Newark, New Jersey
Newark is New Jersey's largest city and the Essex County seat: a five-ward city of major transportation gateways, universities, arts and sports venues, historic neighborhoods, parks, healthcare, industry, global food traditions and one of the state's deepest business communities.
Newark at a Glance
323,808 ResidentsThe U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate places Newark at 323,808 residents, reinforcing the scale and diversity behind the city's neighborhood economy.
Five-Ward CityCentral, East, North, South and West wards each contain distinct neighborhoods, commercial corridors, parks, institutions and everyday service areas.
Regional Transportation HubNewark Penn Station, Newark Broad Street Station, local light rail, buses, Amtrak, PATH, major highways and Newark Liberty International Airport connect the city regionally and nationally.
Culture, Education & EventsNJPAC, the Newark Museum of Art, Prudential Center, Rutgers-Newark, NJIT and Essex County College help anchor Downtown and University Heights.
Explore Newark by Area
Central WardDowntown, University Heights, Lincoln Park and surrounding neighborhoods combine government, higher education, arts, entertainment, healthcare, offices and residential development.
East WardThe Ironbound and Down Neck are major restaurant, retail, residential and industrial districts with strong Portuguese, Brazilian, Spanish and Latin American cultural roots.
North WardBroadway, Forest Hill, Mount Pleasant and Roseville combine dense neighborhood corridors, Branch Brook Park, local shopping, schools and community institutions.
South WardWeequahic, Clinton Hill and surrounding neighborhoods include residential districts, major corridors, recreation facilities, local businesses and access toward the airport.
West WardVailsburg, Fairmount and nearby neighborhoods feature strong residential communities, South Orange Avenue commerce, local services and growing food and small-business clusters.
History & Identity
Founded in 1666, Newark grew from a colonial settlement into a major manufacturing, transportation, insurance, education and cultural center. Its built environment includes historic churches, civic buildings, industrial corridors, row houses, grand homes, apartment districts and an evolving Downtown skyline. Newark's history is inseparable from immigration, Black migration, labor, industry, transportation and the city's many neighborhood communities.
How to use this guide: Newark is too large to understand through Downtown or the Ironbound alone. NJTGO organizes the city around ward and neighborhood geography so visitors and residents can find businesses, food, lodging, community resources and transportation without treating one district as the entire city.
Arts, Entertainment & Major Attractions
New Jersey Performing Arts CenterA major performing-arts anchor in Downtown Newark with concerts, dance, theater, comedy, community programming and educational activity.
Prudential CenterLarge arena hosting professional hockey, concerts, family entertainment and major events in the Downtown core.
Newark Museum of ArtOne of New Jersey's major museum institutions, with art, decorative arts, natural science, education and community programs near Washington Park.
Newark Public LibraryThe main library and branch system provide research collections, technology, public programs and neighborhood learning resources.
IronboundA dense East Ward neighborhood known for Ferry Street, Portuguese and Brazilian culture, restaurants, bakeries, shops and easy access from Newark Penn Station.
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred HeartA landmark Gothic Revival cathedral overlooking Branch Brook Park and one of Newark's most recognizable architectural sites.
Parks & Recreation
Newark operates parks, recreation centers, pools and community facilities across all five wards. Signature spaces include Branch Brook Park, Riverfront Park, Military Park, Mulberry Commons, Harriet Tubman Square, Lincoln Park, Weequahic Park, Nat Turner Park and Jesse Allen Park. The city's current recreation network also includes ward-based centers for sports, swimming, youth activities, arts and senior programming.
Education & Learning
Rutgers University-NewarkMajor public research university campus in University Heights and Downtown.
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyPublic polytechnic university anchoring University Heights.
Essex County CollegePublic community college with a major Newark campus.
Seton Hall University School of LawLaw school located in Downtown Newark near the civic and business core.
Newark Public SchoolsCitywide public school district serving Newark students across elementary, middle and high school programs.
Newark Public LibraryMain library and branches support literacy, research, technology access and public learning.
Transportation
Newark Penn StationNJ Transit rail and bus service, PATH and Amtrak make the station one of the region's most important transit hubs.
Newark Broad Street StationRail and light-rail connections support Downtown, University Heights and North Ward travel.
Newark Light RailConnects Newark Penn Station with Downtown, University Heights, Branch Brook Park and Broad Street Station corridors.
Newark Liberty International AirportThe airport occupies land in Newark and Elizabeth; terminals, airport hotels and ground transportation are major parts of the regional travel economy.
Airport boundary note: Newark Liberty International Airport spans Newark and Elizabeth. NJTGO's Newark business and lodging directories only place establishments in the Newark directory when the listed street address is in Newark.
Community Institutions
Places of worship, cemeteries and funeral homes are included here as community institutions rather than in Business & Shopping.
Places of Worship
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart89 Ridge StNewark, NJ 07104Catholic cathedral and major Newark landmark
Old First Presbyterian Church820 Broad StNewark, NJ 07102Historic downtown congregation
Congregation Ahavas Sholom145 BroadwayNewark, NJ 07104Historic Newark synagogue
Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral608 Broad StNewark, NJ 07102Episcopal cathedral in Downtown Newark
North Reformed Church510 Broad StNewark, NJ 07102Historic downtown church
Cemeteries
Mount Pleasant Cemetery375 BroadwayNewark, NJ 07104Historic cemetery in Newark's North Ward
Fairmount Cemetery620 Central AveNewark, NJ 07107Large historic cemetery serving Newark
Funeral Homes
Alvarez Funeral Home Inc240 Mt Prospect AveNewark, NJ 07104973-483-7000
Whigham Funeral Home580 Dr Martin Luther King Jr BlvdNewark, NJ 07102973-622-6872
Villa Americas Funeral Home279 Roseville AveNewark, NJ 07107973-483-4255
Evans-Gordon Funeral Home736 Clinton AveNewark, NJ 07108973-399-3900
Perry Funeral Home34 Mercer StNewark, NJ 07103973-824-9201
Official City Resources
City of NewarkGovernment departments, notices, services and public information.Economic & Housing DevelopmentHousing, development, planning and economic-development programs.Careers & JobsMunicipal jobs, NewarkWORKS and One-Stop employment resources.NJ TransitCurrent rail, light rail and bus schedules and service information.
Explore Newark with NJTGO
Use the full Newark guide to browse local businesses, restaurants, housing resources, lodging, classifieds, jobs and visitor information across the city's five wards.
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