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Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey,
is eight miles from Manhattan, New York, and two miles from Staten Island,
New York; it is also the biggest city in the state of New Jersey. Because
it sits on Newark Bay near the Atlantic Ocean making its port a prominent
container shipping port for the state and for New York City. With its
neighbor Elizabeth, it is home to Newark Liberty International Airport;
which happens to be the first airport to serve the New York metropolitan
area. It is home to the giant insurance company, Prudential Financial. It
was formed a township in 1693 and founded by Connecticut Puritans in 1666,
lead by Robert Treat of the New Haven colony. These same colonists had
harbored the judges who sentenced Charles I of England to death and fled to
the New Haven Colony. After some discussion between Treat and Abraham
Pierson, the name new ark or new work became Newark. They bought the land
from the Hackensack Indians that sat next to the Passaic River; exchanging a
hundred bars of lead, gunpowder, twenty coats, twenty axes, guns, swords,
pistols, kettles, ten pair of pants, beer, knives and blankets. Total
control of the region was under the church, until 1733 when Josiah Ogden was
charged with Sabbath breaking by harvesting wheat on a Sunday, after a long
rainstorm. He left the church and sent letters to other Episcopalian
missionaries that came and helped start another church and community in
1746.
The city began to grow rapidly in the early 1800s, when
a Massachusetts transplant came to the area an changed the way leather was
made; eventually creating patent leather. This man, Seth Boyden, helped the
city gain control of the leather processing industry and by 1870
manufactured over 90% of the country's leather and brought almost $7 million
in revenue to the city that year. As the city began the growing pains of
industry, steel, a canal, the railroads and shipping assisted the city in
growing in leaps and bounds. By the mid 1800s, the growth and
diversification of the city was widespread and it continued to head
forward. Plastic celluloid was produced and then Edison developed the light
bulb and the stock ticker. Immigrants moved to the area to find work, homes
were built and business began to thrive to support the citizens. Insurance
companies began to emerge also with Mutual Benefit starting in 1845 and
Prudential in 1873. In the late 1980s, Newark sold more insurance than any
other city except for Hartford, Connecticut. By the late 1920s, the
population had grown to over a half a million people. In 1922, the city had
46 movie theaters, 63 live theaters and a very active nightlife. Dutch
Schultz was killed in 1935 at the Palace Bar and Billie Holiday stayed at
the local Coleman Hotel. Traffic was getting so bad, that a subway system
was created and skyscrapers were being erected.
In the 60s, racial tensions sparked and caused a riot,
and many families were moving out of the overcrowded city and moving to the
suburbs as was the rest of the country. The 70s and 80s continued the
decline, with the inner city going from bad to worse. Much was written
about the decline and desperation of Newark. Then, eventually the city
began a slow turnaround and by the end of the century was rebuilding much of
the city and renovation was the term of the day. In 2000, the city noticed
its first population increase and it has been nicknamed the Renaissance
City.
The next time you visit
Newark, the best way to get around
is by car, saving you time and money. By renting a car, you can add
flexibility to you trip by doing this. Most people pick up their
car at or near the Newark International Airport where the selection
is better. The rental car company will also pick you up at or near
the Newark International Airport so you can get the best help in
choosing your vehicle. Whatever your travel needs are, the rental
agency can help with a compact, mid-size, full-size or luxury car,
minivan or SUV. The next trip to Newark should start off right with
great help from your rental car company.
Dollar Rental Car Specials
Dollar Rental Car - Newark International Airport
Dollar Rental Car - Kearny
Dollar Rental Car - Jersey City
Turning a 100 this year, the Newark museum holds some
great exhibits for the visitor, as they meander through this maze of beauty,
natural science and art. With a Tibetan altar, African dwarf mongoose, and
Joseph Stella's paintings, statues, paintings and other wonderful artifacts
that will amaze and enthrall the visitor. The 1885 Ballantine House is the
home that houses many of these marvelous items. With wine tastings,
performances, yoga classes and dance parties, the museum is trying to
rekindle the city's love for the museum.
Thrifty Rental
Car Specials
Thrifty Rental Car -
Manhattan West
Thrifty Car Rental - Montclair
The New Jersey Historical Society has a collection of photographs and other
physical records of the state's history from the beginning to the present.
With a great number of other items, the society strives to bring the state
alive to the people of today in such a way that history books can never do.
With costumes, manuscripts, paintings, ceramics, glass, tools, furniture,
prints, maps, photographs, pamphlets, maps and other memorabilia from the
past, this unique museum brings the city and state to life. |