Newark is a city in, and the county seat of, Licking County, Ohio, United States; it is located 40 miles east of Columbus at the junction of the f…Newark is a city in, and the county seat of, Licking County, Ohio, United States; it is located 40 miles east of Columbus at the junction of the forks of the Licking River. The population was 49,934 at the 2020 census, making it the 18th-largest city in Ohio. It is most known for having the world's largest basket, former headquarters of the now defunct Longaberger Company. The city is part of the Columbus metropolitan area.