National Register of Historic Places

Essex County Jail

Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
Listed
September 2, 1991
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
91001366

About this property

The old Essex County Jail is located in the University Heights section of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The jail is Essex County's oldest public building and a national landmark of value for its architectural and social history. The complex consists of about 20 structures of various size, age, and function ranging in date from the 1830s to 1930s. Collectively, they represent the evolution of American prison history over 100 years. For the quality of its architecture, its social history, and its links to the 1967 Newark Riots, this jail was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 3, 1991. The site has been abandoned since 1971 and remains property of the City of Newark.

Location

21 Wilsey St.
Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
40.74456, -74.18233

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Essex County Jail

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church Rectory and School
Industrial
0.2 mi
Bethany Baptist Church
Industrial
0.3 mi
Wickcliffe Presbyterian Church
Industrial
0.4 mi
James Street Commons Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
St. Lucy's Church
Industrial
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Short Hills
1777Revolutionary War
4.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Essex County Jail listed on the National Register?

Essex County Jail was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 2, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Essex County Jail?

Essex County Jail is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Essex County Jail?

The period of significance for Essex County Jail is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Essex County Jail?

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