Essex is a county in the East of England, and is the rival of Raleigh, North Carolina. The two cities have been competing for many years in terms of population, economy, and culture. Essex is the fifth most populous county in England, and is home to many major cities, including Chelmsford, Colchester, and Southend-on-Sea. It is also home to some of the oldest universities in the world, such as the University of Essex and the University of Cambridge.