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Interesting Facts
- Newark started out in 1665 as a Puritan church-state, with just two streets and about 200 people. It is now the largest city in New Jersey, the 65th largest city in the US, and a major land, sea and air transportation hub. Not only that, but it is one of the oldest cities in the country Boston, New York City and St. Augustine, Florida are the oldest.
- Newark is a city of firsts. New Jersey's first daily newspaper was started in Newark, the first regular radio station on the eastern seaboard, Newark's WJZ, was also the first to broadcast a world series, and the first blackout test in World War II took place in Newark.
- When it comes to higher education, midtown Newark offers a variety of choices. Rutgers University at Newark, Seton Hall Law School, The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Essex County College offer the best in educational opportunities.
- The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a beautiful example of French Gothic architecture. Comparable in size to the renowned Westminster Abbey, the Newark structure boasts towers that are 232 feet high. Beautiful features adorn the church including more than 200 stained glass windows, bronze doors and 14 Italian cast bells. Construction on the cathedral commenced in 1899 and was not completed until 1954.
- Numerous well-known people have called Newark home Thomas Edison, Stephen Crane, Washington Irving, Allen Ginsberg, Whitney Houston, Sarah Vaughn, Jerry Lewis, Queen Latifah, Lauryn Hill, Joe Pesci, Bebe Neuwirth, Ice-T, Shaquille O'Neal, William J. Brennan, Edward Koch, Aaron Burr, and Savion Glover, to name but a few.
- Welcome to Penn Station. Serving the New Jersey transit, Conrail, Amtrak, and Path trains, the Art Deco building is visited by approximately 70,000 people each day.
- The Prudential Life Insurance Company was established in a Newark basement office during the 1870s.
- Symphony Hall was built in 1925 as the Salaam Temple. At a staggering $2.5 million, the cost of the building far exceeded the usual price constraints of the time. It later became known as the Mosque Theatre and was eventually renovated in the mid-80's.
- Branch Brook Park was the first county park in the United States. In 1910, the world's largest water fountain made its first appearance, but its life in the park was short-lived the demand it placed on the city's water supply was too much. Today, the park is best known for its cherry trees. Each April, more than one-half million people flock to the park to see the 3000 trees in bloom.
- Port Newark and Port Elizabeth create one of the busiest container ports in the world. Each year they handle more than 17 million tons of cargo. One facility on the 930 acres can accommodate 6.5 million gallons of orange juice concentrate. Tours of the marine terminals can be arranged by appointment.
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