Newark is New Jersey’s largest city and the county seat of Essex County. Its location near New York City, Newark Bay, and major highway and rail networks has made it an important center for transportation, commerce, education, healthcare, and culture. Downtown Newark includes Newark Penn Station, the Prudential Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, government offices, universities, and a growing residential population. The city’s neighborhoods include the Ironbound, North Ward, South Ward, West Ward, and Central Ward, each with its own residential and commercial character. Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Newark are major regional assets, while Interstate 78, Interstate 280, the New Jersey Turnpike, and several rail lines connect the city across the metropolitan area. Branch Brook Park, historic architecture, cultural institutions, and ongoing redevelopment also shape Newark’s identity.