Vineland, New Jersey


Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724, reflecting an increase of 4,453 from the 56,271 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,491 from the 54,780 counted in the 1990 Census. Vineland, Millville and Bridgeton are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland–Millville–Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses those three cities and all of Cumberland County for statistical purposes and had a population of 156,898 as of the 2010 Census.
Vineland was formed on July 1, 1952, through the merger of Landis Township and Vineland Borough, based on the results of a referendum held on February 5, 1952. Festivities on July 1, 1952, when the merger took effect, included a parade and speeches from such notables as Senator Estes Kefauver. The name is derived from the plans of its founder to use the land to grow grapes.

History

purchased of land in 1861 and another in 1874, near Millville, New Jersey, and along the West Jersey railroad line with service between Camden and Cape May, to create his own alcohol-free utopian society based on agriculture and progressive thinking. The first houses were built in 1862, and train service was established to Philadelphia and New York City, with the population reaching 5,500 by 1865 and 11,000 by 1875.
Established as a temperance town, where the sale of alcohol was prohibited, Landis required that purchasers of land in Vineland build a house on the purchased property within a year of purchase, that of the often heavily wooded land be cleared and farmed each year, and that adequate space be placed between houses and roads to allow for planting of flowers and shade trees along the routes through town. Landis Avenue was constructed as a wide and about long road running east–west through the center of the community, with other, narrower roads connecting at right angles to each other.
After determining that the Vineland soil was well-suited for growing grapes, Landis started advertising to attract Italian grape growers to Vineland, offering of land that had to be cleared and used to grow grapes. Thomas Bramwell Welch founded Welch's Grape Juice, and purchased the locally grown grapes to make "unfermented wine". The fertile ground also attracted the glass-making industry and was home to the Progresso soup company. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, most of the city was involved in the poultry industry, which led to the city being dubbed "The Egg Basket of America."
Vineland Poultry Laboratories was started by Arthur Goldhaft. Dr. Goldhaft is credited with putting "a chicken in every pot" after developing the fowl pox chicken vaccine that saved millions of chickens from death. Dr. Goldhaft's work at Vineland Poultry Laboratories in Vineland helped protect the world's chicken supply from the fowl pox disease.
Vineland had New Jersey's first school for the intellectually disabled, the Vineland Developmental Center, which now has an east and west campus. These institutions housed mentally handicapped women in fully staffed cottages. Henry H. Goddard, an American psychologist, coined the term "Moron" while directing the Research Laboratory at the Training School for Backward and Feeble-minded Children in Vineland. This facility was so sufficiently well known that one American Prison Association pamphlet in 1955 heralded Vineland as "famous for its contributions to our knowledge of the feebleminded".
The city of Vineland celebrated its 150th birthday in 2011. Mayor Robert Romano initially ordered a custom cake from Buddy Valastro of Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken; the business is featured in the TLC reality television series Cake Boss. After outcry from local business owners, the order was canceled and five Vineland bakeries were commissioned to create elaborate cakes for the event.
Since the 1970s, the city has had an annual dandelion festival. Brought to the area by early Italian immigrants, the plant is grown as a crop by farms in Vineland.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 69.029 square miles, including 68.424 square miles of land and 0.605 square miles of water. Of all the municipalities in New Jersey to hold the label of City, Vineland is the largest in total area.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Clayville, Hances Bridge, Leamings Mill, Menantico, North Vineland, Parvins Branch, South Vineland, Willow Grove and Pleasantville. That last community is not to be confused with the City of Pleasantville in Atlantic County.
Vineland borders the municipalities of Deerfield Township, Millville, and Maurice River Township in Cumberland County; Buena and Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County; Franklin Township and Newfield Boro in Gloucester County; and Pittsgrove Township in Salem County. The city is approximately from the Atlantic Ocean.

Demographics

Vineland has a Ukrainian community and is home to the Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church among several other Ukrainian churches.

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $54,024 and the median family income was $64,185. Males had a median income of $48,974 versus $35,513 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,512. About 11.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 56,271 people, 19,930 households, and 14,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 819.2 people per square mile. There were 20,958 housing units at an average density of 305.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 67.47% White, 13.62% African American, 0.54% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 14.01% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.00% of the population.
There were 19,939 households, out of which 80.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,076, and the median income for a family was $47,909. Males had a median income of $35,195 versus $25,518 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,797. About 9.8% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Portions of the city are part of a joint Urban Enterprise Zone with Millville, one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. Millville was selected in 1983 as one of the initial group of 10 zones chosen to participate in the program. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate at eligible merchants. Established in October 1988, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.
The main street in Vineland is Landis Avenue. The traditional downtown area is located several blocks east and west of the intersection of Landis Avenue and the Boulevard. The Boulevard is a pair of roads that flank the main north–south railroad, which connected Vineland with Cape May to the south and Camden/Philadelphia to the north. After many years of decline there has been much recent activity to restore the vitality of "The Avenue" and the center city area. New construction includes a new transportation center, courthouse, post office, elementary school / community center and sidewalk upgrades. In 2005, Vineland was designated a Main Street Community and, through the work of this group, money has been earmarked to continue this improvement through property and facade improvements, business retention and marketing.

Government

Local government

The City of Vineland is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of July 1, 1952, months after the city's formation. The mayor serves as the city's chief executive, while the City Council is its legislative branch. The mayor and council are elected concurrently to serve four-year terms of office in non-partisan elections held in leap years as part of the November general election. An ordinance passed by the council in 2011 shifted elections from May to November, effectively extending the term of those members serving at the time by six months.
, the Mayor of Vineland is Anthony Fanucci whose term of office ends on December 31, 2020, along with those of all members of the City Council. Members of the Vineland City Council are Council President Paul F. Spinelli, Council Vice President David Acosta, Elizabeth Arthur, Ronald John Franceschini Jr. and Albert Vargas.
In November 2019, the City Council appointed Elizabeth Arthur to fill the seat vacated by Angela Calakos following her resignation after announcing that she was moving out of the city. Arthur served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term office.
In January 2013, Ruben Bermudez took office as the city's first Hispanic mayor.

Federal, state and county representation

Vineland is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 37,583 registered voters in Vineland, of which 10,388 were registered as Democrats, 6,109 were registered as Republicans and 21,059 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 27 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 64.9% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 34.2%, and other candidates with 0.9%, among the 23,880 ballots cast by the city's 39,605 registered voters, for a turnout of 60.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.6% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 35.2%, with 25,144 ballots cast among the city's 39,098 registered voters, for a turnout of 64.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 53.8% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 43.6%, with 23,253 ballots cast among the city's 35,943 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 64.7.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.5% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 42.8%, and other candidates with 1.7%, among the 13,243 ballots cast by the city's 37,789 registered voters, for a turnout of 35.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 52.2% of the vote, ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 40.1% and Independent Chris Daggett with 4.8%, with 14,289 ballots cast among the city's 37,092 registered voters, yielding a 38.5% turnout.

Education

serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide, which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprised of 14 schools, had an enrollment of 10,720 students and 772.4 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.9:1. Schools in the district are
Casimer M. Dallago Jr. Preschool Center / IMPACT,
Dane Barse Elementary School,
Solve D'Ippolito Elementary School,
Marie Durand School,
Edward Johnstone School,
Dr. William Mennies Elementary School,
Pauline J. Petway Elementary School,
Anthony Rossi Elementary School,
Gloria M. Sabater Elementary School,
Dr. John H. Winslow Elementary School,
Sgt. Dominick Pilla Middle School,
Veterans Memorial Middle School
Thomas W. Wallace Jr. Middle School,
Vineland High School and
Cunningham Academy for students with "personal or academic challenges that prevent them from reaching their full potential".
Students are also eligible to attend Cumberland County Technology Education Center in Vineland, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents. The school relocated starting in the 2016–17 school year to a campus in Vineland constructed at a cost of $70 million and located next to Cumberland County College. The school initiated a new full-time high school program that included 240 students who will be part of the initial graduating class of 2020.
Cumberland Christian School is a private coeducational day school located in Vineland, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school, founded in 1946, has a total enrollment of over 1,000 students.
The city is home to two Catholic elementary schools, Bishop Schad Regional School and St. Mary Regional School Both schools operate under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Sacred Heart High School served grades 9-12 from 1927 until its closure by the Camden Diocese in June 2013 due to declining enrollment.
The Ellison School is a private, nonsectarian coeducational day school located on South Spring Road in Vineland. The school, with an enrollment of about 120 students in pre-K through 8th grade, is known for rigorous academics and a small student/teacher ratio. The school was founded in 1959 and moved to its current site in 1968.

Points of interest

Clear Communications owns two locally licensed radio stations; WVLT and WMIZ, with WPOV-LP owned by the local branch of Calvary Chapel. Vineland is also the city of license for WUVP-DT, Philadelphia's Univision station, which has studios in Franklin Township and their news operation and transmitter based in Philadelphia proper.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the city had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Cumberland County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Route 47 runs almost north-south in the western quarter of the city, connecting Millville in the south to Franklin Township in Gloucester County at the city's northern tip. Route 55 enters the city from Millville for, heads back into Millville and re-enters Vineland, running along the western border for and heads north into Pittsgrove Township in Salem County. Route 56 heads across the city from Pittsgrove Township to its eastern terminus at Route 47.
County Route 540 enters from the west in Pittsgrove Township and continues for to Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County, on the city's eastern border. County Route 552 enters from Deerfield Township in the city's southwest corner and continues for into Maurice River Township. County Route 555 enters from Millville extending for into Franklin Township.

Public transportation

provides bus transportation on the 313 route between Cape May and Philadelphia, on the 408 route between Millville and Philadelphia and on the 553 route between Upper Deerfield Township and Atlantic City.
Two general aviation airports are located nearby. Vineland-Downstown Airport is located northeast of the central business district and Kroelinger Airport, north.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Vineland include: