ZIP Code 07105

Newark is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area. Newark Liberty International Airport was the first municipal commercial airport in the United States, and today is one of its busiest. The city is home to the nation's largest collection of cherry blossom trees, numbering over 5,000. Newark is divided into five political wards (East, West, South, North and Central) and contains neighborhoods ranging in character from bustling urban districts to quiet suburban enclaves. Several companies have their headquarters in Newark, including Prudential, PSEG, Panasonic Corporation of North America, Audible.com, IDT Corporation, Manischewitz and AeroFarms. The name of the city is thought to derive from Newark-on-Trent, England, because of the influence of the original pastor, Abraham Pierson, who came from Yorkshire but may have ministered in Newark, But Pierson is also supposed to have said that the community reflecting the new task at hand should be named "New Ark" for "NewArk of the Covenant" and some of the colonists saw it as "New-Work" The city was granted a royal charter on April 27, 1713. Newark was reincorporated as a city on April 11, 1836, replacing Newark Township. The previously independent Vailsburg borough was annexed by Newark on January 1, 1905. In 1926, South Orange Township changed its name to Maplewood. As a result of this, a portion of Maplewood known as Ivy Hill was re-annexed to Newark's Vailsberg.

History

Newark was settled in 1666 by Connecticut Puritans led by Robert Treat from the New Haven Colony. On October 31, 1693, it was organized as a New Jersey township based on the Newark Tract, which was first purchased on July 11, 1667. Newark was granted a royal charter on April 27, 1713. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, by the New Jersey Legislature's Township Act of 1798. The city saw tremendous industrial and population growth during the 19th century and early 20th century. It experienced racial tension and urban decline in the second half of the 20th Century, culminating in the 1967 Newark riots. The name of the city is thought to derive from Newark-on-Trent, England, because of the influence of the original pastor, Abraham Pierson, who came from Yorkshire but may have ministered in Newark, Nottinghamshire. But Pierson is also supposed to have said that the community reflecting the new task at hand should be named " new Ark" for "New Ark of the Covenant" and some of the colonists saw it as "New-Work", the settlers' new work with God. During the American Revolutionary War, British troops made several raids into the town. In 1926, South Orange Township changed its name to Maplewood. As a result of this, a portion of Maplewood known as Ivy Hill was re-annexed to Newark's Vailsburg. The previously independent Vailsberg borough was annexed by Newark on January 1, 1905.

Geography

Newark has the third-smallest land area among the 100 most populous cities in the U.S., behind neighboring Jersey City and Hialeah, Florida. The city's altitude ranges from 0 (sea level) in the east to approximately 230 feet (70 m) above sea level in the western section of the city. Newark is the largest in New Jersey's Gateway Region, which is said to have received its name from Newark's nickname as the "Gateway City" The city is divided into five political wards, which are often used by residents to identify their place of habitation. State law requires that wards be compact and contiguous and that the largest ward may not exceed the population of the smallest by more than 10% of the average ward size. Industrial uses, coupled with the airport and seaport lands, are concentrated in the East and South wards, while residential neighborhoods exist primarily in the North, Central, and West Wards. Of these neighborhood designations only University Heights, a more recent designation for the area that was the subject of the 1968 novel Howard Street by Nathan Heard, is still in common usage. The Central Ward, formerly known as the old Third Ward, contains much of the City's history including the original squares Lincoln Park, Military Park and Washington Park. Located in the Central Ward is the nation's largest health sciences university, UMDNJ-New Jersey, home to three other universities. The North Ward is surrounded by Mount Pleasant Park, Upper Roseville and the affluent Forest Hill section of Forest Hill.

Demographics

From 2000 to 2010, the increase of 3,594 inhabitants (+1.3%) from the 273,546 counted in the 2000 U.S. census marked the second census in 70 years in which the city's population had grown from the previous enumeration. This trend continued in 2020, where Newark had an increase of 34,409 (12.4%) in the population from the 277,140 counted in 2010. The percentage of Latinos and Hispanics in Newark grew between 1980 and 2010, from 18.6% to 33.8% while that of Blacks and African Americans decreased from 58.2% to 52.4%. At the American Community Survey's 2018 estimates, non-Hispanic whites made up 8.9% of the population. Black Americans made up 2.0% of Newark's population, Asian Americans were 2.6%, and some other race 1.1%. In 2010, 3574 of the city’s population was white. At the 2018 estimates there were 114,061 housing units and 101,689 households. Approximately 61,667 families lived in the city. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.45. The median household income was $37,642 and the mean income was$53,587. The city's unemployment rate was 8.5%. The average income for a household in 2000 was $26,913. About 22% of families and 25% of. the population were below the poverty line.

Economy

More than 100,000 people commute to Newark each workday, making it the state's largest employment center. Newark is the third-largest insurance center in the United States, behind New York City and Hartford, Connecticut. The city is also a college town, with nearly 50,000 students attending the city's universities and medical and law schools. In 2018, Newark was selected as one of the finalists for the Amazon HQ2, a new headquarters of Amazon. The advantages to Newark included to lower land costs and higher education institutions, a major airport, and fiber optic networks in the city. The service industry is also growing rapidly, replacing those in the manufacturing industry, which was once Newark's primary economy. In addition, transportation has become a large business in Newark, accounting for more than 17,000 jobs in 2011. It is one of nine cities in New Jersey designated as eligible for Urban Transit Hub Tax Credits by the state’s Economic Development Authority. In 2015, AeroFarms, a developer of an aeroponic technology for farming, moved its headquarters from Finger Lakes to Newark. By 2016, it had built the world's largest vertical farm in a Newark warehouse. In 2021, WebMD, an online publisher, announced that it will relocate and create up to 700 new jobs in Newark. The company was recognized in 2019 by Fast Company asone of the most innovative companies in data science. In 2017, Audible was acquired by Amazon and moved its North America headquarters to Newark in 2013.

Arts and culture

There are several notable Beaux-Arts buildings, such as the Veterans' Administration building, The Newark Museum of Art, the Newark Public Library, and the Cass Gilbert-designed Essex County Courthouse. Gothic architecture can be found at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart by Branch Brook Park, which is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the United States. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, near Military Park, opened in 1997, is the home of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and New Jersey State Opera. Since its opening in 2007, the Prudential Center has presented Diana Ross, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, The Eagles, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Bruce Springsteen, Spice Girls, Jonas Brothers, Metro Station, Metallica, Alicia Keys, Fleetwood Mac, Demi Lovato, David Archuleta, Aerosmith, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, and American Idol Live!, among others. The Newark Boys Chorus, founded in 1966, performs regularly in the city. The African Globe Theater Works presents new works seasonally. The biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival took place in Newark for the first time in 2010. In the house music and garage house genres and scene, Newark is known as an innovator. Newark's Club Zanzibar, along with other gay and straight clubs in the 1970s and 1980s, was famous as both a gay andStraight nightlife destination. The city is also home to New Jersey Historical Society, which has rotating exhibits on New Jersey and the world.

Parks and recreation

Newark is home to the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States. The city's largest city-owned park is Nat Turner Park, named for the famous 19th-century American slave rebellion leader, Nat Turner. Other parks include Branch Brook Park, home to Newark's annual Cherry Blossom Festival, and Ivy Hill Park, in the Ivy Hill neighborhood. Golf is a major sport in Newark, with an 18-hole public course and a pro-golf program. The New Jersey Open is the city's first major professional golf tournament. It is also home to a number of smaller, non-profit, community-run golf courses. The City of Newark has a large number of public parks, many of which are open to the public. The Newark Zoo is a popular destination for children and families. It was founded in 1869 and is one of the oldest public parks in the U.S., along with New York's Central Park and Washington Park. It has been named after a former mayor of Newark, who was the first African-American to win a major golf tournament in New Jersey. It also has a zoo, a nature center, and a community center. It's home to several public art projects, including a sculpture by Mt. Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum and a park with the Wars of America sculpture by the same sculptor. The Military Park Partnership manages the programs, events, operations, security, and horticulture of the military park. The park is privately operated.

Sports

Newark is the second-largest city in the New York metropolitan area. It is home to the NHL's New Jersey Devils and the NCAA's Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball team. Red Bull Arena, home of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, opened in 2010 just across the Passaic River in Harrison. MetLife Stadium is less than 10 miles (16 km) from Downtown and can be reached with the Meadowlands Rail Line via Newark Penn Station or Broad Street Station. Newark was a host city and its airport a gateway for Super Bowl XLVIII which was played on February 2, 2014. The original Vince Lombardi Trophy, produced by Tiffany & Co. in Newark in 1967 and borrowed from the Green Bay Packers, was being displayed at the Newark Museum from January 8 until March 30,2014. The Ultimate Fighting Championship's annual Super Bowl weekend mixed martial arts event, UFC 169: Cruz vs. Barao, took place on February 1 at the Prudential Center. New Jersey Nets played two seasons (2010-2012) at theprudential center until moving to the Barclays Center. The New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) also played there for three seasons (2011-2013) during renovations of Madison Square Garden. The center has hosted the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, the 2011 NBA draft, and the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. New York Giants and New York Jets play their home games at MetLife stadium. The stadium opened in 1999 as the home of the Newark Bears, who played in the stadium until the team folded in 2014.

Government

As of July 2022, the Mayor of Newark is Ras Baraka, who is serving a third term of office ending on June 30, 2026. The city council is comprised of nine members, with one council member from each of the city's five wards and four council members who are elected on an at-large basis. Essex County is governed by a directly-elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by the Board of County Commissioners. Newark is split between the 8th and 10th Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 28th and 29th state legislative districts. New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Bob Menendez (Harrison, term end 2025). For the 2022-2023 session, the 29th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented by Teresa Ruiz (D, Newark) and in the General Assembly by Eliana Pintor Marin (D) and Shanique Speight (D), both of whom are elected to four-year terms. For the 117th U.S. Congress, Newark's Tenth Congressional District is representedby Donald Payne Jr. (D, Newark). As of 2022, Essex County's County Executive is Joseph Nenzo Jr. Jr (D., Roseland), whose four- year term ends December 31, 2022. The county's nine-member Board of Commissioners is made up of five members from districts and five from districts. They are elected for four concurrent terms and may be re-elected to successive terms at the annual election.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey = 18.9. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 1. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 10. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Newark = 3.7 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 311,549 individuals with a median age of 33 age the population grows by 3.11% in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 12,903.8 residents per square mile of area (4,982.2/km²). There are average 2.85 people per household in the 94,494 households with an average household income of $33,403 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 14.80% of the available work force and has dropped -3.41% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 18.38%. The number of physicians in Newark per 100,000 population = 319.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Newark = 43.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 26.8 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 121. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 206. 86 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 24.7 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 47, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey which are owned by the occupant = 20.74%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 51 years with median home cost = $179,590 and home appreciation of -15.11%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $28.54 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $12,619 per student. There are 14 students for each teacher in the school, 794 students for each Librarian and 389 students for each Counselor. 3.26% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 6.00% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 2.98% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).