Newark, Delaware

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Main Street is the commercial heart of Newark. It is adjacent to the University of Delaware.
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Main Street is the commercial heart of Newark. It is adjacent to the University of Delaware.

Newark is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, 12 miles (19 km) west by south of Wilmington. In 1900, 1,213 people lived in Newark, Delaware; 1,913 lived here in 1910. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 30,060.[1] Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.

Newark is pronounced /nuɑɹk/ and not /nuɚk/ (not like Newark, New Jersey).

Contents

[edit] History

Newark was founded by Scots-Irish and Welsh settlers in 1694. The town received a charter from George II of Great Britain in 1758, thus officially establishing the town.

Schools have played a significant role in the history of Newark. A grammar school, founded by Francis Alison in 1743, moved from New London, Pennsylvania to Newark in 1765, becoming the Newark Academy. Among the first graduates from the school included three signers of the Declaration of Independence: George Read, Thomas McKean, and James Smith.

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

Newark received a license to hold semi-annual fairs and weekly markets for agricultural exchange in 1758. A paper mill, the first sizeable industrial venture in Newark, was created in 1798. Methodists built the first church in 1812 and the railroad arrived in 1837.

[edit] Geography

Location of Newark, Delaware

Newark is located at 39°40′45″N, 75°45′29″W (39.679111, -75.758040)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.1 km² (8.9 mi²), all land. Originally surrounded by farmland, Newark is now surrounded by housing developments in 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).

Despite the fact that Newark is located roughly halfway between Philadelphia (approximately 45 miles away) and Baltimore (approximately 55 miles away) and is part of densely populated New Castle County, there is a large amount of public parkland surrounding the City. To the South is Iron Hill Park (part of the New Castle County Park System), to the west (in Cecil County, MD) is Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, and to the North is White Clay Creek State Park and White Clay Creek Preserve (in Chester County, PA). Also nearby is Middle Run Natural Area, which is part of the New Castle County Park System. These parks provide ample hiking, mountain biking, and horse back riding opportunities. White Clay Creek State Park and Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area are comprised of land formerly owned by the DuPont family that was later ceded to the states of Delaware and Maryland, respectively.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 28,547 people, 8,989 households, and 4,494 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,235.7/km² (3,198.6/mi²). There were 9,294 housing units at an average density of 402.3/km² (1,041.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.29% Caucasian, 6.00% African American, 0.16% Native American, 4.07% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.53% of the population.

Of the 8,989 households, 20.7% have 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. The median age 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 is $48,758, and the median family income is $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.

[edit] Government

The current mayor of Newark is Vance A. Funk, III. The deputy mayor is Jerry Clifton.

City Council Members:

  • Paul J. Pomeroy - District 1
  • Jerry Clifton - District 2
  • Doug Tuttle - District 3
  • David J. Athey - District 4
  • Frank J. Osborne, Jr. - District 5
  • Stu Markham - District 6

[edit] Education

Public education in Newark is handled by the Christina School District and the Red Clay Consolidated School District. Newark is home to the University of Delaware. Within the city limits is Newark High School, which is the third largest public high school in the state. It has served the community since 1893.

[edit] Description of Newark

Newark has a central area which is compact and walkable, consisting of the university, Main Street, and surrounding residential neighborhoods. The city limits also include less densely developed areas with shopping centers, suburban developments, and apartment complexes; these areas are more isolated and somewhat less pedestrian friendly, although all developed areas in Newark are served by sidewalks. Newark was a small town until about World War II, but grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. Several of the City's neighborhoods were built during this era, such as Devon, Nottingham Green, and Fairfield (some of which was also built during the 1970s). Because of its later growth compared to other comparably sized towns in the region, Newark has fewer pre World War II era houses, especially outside of the downtown area.

The center of Newark is a lively place, due in large part to the University and its students. Much of the city's economy revolves around the presence of the University. During the summer, when there are fewer students living in Newark, the town is much quieter. Local young people consider Main Street a popular "hangout." Newark's Main Street has also long served as a place for teenagers and young adults to "go cruising," repeatedly driving down Main Street. In the late 1980s, this led to an ordinance forbidding driving down Main Street more than a certain number of times in a row. In an effort to limit cruising, parking was also forbidden on much of Main Street after certain hours on weekends. Although many students at the University consider the cruisers to be "townies," many of them hail from surrounding rural communities, such as Cecil County, MD, Southern New Castle County, DE, and Southern Chester County, PA.

Many manufacturing industries that once existed in Newark have moved elsewhere. Some mills along White Clay Creek like the National Vulcanized Fiber factory have been turned into shops, restaurants, and condos. The large factory that once dominated South Chapel Street (Continental Fiber) was torn down and replaced by student apartments. Redevelopment is also planned for the Curtis Paper Mill, a closed plant now owned by the city. As is the case in much of Delaware, there has been some concern for the presence of toxic chemicals on recently re-developed land. There is a Daimler-Chrysler Plant on the southwestern side of the city. The factory was originally built to manufacture military vehicles, but has been owned by Chrysler since the 1950s. Musician Bob Marley worked at the factory for a short time in the 1960s when he was living with his mother in Wilmington. It is possible that Marley's song "Nightshift" was influenced by his work at the factory.

Newark seems to have an unusually large (and vocal) population of the Song Sparrow.

[edit] Public Transportation in Newark

Newark's access to public transportation is outstanding for a community of its size, although this public transportation is underutilized. Newark is served by DART First State buses, routes #6, 16, 33, 34, and 65, providing service to Wilmington, Christiana Mall, and Elkton, MD. Most routes travel through the university campus and also stop at the rail station, discussed below. There is also a Unicity bus, run jointly through the city and the University, free for everyone to ride, which acts as a community circulator. The University of Delaware also operates a bus system, available and free to all students and those associated with the university.

Newark has a Rail Station, (Map, via Google Maps) serviced by both SEPTA and AMTRAK. Newark is the last stop on the R2 (SEPTA) line, one of the farthest points out on the system. SEPTA service to Newark involves 4 trains both directions with the morning and evening rush hours, weekdays only. Fare is $5.50 one way to downtown Philadelphia and $2.50 to Wilmington. The AMTRAK service in Newark is less practical; there is only one train per day in each direction. However, the Acela Express stops in nearby Wilmington, Delaware.

[edit] Noted Residents, Past and Present

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] References

  1. ^ Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Delaware (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (June 21, 2006). Retrieved on November 21, 2006.

[edit] External links

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