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Newark, New Jersey

"Brick City"
Once the industrial heart of New Jersey and a major immigrant gateway, Newark survived devastating 1967 riots and decades of decline to emerge as a city in renaissance just minutes from Manhattan.
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Founded 1666 | Population 311,549 | Peak 442,337 (1930) | County Essex County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Newark, New Jersey

1
1967Newark Riots: Five days of civil unrest killed 26 people, injured 700, and caused $10 million in damage. The uprising was sparked by police brutality and fueled by decades of poverty and discrimination.
2
1666Founded by Puritans: Newark was founded by Puritan settlers from Connecticut, making it one of the oldest cities in America — older than most of the original 13 colonies.
3
1910Industrial Powerhouse: Newark became one of America's greatest manufacturing centers, producing leather, jewelry, beer, and electrical equipment, earning it the nickname 'Workshop of the Nation.'.
4
1937Hindenburg Lands Nearby: The Hindenburg airship disaster occurred at nearby Lakehurst Naval Air Station, killing 36 people and ending the age of airship travel in a fireball broadcast live on radio.
5
1970Kenneth Gibson Elected: Kenneth Gibson became the first Black mayor of a major Northeastern city, marking a political transformation as Newark's demographics shifted.
6
2006Cory Booker Elected Mayor: Cory Booker was elected mayor and launched an era of revitalization, attracting investment and national attention before becoming a U.S. Senator.
7
1826Morris Canal Opens: The Morris Canal connected Newark to Pennsylvania's coal fields, fueling the city's industrial growth.
8
1935Newark Airport Expansion: Newark Airport became one of the busiest in the nation, establishing the city as a major transportation hub for the New York metropolitan area.
9
2016Newark Renaissance: Major development projects including the Prudential Center arena and new residential construction signaled Newark's comeback after decades of decline.
10
1950Population Peak: Newark's population peaked at 442,000 before suburbanization, white flight, and deindustrialization drove decades of population loss.
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Population Over Time

0 110,584 221,169 331,753 442,337 1840 1860 1880 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Latest News in Newark

News articles will appear here as they're published.

Complete Historical Timeline

1666 Government
Puritan settlers found Newark
1826 Transport
Morris Canal connects to coal fields
1910 Industry
Newark becomes major industrial center
1935 Transport
Newark Airport expands
1937 Disaster
Hindenburg disaster at nearby Lakehurst
1967 Civil Rights
Newark riots — 26 killed
1970 Politics
Kenneth Gibson elected first Black mayor
1997 Culture
New Jersey Performing Arts Center opens
2006 Politics
Cory Booker elected mayor
2007 Architecture
Prudential Center arena opens

Did You Know?

1
Newark is one of the oldest cities in America — founded in 1666, it's older than the nation itself by over a century.
2
Newark Liberty International Airport was the first major airport in the New York metropolitan area, opening in 1928.
3
The Prudential insurance company was founded in Newark in 1875 and is still headquartered there — it's one of the largest financial companies in the world.
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