Newark, New Jersey

Newark is the biggest city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Essex County. It is also an important city in the New York metropolitan area.

Many people live in Newark. In the 2020 census, the population was 311,549, and in 2024, it was about 317,303.

Newark was founded in 1666 by Puritans from New Haven Colony. It is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The city's waterfront is very important for trade because it is at the mouth of the Passaic River, where it flows into Newark Bay. Port Newark–Elizabeth is the main place for container shipping on the U.S. East Coast. Newark Liberty International Airport was the first commercial airport in the United States and is still very busy.

Many companies have offices in Newark, such as Prudential, PSEG, Panasonic Corporation of North America, Audible.com, and Mars Snacking. The city has several schools, including the Newark campus of Rutgers University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Seton Hall University's law school. Places like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The Newark Museum of Art, and Branch Brook Park, famous for its many ornamental cherry trees, draw many visitors.

History

Main article: History of Newark, New Jersey

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Newark, New Jersey.

Newark was founded in 1666 by settlers from Connecticut called Puritans, led by Robert Treat. They wanted to build a community where everyone shared the same beliefs. Over time, new people arrived with different ideas. In 1693, Newark became an official town. In 1713, it received special permission from the king. By 1798, it was recognized as one of New Jersey's first townships.

During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers attacked the town. In the 1800s and early 1900s, Newark grew quickly with new factories and people moving in. The city faced challenges in the mid-to-late 1900s.

Since the 1990s, Newark has been improving with new offices, arts centers, and sports facilities. The city's population began to grow again after World War II.

Geography

Newark, New Jersey, covers an area of 25.89 square miles. It is one of the smallest cities in the U.S. by land area. The city is near the Passaic River. It is surrounded by suburbs, the Passaic River, and Newark Bay. In the early 1900s, marshlands became space for Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Newark. Newark is part of New Jersey’s Gateway Region.

Neighborhoods

Main article: List of neighborhoods in Newark, New Jersey

Newark is divided into five wards: East, South, Central, North, and West. Each ward has its own character. The Central Ward has historic areas and universities. The North Ward is known for Branch Brook Park. The West Ward has diverse neighborhoods. The South Ward includes the Weequahic area. The East Ward contains downtown Newark and the Ironbound neighborhood, famous for its shops and restaurants.

Climate

Newark has a climate with cold winters and hot, humid summers. Average January temperatures are around 33 °F, and July temperatures average about 78 °F. The city can have heavy snowfall and rain throughout the year, with summer being the wettest season.

Demographics

Newark had a population of 311,549 in 2020. The Population Estimates Program said there were 305,344 people in 2022, making Newark the 66th-most populous city in the nation.

From 2000 to 2010, the city's population grew a little, from 273,546 people to 277,140 people. It grew more in 2020, to 311,549 people. Before this, Newark had even more people, with a peak of 442,337 residents in 1930. After that, many people moved to nearby suburbs, especially starting in the 1940s.

Race and ethnicity

2020

From the 1950s to 1967, the number of white people in Newark decreased, while the number of Black people increased. By 2010, the percentage of white people had dropped to 11.6%, and the percentage of Latino or Hispanic people grew to 33.8%. In 2018, about 8.9% of people were white, 47.0% were Black or African American, 2.1% were Asian American, and 39.2% were Latino or Hispanic.

In 2010, about 35.74% of people were white, 58.86% were African American, and 33.39% were Latino or Hispanic. There were also people from many other backgrounds.

Religion

About 60% of people in Newark follow a religion. The largest group is Catholic, making up 34.3% of the population. Other Christian groups include Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Pentecostals. Smaller groups include Anglicans, Lutherans, and members of other Christian denominations.

Judaism and Islam each make up about 3.0% of the population. Other religions include Eastern religions such as Sikhism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Some people also identify as spiritual but not religious, agnostic, deistic, or atheist.

Economy

Many people go to Newark for work every day. It has many jobs, especially in insurance, finance, trading, healthcare, and government work. Downtown Newark has many offices, and many law firms are there. The city has students and important transportation, like an airport and a busy port.

Newark still has some factories, mostly in the south, and many service jobs are growing. It is important for insurance companies and many big businesses have offices there. Even with new buildings in downtown, some parts of the city still have job and money problems.

Arts and culture

Newark, New Jersey, is a city with many interesting buildings and places for the arts. It has many different kinds of architecture, like grand old buildings and modern skyscrapers. Some important buildings include the Veterans' Administration building, the Newark Museum of Art, and the Newark Public Library.

The city also has a big place for music, dance, and theater called the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. It opened in 1997 and welcomes many visitors each year. Before this center, Newark Symphony Hall was a popular spot for music and dance. Today, the Newark Boys Chorus and other groups perform there too.

Newark has many museums and libraries. The Newark Museum of Art is the largest museum in New Jersey and has many interesting things to see, including art from America and Tibet. The Newark Public Library has many books and often has special exhibits and activities.

The city also has many murals and public art, including some very big paintings made by many artists. There are also many festivals and parades throughout the year, celebrating different cultures and traditions, like the Cherry Blossom Festival and the James Moody Jazz Festival.

Parks and recreation

Newark has many lovely parks and green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Colonial commons

Military Park in Downtown Newark has been the town's central green space since 1869. It has a famous sculpture and a casual restaurant. Lincoln Park, located in the Arts District, was once part of Newark's jazz and nightlife scene. Harriet Tubman Square, formerly Washington Park, honors the famous freedom fighter with a statue.

Passaic River waterfront

Riverfront Park runs along the Passaic River and offers a boardwalk and beautiful water views.

County parks

Newark is home to Branch Brook Park, the oldest county park in the United States. It hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Festival and has many cherry blossom trees. Other county parks include Independence Park, Ivy Hill Park, Vailsburg Park, Riverbank Park, Veterans Memorial Park, and Weequahic Park which has a large lake.

Municipal parks and squares

Peter Francisco Park is the gateway to the Ironbound district. Jesse Allen Park is Newark's second-largest city-owned park. The Greater Newark Conservancy maintains environmental learning centers and gardens. Mulberry Commons is a park near the Prudential Center and what used to be Newark's Chinatown. Nat Turner Park is Newark's largest city-owned park, named after a famous leader from the 1800s.

Golf and other recreational facilities

Weequahic Golf Course is an 18-hole public course. The course works to introduce young people from the city to golf. There are also several recreation centers and a skateboard park throughout the city.

Media

Newark is part of the metro New York media market.

Newspapers

The Star-Ledger is the main newspaper in the state and is based in Newark. Another weekly student newspaper, The Newark Targum, is published for students at the Newark campus of Rutgers University.

Other news outlets

• TAP Into Newark is an online news site about Newark.
• Newark Patch provides daily local news online.
• Local Talk covers Newark and nearby areas.
• The Newarker is a journal about Newark's culture and history.
• The Newark Times is an online news site about Newark's lifestyle and events.
• The Newark Metro covers life from Newark to New York City.
• RLS Media reports news from Newark and surrounding areas.
• The city shares updates on its official Twitter account.
• The Pod is a podcast helping small businesses in New Jersey.

Radio

Early radio station WOR began in Newark in 1922. Today, WBGO, a jazz station, operates in downtown Newark. Other radio stations licensed to Newark include WNSW and WQXR.

Telephone

In 1915, Newark tested new telephone technology that allowed operators to connect calls without manual cords. This system was replaced by modern technology in the 1970s and finally decommissioned in 1983. Newark changed to area code 973 in 1997.

Television

New Jersey’s first TV station began broadcasting from Newark in 1948. WNET, a public station, is based there. Other stations include WFUT-TV and Tempo Networks. NwkTV serves as the city’s government channel.

Film

The Newark Black Film Festival has been held every year since 1974. The Newark International Film Festival started in 2015. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed in Newark, taking advantage of its unique cityscape. Notable productions include Joker, Smile, and The Sopranos.

In 2009, Ironbound Film & Television Studios opened, and a new major studio called Lionsgate Newark Studios is set to open in 2024.

Theatres

Newark once had many movie theaters, with 62 by 1922. Most closed over time, but today the CityPlex 12 Newark and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center remain active. Newark Symphony Hall has been hosting performances since 1925.

Sports

See also: Sports in Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey, has had many sports teams. Today, the city has one major team: the New Jersey Devils. They play hockey in the NHL. Their home is the Prudential Center, a big indoor arena in downtown Newark. It opened in 2007 and is used for many sports and events.

In the past, Newark had other teams, like the Newark Bears baseball team. Their stadium closed and was torn down. The Prudential Center has hosted big games and events.

Government

Local

Newark uses a special way of running its city government called the Mayor-Council Plan C, which started in 1954. This system has a mayor and a council with nine members. The mayor is chosen by the people to serve a four-year term. The council has one person from each of the five parts of the city and four people who represent the whole city.

As of 2026, the mayor of Newark is Ras Baraka, who has been in office since 2014. The council members change every four years, and their terms end in 2026.

Federal, state, and county

Newark is split between two areas for choosing members of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is also part of two areas for the New Jersey state government.

New Jersey’s representatives in the U.S. Senate are Cory Booker and Andy Kim. For the U.S. House, Rob Menendez represents part of Newark, and LaMonica McIver represents another part.

At the state level, Newark’s areas are represented by different people in the State Senate and General Assembly. Essex County has its own government led by a county executive and a board of commissioners.

Politics

Newark usually votes for Democratic Party candidates in big elections. Democratic candidates have received most of the votes in recent presidential elections.

Political corruption

Newark has had some problems with leaders doing wrong things in the past. This has made it hard for the city to trust its leaders sometimes.

Education

Newark has many colleges and universities, such as Berkeley College, Essex County College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Rutgers University–Newark. These schools are mostly in the University Heights area and help the community.

The city also has many public schools. The Newark Public Schools have many students. Some well-known schools are Science Park High School and Technology High School. There are also charter schools like the Robert Treat Academy Charter School. Private schools include Saint Benedict's Preparatory School and Saint Vincent Academy.

Public safety

Newark Department of Public Safety

In 2016, Newark combined its Fire, Police, and Office of Emergency Management into one Department of Public Safety.

Fire department

The city has more than 700 full-time firefighters. Founded in 1863, the Newark Fire Division works from 16 firehouses in four battalions. It has many types of vehicles, including engines, ladders, and rescue units. The department answers about 45,000 emergency calls each year.

Law enforcement

The Newark Police Division is the city's main law enforcement group. In January 2014, it had 1,006 officers. After learning about some unfair practices, the department made changes to improve how officers treat people. These changes have helped reduce some problems.

Emergency management

The Office of Emergency Management helps plan for and respond to emergencies. It makes sure there are resources available when needed.

Emergency Medical Services

University Hospital EMS runs the city's emergency medical services. It has many vehicles and staff ready to respond to calls, including some special units. The system is very busy, handling many calls each year.

Crime

Newark's crime rates have changed over the years. In the past, the city had high numbers of serious incidents, but recent years have shown lower numbers. For example, the city recorded a historic low of 37 homicides in 2024. However, some types of crime have increased in recent years.

Water contamination

Main article: Newark water crisis

In the 2010s, Newark had problems with lead in its water because of old pipes. The city tested the water and provided filters, but some issues remained. In 2024, it was found that a company hired to replace these pipes did not do the work properly, so concerns continued. The city is working to fix these problems and keep the water safe for its residents.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Newark is a center for air, road, rail, and ship traffic, making it an important gateway to the New York metropolitan area and the Mid-Atlantic U.S..

Newark Liberty International Airport, located in both Newark and Elizabeth, is the second-busiest airport in the New York metro area and the 15th-busiest in the United States for passengers. Newark Airport was the first commercial airport in the New York City area, opening in 1928.

Port Newark, on Newark Bay, is one of the busiest ports in the world and the largest container port on the East Coast of the United States.

Early modes of transport

The Morris Canal, stretching from Newark to Phillipsburg on the Delaware River, was finished in 1831. It helped move goods from Pennsylvania to the New York metropolitan area. After the canal closed, its path became the Newark Light Rail. Many stations still show the canal through mosaic art.

As Newark grew, new ways of travel were needed, leading to horse-drawn trolleys. These were later replaced by electric trolleys. However, as cars became more popular, the trolley system was replaced by automobiles.

Roads and highways

Newark is served by many highways including the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95), Interstate 280, Interstate 78, the Garden State Parkway, U.S. Route 1/9, U.S. Route 22, and Route 21. Newark is connected to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan by the Pulaski Skyway.

In a city with good public transport, many Newark residents did not own a car.

Public transportation

Newark Penn Station, east of downtown, is the city's main train station. It connects to Jersey City and Manhattan through the PATH's Newark–World Trade Center line, three NJ Transit Rail Operations commuter lines, and Amtrak intercity service.

Bus service in Newark is provided by NJ Transit. The go bus 25 and go bus 28 are fast bus lines through the city to Irvington, Bloomfield, and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Newark also offers many ways to travel between cities, with services like FlixBus, Trailways, Peter Pan, OurBus, TransBridge, and Uptown Vans available at Newark Penn Station or Newark Airport.

Healthcare

Newark is home to five hospitals. University Hospital teaches doctors through Rutgers Health. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is the largest hospital in the city and part of Barnabas Health.

Lead water pipes

In 2016, tests of water in Newark's public schools found high levels of lead. In August 2019, worries about lead in the city's drinking water grew again. Newark announced a plan to replace the city's lead service lines within three years.

International relations

Newark has important buildings where countries have representatives, called consulates. The Consulate-General of Ecuador in New Jersey is at 400 Market Street. The Consulate-General of Portugal in Newark is at the main floor of the Newark Legal Center at One Riverfront Plaza. The Consulate-General of Colombia is at 550 Broad Street. The Vice Consulate of Italy used to be at 1 Gateway Center, but it closed in 2014.

Famous people have visited Newark in the past. Pope John Paul II came in 1995. In 2011, the Dalai Lama visited for a meeting about peace.

Newark has many sister cities around the world. These cities work together and share traditions. As of 2022, Newark had 15 official sister cities, including places in Portugal and Brazil. There are also other cities sometimes listed as sister cities, such as places in Ireland, Ecuador, and Spain. In 2023, Newark held a ceremony with a place called Kailaasa, but later it was found that this nation does not actually exist.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey, has been home to many famous people. They have made important contributions in areas like arts, sports, and entertainment. The city keeps inspiring new and notable people.