ROOTED HERE
Behind the downtown streets.
A whole city’s story.
Newark's restaurants, performance venues and neighborhood storefronts reflect one of New Jersey's oldest and largest cities.
People made the city.
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 ↗- 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 downtown to see surviving commercial architecture, then explore the Historical Preservation Society’s museum and visiting information. Check current opening dates before setting out. Historical Preservation Society.
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.