Newark may have started as an agricultural center, but it has matured into a place that feels laid back and 21st-century sophisticated at the same time.
Between homes for young professionals and retirement communities beats the heart of a true American small town.
Resident Megan Everhart enjoys what she calls Newark’s “walkability.” Its Main Street has thrived, even as main streets in other towns have lost significance as commercial centers. Main Street Newark offers everything from jewelry stores to bike shops to a variety of fine dining and ethnic fare. (There are more than 200 shops and restaurants in town.)
The final word on Newark, however, may be the university. The University of Delaware offers the cultural attractions that have the weight and dimension of those in much larger urban areas. There are world-class concerts by virtuoso musicians, along with internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles who perform at the university’s Roselle Center for the Arts. The Professional Theatre Training Program, one of the most respected graduate-level drama conservatory programs in the country, produces a regular schedule of classic plays, as do the Resident Ensemble Players. There are regular series of films, lectures and readings on campus for anyone’s enjoyment. And there is UD football and other sports.
One of the town’s most ambitious efforts has been to bring the new urban idea of live-work-play communities to downtown. The upscale Washington House condominium building on Main Street is proof. Overall, housing prices in the city range from $85,000 to almost $1 million, making Newark both affordable and attractive to those looking for more upscale living.
With a town center a mile off I-95, major cities to the north and south are easily accessible. Commuters, take heart: Amtrak and SEPTA make stops at the Newark train station. And Del. 896 speeds you to the beaches and other points south in short order.
