The city of Newark, CA is an amazing place to purchase a home. The community there has a suburban vibe and provides good commuting options that allow you to go anywhere within the Bay area. One of the outstanding features of Newark is the lake in Lakeshore Park. You will also be interested in learning that the region not only has a very progressive city government, but that its crime statistics are very low.

Let’s Learn About the History of Newark, CA

Newark, located in Alameda County in California, was incorporated in September, 1955. There are three cities (Union City, Fremont, and Newark) that, together, create the Tri-City region. As of 2015, Newark had a total population of 45,000 people, the third largest city after cities of the same name in Ohio and New Jersey. Newark was named after Newark Castle, which is found in Port Glasgow, located in Scotland.

Prior to European settlement, the region was home to the Native Americans. The first Europeans to settle in the Newark region were the Spanish missionaries, whose territory covered a major part of the Tri-City area. In 1878, the land that previously belonged to Alameda County was acquired by a company known as The Pacific Land Investment Company. It subdivided this land to come up with Newark.

Geographical Information

Newark has an interesting geographical landscape, where the southern part of the San Francisco Bay lies on the western portion of the city. Additionally, State Route 84 cuts through Newark and goes on all the way to Dumbarton Bridge before crossing the bay area to reach Menlo Park. Fremont shares its eastern border with interstate 880. Statistics from the United States Census Bureau indicate that Newark has a total square land area of a little over 22 miles. A large portion of the city is taken up by water, with the rest being occupied by land.

What Is So Great About This Area?

Given that Newark is a very small city, not many people are aware of this hidden gem, located in the heart of Silicon Valley and surrounded by the city of Fremont. The following are the biggest factors when it comes to what makes Newark a great place to purchase a home:

1. Its Economy:

Newark shares its economic patterns with Silicon Valley, as it is located on the edge of the city. Cargill Salt is one of the largest employers in the city. The company operates a salt refinery that is responsible for cleaning the salt that has been produced in the evaporation ponds, which are located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Newark houses the NewPark Mall, which is a regional shopping center with various stores. Apart from the stores, the super shopping center is also home to more than 140 retailers. In addition, it is home to the Pacific Research Center, which was created on the site where Sun Microsystems was previously located.

2. Transportation:

When choosing a place to buy a home, many people will always want to know about the transportation system. You will be pleased to know that Newark lies near State Route 84, the Dumbarton Bridge, and intersection I-880, making it easier to access any place you would like to visit. Caltrain has also been planning to open a rail system that would operate between Alameda County and the Peninsula. It is a project that would see 4 new stations being added to the Caltrain rail system. The 4 new stations would include East Palo Alto, Newark, Fremont, and Union City.

Why Is Newark A Good Place To Raise A Family?

1. Education Facilities

The city is home to a new college campus by the name of Ohlone College. Other institutions of higher learning that are in or near Newark include Unitek College, the University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and the ITT Institute. There are two high schools in the city: Bridgepoint High School and Newark Memorial High School. Some of the elementary schools in the city include Birch Grove Intermediate, Lincoln, and HA Snow.

2. Recreation

Recreational facilities are an important consideration for people with families. Newark has 13 sports facilities and parks. The Silliman Center, opened in 2004, has an aquatic center that includes over 32,000 feet of indoor swimming facilities. The facilities at this center are designed for instruction, fitness, and recreation activities for all members of the family.

Conclusion

Given the fact that the last few years have seen an increase in property prices in the Silicon Valley, the city of Newark provides a good real estate investment option, due to its proximity to popular cities like San Francisco, Fremont, San Jose, Oakland, and others. The fact that it has a good transportation system and educational institutions in place is just an added bonus.