Many people know the District from its association with Sailing. The Blackwater and Crouch are of international importance for nature conservation particularly for their extensive population of wildfowl and waders.
The District has a rural character ranging from tidal salt marshes to farmland and rolling wooded ridges. A network of delightful country lanes provides access to the countryside from the towns and villages.
The District has a population of 59,418 in 2001. The main towns are Maldon, Heybridge and Burnham on Crouch. The majority of people live in the small rural villages, many of which owe their origins to their connection with the coast or agricultural economy.