What would become the City of Newark began as a hamlet serving those traveling between the Maryland and Virginia (Chesapeake Bay) and Philadelphia. Newark was recognized by King George in 1758 as a promising local market and country crossroads.
The primary driver of growth for Newark was a local, private academy. Newark Academy eventually became the University of Delaware, the city's largest landowner. Through the 19th and early 20th centuries, CSX Rail, the Pennsylvania Railroad, Chrysler and DuPont all contributed to Newark's expanding size and economy.
Newark was chartered as a City in 1951.
City of Newark, Delaware, History of Newark, www.cityofnewarkde.us, accessed July, 2012.