An election to Essex County Council took place on 7 June 2001 as part of the 2001 United Kingdom local elections. 79 councillors were elected from various electoral divisions, which returned either one or two county councillors each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office. The electoral divisions were the same as those used at the previous election in 1997. The Conservative Party retained control of Essex County Council in the 2001 local elections, with an increased majority.