Editing Newark, New Jersey (section)

== Geography ==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city had a total area of {{convert|25.89|mi2|km2}}, including {{convert|24.14|mi2|km2}} of land and {{convert|1.74|mi2|km2}} of water (6.72%).<ref name="CensusArea" /><ref name=GR1 /><!--DO NOT USE TEMPLATE TO CONVERT English into metric units for these areas since the English and the metric units are reported directly from NJ Gazetteer citation source.--> It has the third-smallest land area among the 100 most populous cities in the U.S., behind neighboring [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] and [[Hialeah, Florida]].<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.US21PR Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – United States – Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area, in Principal City, Not in Principal City, and County; and for Puerto Rico] {{Webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20200212203831/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.US21PR|date=February 12, 2020}}. [[United States Census Bureau]] American Fact Finder. Accessed June 4, 2012.</ref> The city's altitude ranges from 0 (sea level) in the east to approximately {{convert|230|ft|m}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] in the western section of the city for an average elevation of {{convert|115|ft|m}}.<ref name=NewarkWeb>[http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/userimages/downloads/1.0%20Introduction.pdf The Official Website of the City of Newark, NJ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928115352/http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/userimages/downloads/1.0%20Introduction.pdf|date=September 28, 2011}} 2005. Accessed May 28, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=jVEpgzNRnmwC&pg=PA708 ''Report on the Social statistics of Cities''], p. 708. [[United States Government Printing Office]], 1886. Accessed September 24, 2019. "Newark lies in latitude 40° 44' north, longitude 74° 10' west from Greenwich on the Passaic river, 3 above Newark bay, and 9 miles west of New York by railroad, or 18 miles by water. The elevation of the part of the city is 30 feet above high water, the lowest point being the salt meadows, on a level with high water, and the highest point 230 feet above this."</ref> Newark is essentially a large basin sloping towards the [[Passaic River]], with a few valleys formed by meandering streams. Historically, Newark's high places have been its wealthier neighborhoods. In the 19th century and early 20th century, the wealthy congregated on the ridges of Forest Hill, High Street, and Weequahic.<ref>[http://www.newarkhistory.com/mtprospectave.html A View of Mt. Prospect] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060413083012/http://www.newarkhistory.com/mtprospectave.html |date=April 13, 2006 }}, NewarkHistory.com. Accessed June 25, 2012. "Of the upper class districts of Old Newark – High Street, Lincoln Park, Weequahic and Forest Hill – Forest Hill is the most famous and best preserved."</ref>

Until the 20th century, the [[marsh]]es on [[Newark Bay]] were difficult to develop, as the marshes were essentially wilderness, with a few dumps, warehouses, and cemeteries on their edges. During the 20th century, the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]] was able to reclaim {{convert|68|acres|0}} of the marshland for the further expansion of [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], as well as the growth of the port lands.<ref name=EWR>Sturken, Barbara. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/11/nyregion/newark-airport-gains-in-international-travel.html "Newark Airport Gains In International Travel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228195949/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/11/nyregion/newark-airport-gains-in-international-travel.html |date=December 28, 2016 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 11, 1990. Accessed June 25, 2012. "The oldest airport in the New York metropolitan region, Newark opened in 1928 on {{convert|68|acres|0}} of reclaimed swampland. It underwent a major overhaul in 1973, when an immense $400&nbsp;million complex opened to replace an outmoded 20-year-old terminal."</ref>

Newark is surrounded by residential suburbs to the west (on the slope of the [[Watchung Mountains]]), the Passaic River and Newark Bay to the east, dense urban areas to the south and southwest, and middle-class residential suburbs and industrial areas to the north. The city is the largest in New Jersey's [[Gateway Region]], which is said to have received its name from Newark's nickname as the "Gateway City".<ref>Erminio, Vinessa. [http://www.nj.com/newark/index.ssf/2005/12/gateway_renaissance_a_reviving.html "Gateway? Renaissance? A reviving city earns its nicknames"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023081645/http://www.nj.com/newark/index.ssf/2005/12/gateway_renaissance_a_reviving.html |date=October 23, 2012 }}, ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', December 8, 2005. Accessed June 25, 2012. "Newark also was known as the Gateway City about 1960. This may have been because of a statewide tourism campaign in which regions of the state were designated with names. Newark, Jersey City and the surrounding communities were called Gateway."</ref>

The city borders the municipalities of [[Belleville, New Jersey|Belleville]], [[Bloomfield, New Jersey|Bloomfield]], [[East Orange, New Jersey|East Orange]], [[Irvington, New Jersey|Irvington]], [[Maplewood, New Jersey|Maplewood]] and [[South Orange, New Jersey|South Orange]] in Essex County; [[Bayonne, New Jersey|Bayonne]], [[East Newark, New Jersey|East Newark]], [[Harrison, New Jersey|Harrison]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] and [[Kearny, New Jersey|Kearny]] in [[Hudson County, New Jersey|Hudson County]]; and [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]] and [[Hillside, New Jersey|Hillside]] in [[Union County, New Jersey|Union County]].<ref>[https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/1010492/touches.html Areas touching Newark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301231732/https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/1010492/touches.html |date=March 1, 2020 }}, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.</ref><ref>[http://www.essexregister.com/municipalities/ Municipalities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420030757/http://www.essexregister.com/municipalities/ |date=April 20, 2022 }}, [[Essex County, New Jersey]] Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed March 1, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031204213712/https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf |date=December 4, 2003 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

=== Neighborhoods ===
{{Main|List of neighborhoods in Newark, New Jersey}}
[[File:Newark-broad-street.jpg|thumb|upright=1|The intersection of Broad and Market Streets as seen from the [[Prudential Plaza Building]], in [[Downtown Newark]], 2005]]
Newark is the second-most racially diverse municipality in the state, behind neighboring [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]].<ref>Ueda, Reed. [https://books.google.com/books?id=q4I2DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA612 ''America's Changing Neighborhoods: An Exploration of Diversity through Places''], p. 612. [[ABC-CLIO]], 2017. {{ISBN|9781440828652}}. Accessed March 9, 2022. "Newark, located just 11 miles west of New York City, is New Jersey's largest and second-most racially diverse city."</ref> It is divided into five political [[Ward (United States)|wards]],<ref>[http://data.ci.newark.nj.us/dataset/wards Wards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513175531/http://data.ci.newark.nj.us/dataset/wards |date=May 13, 2017 }}, City of Newark. Accessed October 7, 2019.</ref> which are often used by residents to identify their place of habitation. In recent years, residents have begun to identify with specific neighborhood names instead of the larger ward appellations. Nevertheless, the wards remain relatively distinct. Industrial uses, coupled with the airport and seaport lands, are concentrated in the East and South wards, while residential neighborhoods exist primarily in the North, Central, and West Wards.<ref name=Neighborhoods>[http://www.bcdcnewark.org/living-here/neighborhoods/index.html Living Here: Neighborhoods] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020181004/http://www.bcdcnewark.org/living-here/neighborhoods/index.html |date=October 20, 2011 }}, Brick City Development Corporation for Newark, New Jersey. Accessed June 25, 2012. "The city is divided into five wards, each with distinct neighborhoods. Residential neighborhoods exist primarily in the North, Central and West Wards, while industry is concentrated largely in the East and South Wards near the airport and seaport.... East Ward. The most densely populated section of Newark, the East Ward, is home of one of the largest Portuguese-speaking communities in the country."</ref>

State law requires that wards be compact and contiguous and that the largest ward may not exceed the population of the smallest by more than 10% of the average ward size. Ward boundaries are redrawn, as needed, by a board of ward commissioners consisting of two Democrats and two Republicans appointed at the county level and the municipal clerk.<ref>Reock Jr., Ernest C. [https://issuu.com/hobokenjournal/docs/redistricting_nj_after_2010 ''Redistricting New Jersey After the Census of 2010''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805205026/https://issuu.com/hobokenjournal/docs/redistricting_nj_after_2010 |date=August 5, 2020 }}, [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, March 2008, pp. 7–9. Accessed September 10, 2015. "The law requires that wards be formed of compact and contiguous territory. The most precise requirement is that the population of the largest ward may not exceed the population of the smallest ward by more than 10% of the mean average population of the wards."</ref> Redrawing of ward lines in previous decades have shifted traditional boundaries, so that downtown currently occupies portions of the East and Central wards. The boundaries of the wards are altered for various political and demographic reasons and sometimes [[gerrymandering|gerrymandered]].<ref>Staff. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19690412&id=gBZKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KCENAAAAIBAJ&pg=5181,1683812 "'Obvious gerrymander,' Scrimmage says of plans"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112180042/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19690412&id=gBZKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KCENAAAAIBAJ&pg=5181,1683812 |date=January 12, 2016 }}, ''[[Afro-American (newspaper)|Afro-American]]'', April 12, 1969. Accessed June 25, 2012.</ref><ref>Hernandez, Roger. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4D85B6663F169&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Hispanics Deserve a Slice of the Pie"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524112326/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4D85B6663F169&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=May 24, 2013 }}, ''[[Rocky Mountain News]]'', May 31, 1991. Accessed June 25, 2012. "In Newark, New Jersey, Hispanic leaders are considering a lawsuit to reverse a decision that chops a heavily Hispanic ward among three legislative districts..."</ref><ref>Waggoner, Walter H. [https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/27/archives/new-jersey-weekly-voting-boundaries-awaited-in-essex.html "Voting Boundaries Awaited in Essex"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723065834/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/27/archives/new-jersey-weekly-voting-boundaries-awaited-in-essex.html |date=July 23, 2018 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 27, 1977. Accessed June 25, 2012.</ref>

Newark's Central Ward, formerly known as the old Third Ward, contains much of the city's history including the original squares [[Lincoln Park, Newark|Lincoln Park]], [[Military Park (Newark)|Military Park]] and [[Harriet Tubman Square]]. The ward contains the [[University Heights, Newark, New Jersey|University Heights]], [[The Coast, Newark, New Jersey|The Coast]], historic [[Grace Church (Newark)|Grace Episcopal Church]], [[Government Center, Newark, New Jersey|Government Center]], [[Springfield/Belmont, Newark, New Jersey|Springfield/Belmont]] and [[Seventh Avenue, Newark, New Jersey|Seventh Avenue]] neighborhoods. Of these neighborhood designations only University Heights, a more recent designation for the area that was the subject of the 1968 novel ''Howard Street'' by [[Nathan Heard]], is still in common usage. The Central Ward extends at one point as far north as 2nd Avenue.

In the 19th century, the Central Ward was inhabited by [[German Americans|Germans]] and other [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|white]] Catholic and Protestant groups. The German inhabitants were later replaced by [[Jewish people|Jews]], who were then replaced by African Americans. The increased academic footprint in the University Heights neighborhood has produced [[gentrification]], with landmark buildings undergoing renovation. Located in the Central Ward is the nation's largest health sciences university, [[University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey|UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School]]. It is also home to three other universities – [[New Jersey Institute of Technology]] (NJIT), [[Rutgers–Newark|Rutgers University – Newark]], and [[Essex County College]]. The Central Ward forms the present-day heart of Newark, and includes 26 public schools, two police precincts, including headquarters, four firehouses, and one branch library.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121109091503/http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/residents/neighborhood_services/central_ward.php Central Ward], City of Newark, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of November 9, 2012. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref>

The North Ward is surrounded by [[Branch Brook Park]]. Its neighborhoods include [[Broadway, Newark, New Jersey|Broadway]], [[Mount Pleasant, Newark, New Jersey|Mount Pleasant]], [[Roseville, Newark, New Jersey|Upper Roseville]] and the affluent [[Forest Hill, Newark, New Jersey|Forest Hill]] section.<ref name=Northward>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140405154746/http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/residents/neighborhood_services/north_ward.php North Ward], City of Newark, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of April 5, 2014. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref> Forest Hill contains the Forest Hill Historic District, which is registered on state and national historic registers, and contains many older mansions and [[American colonial architecture|colonial homes]]. A row of residential towers with security guards and secure parking line Mt. Prospect Avenue in the Forest Hill neighborhood. The North Ward has lost geographic area in recent times; its southern boundary is now significantly further north than the traditional boundary near [[Interstate 280 (New Jersey)|Interstate 280]]. The North Ward had its own Little Italy, centered on [[Seventh Avenue, Newark|heavily Italian Seventh Avenue]] and the area of [[St. Lucy's Church (Newark, New Jersey)|St. Lucy's Church]]; demographics have transitioned to [[Latino Americans|Latino]] in recent decades, though the ward as a whole remains ethnically diverse.<ref name="Northward" />

The West Ward comprises the neighborhoods of [[Vailsburg, Newark, New Jersey|Vailsburg]], [[Ivy Hill, Newark, New Jersey|Ivy Hill]], [[West Side, Newark, New Jersey|West Side]], [[Fairmount, Newark, New Jersey|Fairmount]] and [[Roseville, Newark, New Jersey|Lower Roseville]]. It is home to the historic [[Fairmount Cemetery (Newark, New Jersey)|Fairmount Cemetery]]. The West Ward, once a predominantly Irish-American, Polish, and Ukrainian neighborhood, is now home to neighborhoods composed primarily of Latinos, African Americans, and [[West Indian American|Caribbean Americans]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140623165834/http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/residents/neighborhood_services/west_ward.php West Ward], City of Newark, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of June 23, 2014. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref> Relative to other parts of the city, the West Ward has for many decades struggled with elevated rates of crime, particularly violent crime.<ref>Strunsky, Steve. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/fatal_shooting_of_pizza_chef_i.html "Fatal shooting of West Ward pizza chef is latest 'tragic and senseless' Newark slaying"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308014532/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/fatal_shooting_of_pizza_chef_i.html |date=March 8, 2012 }}, NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], March 4, 2012. Accessed August 30, 2015</ref>

The South Ward comprises the [[Weequahic, Newark, New Jersey|Weequahic]], [[Clinton Hill, Newark, New Jersey|Clinton Hill]], [[Dayton, Newark, New Jersey|Dayton]], and [[South Broad Valley]] neighborhoods. The South Ward, once home to residents of predominantly Jewish descent, now has ethnic neighborhoods made up primarily of African Americans and [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics]]. The city's second-largest hospital, [[Newark Beth Israel Medical Center]], is in the South Ward, as are seventeen public schools, five daycare centers, three branch libraries, one police precinct, a mini-precinct, and three fire houses.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140405125715/http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/residents/neighborhood_services/south_ward.php South Ward], City of Newark, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of April 5, 2014. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref>

The East Ward consists of much of Newark's [[Downtown Newark|Downtown]] commercial district, as well as the [[Ironbound]] neighborhood, where much of Newark's industry was in the 19th century. Today, the Ironbound (also known as "Down Neck" and "The Neck")<ref>[http://www.marriott.com/hotel-restaurants/ewrnr-renaissance-newark-airport-hotel/ironbound/209022/home-page.mi Ironbound] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204310/http://www.marriott.com/hotel-restaurants/ewrnr-renaissance-newark-airport-hotel/ironbound/209022/home-page.mi |date=January 4, 2014 }}, [[Marriott Hotels & Resorts|Marriott]]. Accessed January 4, 2014.</ref> is a destination for shopping, dining, and nightlife.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140127045737/http://www.goironbound.com/portal/ Home Page], Ironbound Business Improvement District, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of January 27, 2014. Accessed June 13, 2016.</ref> A historically immigrant-dominated section of the city, the Ironbound in recent decades has been termed "Little Portugal" and "Little Brazil" due to its heavily [[History of the Lusophone Americans in Newark, New Jersey|Portuguese]] and [[Brazilian Americans|Brazilian]] population, Newark being home to one of the largest Portuguese speaking communities in the United States. In addition, the East Ward has become home to various [[Latin Americans]], especially Ecuadorians, Peruvians, and Colombians, alongside Puerto Ricans, African Americans, and commuters to [[Manhattan]]. Public education in the East Ward consists of East Side High School and six elementary schools. The ward is densely packed, with well-maintained housing and streets, primarily large apartment buildings and [[rowhouses]].<ref name="Neighborhoods" /><ref>Staff. [http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/aaad72c40b4c3ea9852576e3006efead?OpenDocument "EPA Grant to Help Newark Community Target Environmental Problems"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526035603/http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/aaad72c40b4c3ea9852576e3006efead?OpenDocument |date=May 26, 2013 }}, [[Environmental Protection Agency]], March 11, 2010. Accessed June 25, 2012. "Ironbound Community Corporation is the largest comprehensive social service provider located in the East Ward of Newark, NJ. The community that will be served has a population of more than 50,000 people and is one of the most densely populated and diverse areas of the city."</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140627111302/http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/residents/neighborhood_services/east_ward.php East Ward], City of Newark, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of June 27, 2014. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref>

=== Climate ===
Newark lies in the transition between a [[humid subtropical]] and [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa/Dfa''), with cold winters and hot humid summers. The January daily mean is {{convert|32.8|F|1}},<ref name="NOAA" /> and although temperatures below {{convert|10|F|0}} are to be expected in most years,<ref>[https://www.arborday.org/media/zones.cfm 2015 Hardiness Zone Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623180858/https://www.arborday.org/media/zones.cfm |date=June 23, 2016 }}, [[Arbor Day Foundation]]. Accessed June 13, 2016/</ref> sub-{{convert|0|F}} readings are rare; conversely, some days may warm up to {{convert|50|F}}. The average seasonal snowfall is {{convert|31.5|in|cm}}, though variations in weather patterns may bring sparse snowfall in some years and several major [[nor'easter]]s in others, with the heaviest 24-hour fall of {{convert|25.9|in|cm}} occurring on December 26, 1947.<ref name="NOAA" /> Spring and autumn in the area are generally unstable yet mild. The July daily mean is {{convert|78.2|F|1}}, and highs exceed {{convert|90|F}} on an average 28.3 days per year,<ref name="NOAA" /> not factoring in the often higher [[heat index]]. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year with the summer months being the wettest and fall and winter months being the driest.

The city receives precipitation ranging from {{convert|2.9|to|4.6|in|mm|0}} per month, usually falling on 8 to 12 days per month. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|−14|F|0}} on February 9, 1934, to {{convert|108|F|0}} on July 22, 2011.<ref name="NOAA" /> The January freezing isotherm that separates Newark into ''Dfa'' and ''Cfa'' zones approximates the NJ Turnpike.

{{Newark, New Jersey weatherbox}}