Newark is well known for its proximity to Lower Manhattan in New York City, at just 13 miles away. The city itself is surrounded by residential suburbs to the west, Newark bay and the Passaic River to the east, dense urban areas to the south and southwest, and middle-class residential suburbs and industrial areas in the north. Newark Neighborhoods Newark is divided into five political wards, however, the majority of industry, the airport and the seaport are all concentrated in the east and south. Residential neighborhoods tend to dominate the north, central and west wards, and residents tend to identify by their unique neighborhoods, ranging from bustling urban districts to quieter suburban enclaves. North Ward This ward is ethnically diverse and surrounded by plenty of cherry blossom trees at Branch Brook Park. The neighborhoods include Broadway, Mount Pleasant, Upper Roseville and Forest Hill, the latter which contains many older mansions and colonial homes. Little Italy remains, although recent demographics have shown more Latino residents in the area. East Ward The East Ward is home to the downtown commercial district and the Ironbound neighborhood, the location of much of Newark's industry in the 19th century. Today, Ironbound is known for its shopping, dining and nightlife. Predominantly an immigrant-populated area of the city, Ironbound is often termed Little Portugal and Little Brazil due to its heavily Portuguese and Brazilian population. In fact, Newark is home to one of the largest Portuguese speaking populations in the United States. The East Ward is also home to many Latin American communities, in particular, Ecuadorians, Peruvians and Colombians. Public education consists of East Side High School and six elementary schools. The ward is composed of densely packed but well-maintained housing, with many large apartment buildings and rowhouses. South Ward The South Ward comprises the Weequahic, Clinton Hill, Dayton and South Broad Valley neighborhoods. Historically home to Jewish residents, the South Ward now has ethnic neighborhoods made up primarily of African Americans and Hispanics. The city's second-largest hospital, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, is found here, in addition to 17 public schools. West Ward The West Ward comprises the neighborhoods of Vailsburg, Ivy Hill, West Side, Fairmount and Lower Roseville. This neighborhood is home to many Latinos, African Americans and Caribbean Americans, though historically it was populated by Irish, Polish and Ukrainians. Central Ward Much of the city's historical buildings and parks are found in the Central Ward. These include University Heights, Lincoln Park, Military Park and Washington Park. In the 19th century, the Central Ward was inhabited by Germans and other white Catholic and Protestant groups. They were later replaced by the Jewish population who were later replaced by African Americans. This ward includes 26 public schools, two police precincts and headquarters, four firehouses, and one library.