History and Geography
– Newark was settled in 1666 by Connecticut Puritans led by Robert Treat.
– It was organized as a New Jersey township in 1693 and incorporated as a city in 1836.
– Portions of Newark were taken to form other townships.
– The name “Newark” is thought to derive from Newark-on-Trent, England.
– Newark has a total area of 25.89 square miles, with 24.14 square miles of land and 1.74 square miles of water.
– It has the third-smallest land area among the 100 most populous cities in the U.S.
– The city’s altitude ranges from sea level in the east to approximately 230 feet above sea level in the western section.
– Newark is essentially a large basin sloping towards the Passaic River, with a few valleys formed by meandering streams.
– The city is surrounded by residential suburbs to the west, the Passaic River and Newark Bay to the east, and dense urban areas to the south and southwest.
Neighborhoods and Demographics
– Newark is divided into five political wards: East, West, South, North, and Central.
– Residents have begun to identify with specific neighborhood names instead of the larger ward appellations.
– The city is the second-most racially diverse municipality in the state.
– Industrial uses and transportation hubs are concentrated in the East and South wards.
– Residential neighborhoods exist primarily in the other wards.
– Historical population data shows growth and decline over the years.
– The racial and ethnic composition has changed over time, with a decline in non-Hispanic whites and an increase in Latinos and Hispanics.
– The city has a large Portuguese-speaking community in the Ironbound district.
– Religion identification shows roughly 60% of Newarkers, with the Catholic Church being the largest Christian group.
Economy and Institutions
– Several companies maintain their headquarters in Newark, including Prudential, PSEG, and Panasonic Corporation of North America.
– Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the U.S.
– The Port of Newark–Elizabeth is the primary container shipping terminal on the U.S. East Coast.
– The city is home to higher education institutions such as Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
– Newark has cultural venues like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Newark Museum of Art.
Government and Leadership
– Ras Baraka has served as mayor of Newark since 2014.
– The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is located in the city.
– Newark is the seat of Essex County.
– The city is divided into five political wards, each with its own council member.
– Newark has a strong mayor-council form of government.
Climate, Housing, and Socioeconomic Factors
– Newark has a humid subtropical and humid continental climate.
– Winters are cold, and summers are hot and humid.
– The city has experienced population decline and poverty rates over the years.
– Median household income and poverty rates have improved since 2000.
– Housing units and population density have changed over time.Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey
