Newark, Ohio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Newark is a city in Licking County, Ohio, 33 miles (53 km) east of Columbus, at the junction of the forks of the Licking River. In 1890, 14,270 people lived in Newark, Ohio; in 1900, 18,157; in 1910, 25,404; in 1920, 27,718; and in 1940, 31,487. The population was 46,279 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Licking County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Business
5 Education
6 People
7 Points of interest
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Newark is located at 40°3′47″N, 82°25′0″W (40.063014, -82.416779)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.3 km² (19.8 mi²). 50.6 km² (19.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.21%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 46,279 people, 19,312 households, and 12,108 families residing in the city. The population density was 914.0/km² (2,366.7/mi²). There were 20,625 housing units at an average density of 407.3/km² (1,054.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.12% White, 3.10% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 19,312 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,791, and the median income for a family was $42,138. Males had a median income of $32,542 versus $24,868 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,819. About 10.1% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

During the prehistoric period, Newark was an important center of cultural activity. From 100 BC to 500 AD the Newark area was transformed by the Hopewell culture. They built many earthen mounds, creating the single, largest earthwork complex in the Ohio River Valley. The earthworks covered several square miles. Observatory Mound, Observatory Circle, and the interconnected Octagon span nearly 3,000 feet in length. The Octagon alone is large enough to contain four Roman Colesiums. The Great Pyramid fits inside Observatory Circle precisely. The even larger 1180-foot-wide Newark Great Circle is the largest circular earthwork in the Americas, at least in construction effort. The 8 feet high walls surround a 5 feet deep moat, except at the entrance where the dimensions are even greater and more impressive. Archaeogeodesy and archaeoastronomy research has demonstrated advanced scientific understandings by the prehistoric cultures in the area by analyzing the placements, alignments, dimensions, and site-to-site interrelationships of the earthworks.

The land that the earthworks sit on is currently leased to Moundbuilders Country Club and are in use as a golf course. [1]

Newark was a stop along the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad that connected Pittsburgh to Chicago and St. Louis.

[edit] Business

Longaberger corporate headquarters on State Route 16 is a local landmark.

Newark is the home of the corporate headquarters of basket-maker Longaberger. The headquarters building is in the form of a gigantic "medium market basket," their most popular model. This was, and may still be, the largest basket in the world.

[edit] Education

Newark City Schools serves the city of Newark.

[edit] People

Andy Merrill, the voice of Brak (the main character in The Brak Show on Cartoon Network), is from Newark.
Wayne Newton, a popular Las Vegas, Nevada entertainer, lived in Newark for a short while during his childhood.
Edward James Roye, President of Liberia from 1870-1871, was born in Newark.
.22 Caliber Killers killed first victims here in the 1970s.
The First Red Cross Motor Ambulance of World War I was built here.
Johnny Clem (AKA "Johnny Shiloh"), the youngest known soldier in the U.S. Army, was from Newark.
Jim Tyrer was born in Newark, OH. He played for Ohio State University and later for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Redskins.
Jon Hendricks Famous jazz singer was born here.