Newark Guide » More About Newark: Overview

Overview

Often overlooked due to its proximity to New York City, Newark is the 3rd oldest of the major U.S. cities and possesses its share of unique treasures. As the largest city in New Jersey, Newark offers an exciting mix of culture, arts and shopping plus a growing business environment. A key transportation hub, Newark's best known for the bustling Newark Liberty International Airport, which serves approximately 32 million passengers a year. Several major companies, like Prudential Financial, Public Service Electric and Gas and Verizon New Jersey, are based in Newark.

Another key characteristic of the city is its ethnic diversity. Among its various groups, there's a sizeable population of people of Portuguese descent and a large African-American community. These rich influences shine most poignantly in the array of international eateries (particularly Spanish and Portuguese) and the many cultural festivals that are held all over the city each year.

In the face of social and economic challenges, the city has transformed its vision and cultivated new niches in civic life. The revitalization of downtown in recent years has compounded various improvements. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, which opened in 1997, has attracted numerous big-name concerts and events and stimulated growth of the Downtown Arts District. Similarly, the completion of the Bears and Eagles Stadium has revived community spirit and attracted droves of sports fans to support local teams.

Among other valuable resources, several prominent local museums display a wealth of fine art and informative exhibitions. There's the Montclair Art Museum, filled with the works of great American painters such as John Singer Sargent and Edward Hopper, as well as the Newark Museum, which features art and natural history exhibits, a planetarium and mini-zoo. The city also boasts the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Institute of Jazz Studies, "the world's foremost jazz archive."

So, when you visit, don't be surprised if you leave surprised by what you've discovered. And as the Newark continues to evolve and thrive, be sure to plan a return trip since many attractions anticipate new and bigger things in the days to come.