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The history of Newark
Newark's restaurants, performance venues and neighborhood storefronts reflect one of New Jersey's oldest and largest cities.
Newark at a glance
What county is Newark in?
Newark is in Essex County, New Jersey.
What is the area code for Newark?
Newark uses area codes 862, 973, 201, 551, 732, 848 and 908.
What is Newark named after?
Newark is named for Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England.
What is the elevation of Newark?
About 13 feet (4 m) above sea level.
Dates, namesake and elevation from Wikipedia: Newark, New Jersey and Wikidata (checked 2026-11-08); population and ZIP codes from the U.S. Census Bureau.
People who shaped Newark
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Newark: The Brick City
A local history film shared by Mid-Atlantic Chronicles.
Watch on YouTube ↗Newark in old photos
See all 20 old photos
Famous people born in Newark
See all 48 famous people
- 1666
Newark is established
Connecticut Puritans led by Robert Treat established Newark after arriving via the Passaic River and purchasing land from Lenape people.
City of Newark ↗ - 1669
The first city government
Newark's first government was formed.
City of Newark ↗ - 1730
Tanning becomes an industry
Leather tanning began and grew into one of Newark's leading industries.
City of Newark ↗ - 1836
A new city charter
Newark received its city charter as manufacturing and metalworking expanded.
City of Newark ↗ - 1928
A pioneering airport opens
Newark opened the region's first airport, with an early paved runway and control tower.
City of Newark ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk the Military Park Commons Historic District to see Gutzon Borglum’s Wars of America monument in the downtown park. Check current opening hours before visiting The Newark Museum of Art.
For deeper research, the Newark library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.