A Brief History of Newark, New Jersey

Newark was founded in 1666 by Connecticut Puritans led by Robert Treat, making it the third-oldest major city in the United States (though it is not the third-oldest settlement). Newark was previously called Milford, named for Milford, Connecticut, from which many settlers had migrated. The current name comes from Newark-on-Trent, a town in England. Newark was a relatively large town in the colonial era, known for its good beer, ciders, and tanned leather goods. Rapid growth of the city began in the early 1800s, and by 1870, Newark to was manufacturing almost 90% of the nation's leather, bringing in $8.6 million to the city in that year alone. The middle 19th century saw continued growth and diversification of Newark's industrial base, and also in the middle 19th century, Newark added insurance to its repertoire of businesses. Newark soon became a very busy city, full of many visitors and businesses.