John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is located in the township and attracts visitors year-round.

[citation needed] Fort Nya Gothenborg, located on the South River, was settled by colonial Swedes in 1643.

It served as capital of the New Sweden colony, under the rule of Royal Governor Johan Björnsson Printz.

Governor Printz built his manor house, The Printzhof, on Tinicum Island, from which he administered the colony.

[7] It is bordered to the south by the Delaware River, to the west and northwest by Darby Creek, and to the northeast by the city of Philadelphia.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge lies along Darby Creek on the northwestern side of the township.

[3] It has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures in Essington range from 33.6 °F in January to 78.4 °F in July.

Pennsylvania Route 420 begins at PA 291, heads north, interchanges with I-95, and exits the northwestern edge of the township.