Newark, Delaware

Newark, Delaware
City
City of Newark
Main Street is the commercial heart of Newark. It is adjacent to the University of Delaware.
Flag Seal
Location of Newark in New Castle County
Show Newark Show Delaware Show the United States
Coordinates:39°41′01″N75°44′59″W / 39.68361°N 75.74972°W /39.68361; -75.74972
Country	United States
State	Delaware
County	New Castle
Founded	1694
Incorporated	1758
Government
• Type	Council–manager[1]
• Deputy Mayor	Travis McDermott[2]
Area [3]
• Total	9.43 sq mi (24.42 km2)
• Land	9.43 sq mi (24.42 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	128 ft (39 m)
Population ( 2020)
• Total	30,601
• Density	3,246.10/sq mi (1,253.27/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP Codes	19702, 19711-19718, 19725
Area code	302
FIPS code	10-50670
GNISfeature ID	214385[4]
Major highway
Commuter rail
Website	www.newarkde.gov

Newark(/ˈnjuːɑːrk/NEW-ark)^{[note 1]}is a small city inNew Castle County, Delaware, United States. It is located 12 miles (19 km) west-southwest ofWilmington. According to the2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454.^[5]Newark is home to theUniversity of Delaware. The city constitutes part of theDelaware Valley(i.e. thePhiladelphiametropolitan area).

Newark was founded byScots-IrishandWelshsettlers in 1694. The town was officially established when it received a charter fromGeorge II of Great Britainin 1758.

Schools have played a significant role in the history of Newark. Agrammar school, founded byFrancis Alisonin 1743, moved fromNew London,Pennsylvaniato Newark in 1765, becoming the Newark Academy. Among the first graduates of the school were three signers of theDeclaration of Independence:George Read,Thomas McKean, andJames Smith. Two of these, Read and McKean, went on to have schools named after them in the state of Delaware: George Read Middle School^[6]andThomas McKean High School.

During theAmerican Revolutionary War, British and American forces clashed outside Newark at theBattle of Cooch's Bridge. Tradition holds that the Battle of Cooch's Bridge was the first instance of theStars and Stripesbeing flown in battle.^[7]

The state granted a charter to a new school in 1833, which was called Newark College. Newark Academy and Newark College joined together in the following year, becoming Delaware College. The school was forced to close in 1859, but was resuscitated eleven years later under theMorrill Actwhen it became a joint venture between the State of Delaware and the school's Board of Trustees. In 1913, pursuant tolegislativeAct, Delaware College came into sole ownership of the State of Delaware. The school would be renamed theUniversity of Delawarein 1921.

Newark received a license from King George II to hold semi-annual fairs and weekly markets for agricultural exchange in 1758. A paper mill, the first sizable industrial venture in Newark, was created around 1798.^[8]This mill, eventually known as the Curtis Paper Mill, was the oldest paper mill in the United States until its closing in 1997.Methodistsbuilt the first church in 1812 and the railroad arrived in 1837.

One of Newark's major sources of employment and revenue was theChryslerNewark Assemblyplant which was built in 1951. Jamaican reggae star,Bob Marleyworked as an assembly-line worker at the plant during his short stint in Delaware in the 1960s.^[9]Originally constructed to build tanks for the US Army, the plant was 3.4 million square feet in size. It employed 1,100 employees in 2008 which was down from 2,115 in 2005. This turn was due largely to the decline of sales of the Durango and Aspen vehicle models that were being produced. The plant stood for more than 50 years, providing jobs and revenue to the state of Delaware. The factory produced a wide variety of automobile models during its run. The plant was closed in late 2008 due to the recession and limited demand for larger cars.^[10][11]

Newark is located at39°41′01″N75°44′59″W / 39.68361°N 75.74972°W /39.68361; -75.74972(39.6837226, −75.7496572).^[12]It is located directly east of theMarylandstate line, adjacent to the unincorporated community ofFair Hill, and is less than one mile south of thetripointwhere Delaware, Maryland, andPennsylvaniameet, known asThe Wedge.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.19 square miles (23.8 km²), all land. Originally surrounded by farmland, Newark is now surrounded byhousing developmentsin some directions, although farmland remains just over the state lines in Maryland and Pennsylvania. To the north and west are small hills, but south and east of the city, the land is flat (part of Newark falls in the Piedmont geological region and part of the city is in the Coastal Plain geological region, as is the majority of the land in the State of Delaware).

Newark is surrounded by a large amount of public parkland—over 12,000 acres (49 km²) – although the city is located roughly halfway betweenPhiladelphia(approximately 45 miles (72 km) away) andBaltimore(approximately 55 miles (89 km) away) and is part of densely populatedNew Castle County. To the south is Iron Hill Park (part of the New Castle County Park System), to the west (inCecil County, Maryland) is Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, and to the North isWhite Clay Creek State ParkandWhite Clay Creek Preserve(inChester County, Pennsylvania). Also nearby isMiddle Run Valley Natural Area, which is part of the New Castle County Park System. These parks provide ample hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding opportunities. The Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area and large portions of White Clay Creek State Park consist of land formerly owned by theDu Pont familythat was later ceded to the states of Maryland and Delaware, respectively.

• 
  The old Bank of Newark Building, 102 E. Main
• 
  Rhodes Pharmacy, 36 E. Main
• 
  St. John the Baptist Church, 200 E. Main

According to theKöppen Climate Classificationsystem, Newark has ahumid subtropical climate(abbreviatedCfaon climate maps).^[13]Summers are hot and humid, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are moderate-to-cold, with occasional snow in December, January and February. Newark averages more than 220 frost free days. Thehardiness zoneis 7a.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	787		—
1870	915		16.3%
1880	1,148		25.5%
1890	1,191		3.7%
1900	1,213		1.8%
1910	1,913		57.7%
1920	2,183		14.1%
1930	3,899		78.6%
1940	4,502		15.5%
1950	6,731		49.5%
1960	11,404		69.4%
1970	21,298		86.8%
1980	25,247		18.5%
1990	25,098		−0.6%
2000	28,547		13.7%
2010	31,454		10.2%
2020	30,601		−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

2021 ACS Racial Makeup ^[17]

Census Year	2021 ACS
White	68.2%
Black	8.5%
Asian	7.8%
Hispanic or Latino	11.1%
2 or More	3.7%

As of the census^[18]of 2000, there were 28,547 people, 8,989 households, and 4,494 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,198.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,235.0/km²). There were 9,294 housing units at an average density of 1,041.4 per square mile (402.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.29%White, 6.00%Black, 0.16%Native American, 4.07%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 0.86% fromother races, and 1.57% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 2.53% of the population. 16.8% were ofIrish, 13.5% Italian, 13.4% German, 10.2% English and 5.1%Polishancestry according toCensus 2000.

Of the 8,989 households, 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 12.5% under the age of 18, 43.6% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. Themedianage was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median household income was $48,758, and the median family income was $75,188. Males had a median income of $45,813 versus $33,165 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,376. About 4.1% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Public education in Newark is managed by theChristina School Districtand,^[19]for regional vocational schools, theNew Castle County Vocational-Technical School District. The Christina School District manages public education for Newark and environs, and also for parts ofWilmington.

Christina School District elementary schools (K-5) serving portions of the city limits include:^[20]

• Downes Elementary School
• Maclary Elementary School
• McVey Elementary School
• West Park Place Elementary School
• Brookside Elementary School (in nearbyBrookside)

Other schools with Newark addresses:

• Gallaher Elementary School (grades K-5)
• Jennie E. Smith Elementary School (grades K-5)

Shue/Medill Middle School, in anunincorporated area, serves most of the Newark city limits while small parts are zoned to Gauger-Cobbs Middle School in Brookside. George Kirk Middle School, also in Brookside, previously served sections.^[21]

Newark High Schoolserves almost all of the city limits, with small portions in the south zoned toGlasgow High School.^[22]Christiana High School(grades 9-12) has a Newark postal address but does not, as of 2008, serve any of the Newark city limits.

Delaware School for the Deaf(grades K-12), operated by the State of Delaware, is in nearby Brookside.

Newark Charter Schoolis astate-chartered schooloffering grades K-12.

Until 1884 Newark's public education system was grades 1-8 only, withWilmingtonhaving the nearest public high school, and with the privateNewark Academybeing the private option. TheOld Newark Comprehensive Schoolserved as the first public high school for Newark.^[23]

Newark is home to theUniversity of Delaware(UD). The school has programs in a broad range of subjects, but is probably best known for itsbusiness,chemical engineering,chemistryandbiochemistryprograms, drawing from the historically strong presence of the nation's chemical andpharmaceuticalindustries in the state of Delaware. In 2006, UD's graduate engineering program was ranked number 11 in the nation byThe Princeton Review.^[24]Newark's Main Street is popular among both the University of Delaware students as well as the residents of Newark, offering many restaurant and boutique options.

Newark is a recognized center of US and internationalfigure skating, mostly due to the many national, world, and Olympic champions (including many foreign nationals) that have trained at theUniversity of Delaware Figure Skating Club(an independent club operating within UD facilities) and at The Pond Ice Rink.

TheUniversity of Delawareoffers 21 varsity sports, which compete in theNCAA Division I. The athletic teams at Delaware are known as theFightin' Blue Hens, named after theBlue Hen of Delaware, the state bird of Delaware.^[25]The official mascot of the University of Delaware isYouDee.

TheDelaware 87erswere a professional basketball team that played in theNBA G League(formerly the NBA D-League) as the affiliate of thePhiladelphia 76ers. From 2013 until 2018, they played their home games at theBob Carpenter Centerin Newark on the University of Delaware campus. They moved to nearby Wilmington and the 76ers' newFieldhouse, rebranded as theDelaware Blue Coats.

As of 2022, it is also serves as the headquarters ofCombat Zone Wrestling.^[26]

Several highways pass through the Newark area.Interstate 95, the maininterstate highwaythrough the northeast urban seaboard corridor, passes to the south of Newark on the tolled Delaware Turnpike.Delaware Route 896serves as the main north-south route through the Newark area, interchanging with I-95 to the south and continuing north through the city, bypassing the University of Delaware campus to the west.Delaware Route 72runs north-south, bypassing Newark to the east. Major east–west highways through the Newark area includeDelaware Route 273, which passes through the heart of Newark,Delaware Route 2, which heads east to Wilmington,Delaware Route 4, which bypasses Newark to the south on the Christiana Parkway, andDelaware Route 279, which heads southwest towardsElkton, Maryland.

The City of Newark Parking Division regulates parking in the downtown area of Newark with 457 on-streetparking meters, three off-street hourly parking lots offering a total of 577 spaces, and two long-term monthly parking lots offering a total of 151 spaces. The city regulates parking in residential areas of Newark with residential parking permits.^[27][28]TheUniversity of Delawareregulates parking at various lots and garages on-campus.^[27][29]

The closest airport to Newark is theWilmington Airportin New Castle County. The closest airport to Newark that provides full domestic and international service isPhiladelphia International Airport.

Newark has aRail Station(Map, via Google Maps) located to the south of downtown near the University of Delaware campus that is serviced by bothSEPTAandAmtrakon theNortheast Corridor. Newark is the last stop on theSEPTA Wilmington/Newark Line, one of the farthest points out on the system. SEPTA service to Newark consists of a few trains in both directions during the morning and eveningrush hoursonweekdaysonly. There is limited Amtrak service in Newark with one train in each direction on weekdays, an additional northbound train on Thursdays and Fridays and an additional southbound train on Fridays, and three trains in each direction on weekends. Newark is also served by twofreight railroads.Norfolk Southernprovides freight service viatrackage rightson the Northeast Corridor line and the Delmarva Secondary line that splits to the south to run toward theDelmarva Peninsulaand an interchange with theDelmarva Central RailroadinPorter. Norfolk Southern operates the Newark Yard adjacent to the formerNewark Assemblyplant used byChryslerthat is now owned by the University of Delaware.CSXpasses through the northern part of Newark along thePhiladelphia Subdivisionline.^[30]

Newark is served byDART First Statebusroutes No. 6, 10, 33, 42, 46, 53, and 55, providing service toWilmington, theChristiana Mall, andMiddletown, as well as byCecil Transitbus route No. 4, providing service toElkton, MD. Most routes travel through the university campus and also stop near the rail station. TheNewark Transit Hubis located in the eastern part of the town and serves several of the bus routes. DART First State also operates amicrotransitservice calledDART Connectserving the city.^[31]The University of Delaware also operates theUD Shuttlebus system, available and free to all students and those associated with the university.

The City of Newark Electric Department provides electricity within the city limits. The city's electric department purchases electricity on the wholesale market, serving about 12,800 customers and maintaining 175 miles (282 km) of electric lines.^[32]The electric department is a member of theDelaware Municipal Electric Corporation.^[33]The City of Newark Public Works and Water Resources Department provides trash collection, recycling, water, and wastewater service to Newark.^[34]Water service is provided to 33,000 customers in Newark, with 91 miles (146 km) of water pipes serving the city.^[35]The city's water supply comes from theNewark Reservoir.^[36]The city maintains 73 miles (117 km) of sewer lines, with wastewater pumped through the New Castle County system to the Wilmington Regional Wastewater Treatment facility.^[35]Natural gas service in Newark is provided byDelmarva Power, a subsidiary ofExelon.^[37]

Christiana Care Health Systemoperates theChristiana Hospitalto the east of Newark. The hospital has 907 beds, 22 hospital operating rooms, 10 outpatient operating rooms, anemergency roomwith the onlyLevel I trauma centerin Delaware, the state's only Level 3neonatal intensive care unit, the state's largest maternity center, the Center for Heart & Vascular Health, and the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center.

• Joe Biden(born 1942), former U.S. Senator; 47th Vice President of the United States, 46th President of the United States
• Tarzan Cooper(1907–1980), professional basketball player
• Harry Coover(1917–2011), inventor
• Dave Douglas, golfer
• Tom Douglas, award-winning Seattle chef
• Joe Flacco, formerUniversity of Delaware footballplayer; currentCleveland Brownsquarterback
• Anthony Fontana, professional footballer; current midfielder for thePhiladelphia Union
• David Grinnage, formerNorth Carolina State Universityfootball player; former NFL tight end for theJacksonville Jaguars
• Wilbert L. Gore, chemical engineer and founder ofW. L. Gore & Associates
• Orien Harris, formerUniversity of Miamifootball player; former NFL defensive end
• Richard Howell, former governor of New Jersey
• K. C. Keeler, former University of Delaware football coach
• Chad Kuhl, Major League Baseball pitcher for thePittsburgh Pirates
• Jack Markell, former governor of Delaware
• M. A. Muqtedar Khan, Muslim American intellectual and commentator
• Bilal Nichols, former University of Delaware football player; currentChicago Bearsdefensive end
• Harold "Tubby" Raymond, College Hall of Fame football coach
• George Thorogood, rock and roll musician
• Johnny Weir, U.S. figure skating champion
• Madinah Wilson-Anton, candidate for theDelaware House of Representatives
• Vic Willis,Hall of Famebaseball player

• WVUD/91.3: University of Delaware

• Newark Life Magazine

• Newark Post

• Official website
• Brief History of Newark
• A History of Newark, from 1757 to 1888from Thomans J. Scharf's Chapter on White Clay Creek Hundred inHistory of Delaware, 1609–1888.
• Official Delaware Tourism Website's list of Newark AttractionsArchivedSeptember 28, 2007, at theWayback Machine