Newark

Delaware, University of

Newark, city, New Castle county, northern Delaware, U.S. It lies just west-southwest of Wilmington. The community developed in the late 1680s around the New Worke Quaker meetinghouse, which served as an early crossroads meeting place for travelers. Nearby Cooch’s Bridge on Christina Creek was the scene (September 3, 1777) of the only significant battle of the American Revolution fought in the state. An early industrial enterprise in the locality was a paper mill built before 1798 on White Clay Creek. Newark’s industries now include the manufacture of vulcanized fibre, concrete products, and processed foods and the assembly of automobiles. Newark is the seat of the University of Delaware (founded 1743 in New London, Pennsylvania, and transferred to Newark in 1765). Inc. town, 1887; city, 1951. Pop. (2000) 28,547; (2008 est.) 29,886.