Pictured: Licking County Courthouse in Newark, OH. Image courtesy of US Heritage.

Not to be confused with Newark, NJ,—Newark, OH, is a city and county seat of Licking County, OH. It sits 33 miles east of Columbus at the junction of the forks of the Licking River.

Here at HER, we’ve got you covered—if you’re a new resident in Newark, or are moving there soon, make sure to keep reading this guide, which will get you familiarized with your new home. 

• All about Newark: An overview of what you need to know about Newark
• Living: The basics on what to expect when you’re new to town 
• What to do: All the fun stuff—food, art, and more
  

Still need help finding your perfect Ohio home? View the largest and most accurate selection of real estate in Newark, OH by HER, REALTORS® >

All About Newark

Newark was originally settled in 1801, but today, it’s home to beautiful rural landscapes, bustling small businesses, and quiet neighborhoods. 

In this section, we’ll give you a few facts about the city to get you acquainted with your new home.

Local Government

Newark is the county seat, or administrative center, of Licking County. So, all county governmental affairs are held in Newark. (Tip: Check out the beautiful and historic Licking County Courthouse!)

The township is governed by three elected Trustees—as of the publication of this blog post, these trustees are Pat Lebold, Tim Ridenbaugh, and Jim Weisent. These trustees oversee all township functions and services over the course of a four-year term. Additionally, the Township Fiscal Officer is responsible for all township accounts and transactions.

Township meetings are held...

• November - March: Second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7PM
• April - October: Second and fourth Thursday of the month at 8PM

Education

Newark City School District serves the city of Newark. Newark High School educates almost 2,000 students and has sports at the OHSAA D1 level. Newark High School also prides itself in its performing arts and marching band. 

Additionally, Newark is home to several private religious schools, such as Blessed Sacrament School and Newark Catholic High School. 

Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County (C-TEC) also offers high school and adult programs. 

Newark’s public library is a resource to the city’s residents, and it is a branch of the Licking County Library System.

Higher Education

Newark is home to both the Ohio State University at Newark branch campus and the Central Ohio Technical College (COTC). The latter is a two-year college that serves about 3,000 students with 45 certificate and associate degree programs.

The state of Ohio is home to over 100 colleges and universities, so if you’re looking for higher education for yourself or family members, there are plenty of in-state options other than the two immediately situated in Newark. 

For example, Columbus, home to the Ohio State Main campus, is a mere 42-minute drive away.

Business

Newark is home to many major manufacturers. Holophane, one of the world’s oldest manufacturers of lighting-related products, is in Newark, as well as one of its main factories, Owens Corning Fiberglass.

State Farm Insurance has its regional headquarters in Newark, and the Park National Bank Corporation is located downtown.

Other companies in Newark include Kaiser Aluminium, Dow Chemical Company, General Electric, Covestro, Boeing, THK, Harry & David, Communicolor, Diebold, Anomatic, International Paper, and Tamarack Farms Dairy.

Famously, the now defunct Longaberger basket-makers had its corporate headquarters in Newark, which was shaped as a giant basket, as envisioned by founder Dave Longaberger. While the “giant basket” is now empty, it is still famous worldwide, and has been converted into a tourist attraction by the city of Newark.

Living: What to Expect 

Community

Here are a few stats for you to get a sense of what to expect in terms of the community in Newark:

• Estimated population, 2018: 50,029
• Population density: 2,278.4 inhabitants per square mile
• Median income for a family: $42,138
• Racial demographics: 92.8% White, 3.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.6% two or more races
• Average households: 40.7% of households are of married couples
• Median age: 37.3 years

Transportation

Newark is a small town, so there are no public transit or rideshare (i.e. Lyft or Uber) privileges. There does exist a small public bus route and Yellow Cab service, but locals recommend to “stick with your own vehicle for this town, or a rented one.” 

Alternatively, Newark offers a wide range of bike trails, particularly near the Downtown Newark and Downtown Granville areas, if you’re looking to get around the scenic route.

Luckily, since Newark is small, traffic is usually a breeze, and it doesn’t take very long to get around from one end of downtown to the other.

Lodging

If you’re looking for lodging—whether that be because you’re still on the housing market, you’re looking for a place to accommodate your visit, or more—Newark is home to plenty of comfortable hotels and other lodging accommodations.

For an upscale hotel stay, check out:

• The Trout Club
• Granville Inn
• Buxton Inn
  

For an economical option, check out:

• Doubletree by Hilton
• Courtyard by Mariott
  

What to Do In Newark

Now we’re at the fun part of the article! In this section, we’ll talk about some of the few best things that residents love doing in their home, Newark.

The Midland Theatre

Address: 36 North Park Place, Newark, OH 

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The Midland Theatre is Newark’s state-of-the-art performance venue and concert hall that sits right at the north side of the historic downtown Newark Square. It was built in 1928 and seats 1,200 individuals. 

Even better, the Midland can be the host for your next major function, since they host private bookings. So, the theatre can be the site of your event, from as small as your everyday meeting to your wedding ceremony and/or reception.

You can find the Midland Theatre on Facebook to see what events are going on today.

Thirty One West 

Address: 31 West Church Street, Newark, OH

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Thirty One West is a live music venue that has a mission “to unite our community through art and music and showcase local, regional, and national talent in the creative arts through collaboration and partnership with local artisans, restaurants, musicians, and educators.” It is housed in one of Newark’s original historical ballrooms and encompasses nearly a block of art galleries, restaurants, and bars.

Find Thirty One West on Facebook.

Elliot’s Wood Fired Kitchen & Tap 

Address: 16 West Main Street, Newark, OH

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Elliot’s serves the only Neapolitan-style pizza in town, making it a classic Newark favorite for some ‘za. Their diverse menu  also features street tacos, sandwiches, and salads, plus a heavy-duty lineup of sixteen beers on tap and four draft wines.

Check out Elliot’s on Facebook.

Weathervane Playhouse 

Address: 100 Price Road, Newark, OH

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Weathervane Playhouse was born in a barn in Heath, OH, in 1969—hence its name, “Weathervane.” Today, it’s where professional actors, directors, and technicians come from all across the country to collaborate with local talent to produce five shows in the summer season. Weathervane also offers theatre education workshops and additional productions year-round.

Find Weathervane on Facebook.

The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art, & Technology 

Address: 55 South First Street, Newark, OH

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The Works is where you can find the convergence of Newark’s science, art, technology, and history. This Ohio-based center is the home of both education and entertainment, and it offers something for everyone.

The SciDome Planetarium is great for astronomy lovers, the unique glassworks collection is perfect for artists, and the hands-on learning labs are a must for little ones. 

The Works also offers private meetings to host your next work event, birthday party, and more. 

Connect with the Works on Facebook.

Denison Arts Space - Newark

Address: 23 West Church Street, Newark, OH

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The Denison Art Space is a multi-arts center in downtown Newark in the Thirty One West development. The space features a rotating gallery area, two music-teaching studios, and an artist-in-residence studio that welcomes aspiring artists to become inspired by the rich history of downtown Newark. This space features artists from all corners of the world—from local to international. 

The vision for this space is to unify individuals of all generations, disciplines, and backgrounds in order to learn from each other. 

You can find the Denison Art Space on Facebook. 

Not New to Newark Anymore. Now What?

While this guide is written with new residents in mind, if you still haven’t found your perfect Newark home, be sure to connect with HER, REALTORS® to find your perfect home in the Newark area. 

View the largest and most accurate selection of real estate in Newark, OH by HER, REALTORS® >