, civil parish and reclaimed island in the Thames estuary, near Southend-on-Sea, in the Castle Point district, in the county of Essex, England. It has an area of 7.12 square miles (18.44 km2) and a population of 38,170.[1] It is separated from the mainland of south Essex by a network of creeks. Lying only just above sea level, it is prone to flooding at exceptional tides and has been inhabited since the Roman conquest of Britain.

The island was mainly agricultural land until the 20th century, when it became the fastest-growing seaside resort in Britain between 1911 and 1951. The North Sea flood of 1953 devastated the island, killing 58 islanders and leading to the temporary evacuation of the 13,000 residents.[3] Canvey is consequently protected by modern sea defences comprising 2 miles (3.2 km) of concrete sea walls.[4]

Canvey Island is also notable for its relationship to the petrochemical industry. The island was the site of the first delivery in the world of liquefied natural gas by container ship and later became the subject of an influential assessment on the risks to a population living within the vicinity of petrochemical shipping and storage facilities.

In 2019, the Conservative Party won 76.7% of the vote in the Castle Point constituency, the highest vote share of the Conservatives in the 2019 General Election tied with Boston and Skegness. Canvey Island has been dubbed the "most Tory place in Britain" by The Economist.[5]

  1. ^ a b Office for National Statistics. (2013). Statistics: Canvey Island[permanent dead link‍].
  2. ^ "Reference Tables". ONS. 7 January 2016.
  3. ^ Canvey Island's 13,000 refugees. (2 February 1953). The Guardian, p. 1. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  4. ^ "Canvey Island Drainage scheme 2006". Environment agency. (May Avenue Pumping Station information board).
  5. ^ "The most Tory place in Britain". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 21 June 2024.