Newark (population 277,140) is a city in the state of New Jersey. It serves as the county seat of Essex County. Newark is the state's biggest urban center. Its geographic nearness to the transportation networks and the Atlantic Ocean make it a main hub for rail, air and shipping. Manhattan lies 13 km to the east of Newark.
Newark has been called New Jersey's Gateway Region. On Newark Bay is Port Newark, a huge seaport facility. It serves as the New York metropolitan areas key container shipping site. The city is served by the busy Newark Liberty International Airport, the very first municipal commercial airport in the country. A number of major corporations are headquartered in Newark. There are some universities, including UMDNJ, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University. The city of Newark is rich in sports and cultural facilities.
Newark is somewhat diverse ethnically, with each of its neighborhoods having their own distinct personalities. From lively urban districts to serene suburban enclaves, the city of Newark has various lifestyles.
It was during 1666 that the Newark area was first inhabited. Newark quickly developed into manufacturing and transportation after being a crucial place during the Revolutionary War. Canals and railroads were constructed, boosting the growth of businesses such as leather goods, beer and jewelry. Shipbuilding businesses prospered in the first World War. Newark had become an industrial colossus. A dynamic jazz music scene developed here during the 1950s.
At present, the city of Newark is a center of insurance and finance. The city is home to the headquarters of eight key banks, and 12 savings and loan associations. Deposits within banks based on Newark are more than $20 billion. Prudential Financial originated within the city of Newark and grew to be amongst the world's biggest insurance firms. It is still headquartered in Newark. Mutual Benefit Life likewise started in Newark. Other companies which have head offices in Newark comprise International Discount Telecommunications, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), New Jersey Transit, and Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the state of New Jersey, Panasonic and Net2Phone.
Since WWII, a lot of factories have been built on the southern portion of the area called Industrial Meadowlands. A big Anheuser-Busch brewery is located there. These days, the manufacturing sector of the city is not what it was in the past, but the service industry is fast growing.