Millville, New Jersey

History

Known as "Shingle Landing" in its earliest days, a sawmill was believed to have existed at Leaming's Mill at around 1720. The area also had a public road, a boat landing, and a bridge-like structure.

In 1790, Joseph Smith and Henry Drinker purchased 24,000 acres (97 km²) of land known as the Union Mills Tract. They formed the Union Estates Company, built lumber mills along the Maurice River and established a dam to power these new mills. Joseph Buck, an American Revolutionary War veteran who served under General George Washington, was part of a group that purchased the land in the area in 1795 and laid out the plans for what would become Millville.

In 1806, an Irish immigrant, James Lee, opened the area's first glass factory, making use of the large amounts of silica sand and the ample wood that could be used to operate the plant.

In the early 1850s, the Smith and Wood Iron Foundry and New Jersey Mills were constructed. In 1860, a bleachery and dye house were added to New Jersey Mills, which then became Millville Manufacturing. David Wood then constructed a dam, forming the largest man-made lake in the state, which powered the entire manufacturing organization. By 1870, the mill had 600 employees, and in 40 years this number doubled.

In 1862, Charles K. Landis laid out the city of Vineland about two and a half miles east of the Maurice River. In 1864, Vineland was separated from Millville Township and joined the new Landis Township.

In 1936, the town was the site of Roosevelt Park, a project proposed by Effie Maud Aldrich Morrison as the country's first housing development for the elderly. The retirement colony was built on land which had been repossessed by the town of Millville for back taxes, and became known as the "Roosevelt Colony". It was later renamed to the "Roosevelt Park" old age colony, and was sometimes referred to as the Colony for the Aged at Roosevelt Park and Roosevelt Park Colony for Aged. When it opened on October 23, 1936, it became the first senior citizens retirement colony in the United States.

The Millville Airport was dedicated "America's First Defense Airport" on August 2, 1941, by local, state, and federal officials. In less than a year, construction of military base facilities began, and in January 1943, the Millville Army Air Field opened as a gunnery school for fighter pilots. Gunnery training began with Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft, but after a few weeks was changed over to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. During its three-year existence, thousands of soldiers and civilians served here, with about 1,500 pilots receiving advanced fighter training in the Thunderbolt.

Following World War II, the airfield was declared excess to the governments needs, and returned to the City of Millville. Most of the airport buildings were converted to apartments for the many veterans returning from the war. The last of the apartments vanished in the early 1970s, and the airport soon became a hub of industry and aviation for Southern New Jersey.

Up to the late 1990s the Millville downtown area was depressed and somewhat isolated, examples including the abandoned Levoy Theatre and Wheaton Glass Factory, with investors reluctant to venture in its development. Major redevelopment has occurred in the past several years; establishing the scenic Riverfront and Downtown areas into an artists' haven including many studios, shops and restaurants. Older abandoned buildings have been restored with continued major development is planned.

Millville has an arts district named the Glasstown Arts District. A public art center with galleries and studios is the hub of activity, and is open six days a week. The district includes seven full-time galleries, along with ten part-time galleries and studios, which are open mostly on weekends and on the third Friday of each month. Wheaton Arts and the Creative Glass Center of America includes a major collection of early American glass with contemporary glass from CGCA Fellows and working glass artists in a restored 19th century glass factory. The Levoy Theatre successfully re-opened on September 9, 2012.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 44.489 square miles (115.228 km²), including 42.001 square miles (108.783 km²) of land and 2.488 square miles (6.445 km²) of water (5.59%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Clarks Mill, Farmingdale, Manatico, North Newark and Union Lake.

The city borders Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Lawrence Township, Downe Township, Commercial Township, Maurice River Township and Vineland.

Millville lies between the southern termini of the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, Route 55 (which runs through the northeastern portion of the city) and the Atlantic City Expressway.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 28,400 people, 10,648 households, and 7,187 families residing in the city. The population density was 676.2 per square mile (261.1/km²). The city contained 11,435 housing units at an average density of 272.3 per square mile (105.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.04% (19,608) White, 19.83% (5,631) Black or African American, 0.94% (266) Native American, 1.19% (338) Asian, 0.06% (18) Pacific Islander, 5.24% (1,488) from other races, and 3.70% (1,051) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 14.93% (4,239) of the population.

Out of a total of 10,648 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city, 25.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.6 years. For every 100 females the census counted 90.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 85.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $44,925 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,459) and the median family income was $55,000 (+/- $4,433). Males had a median income of $46,186 (+/- $3,934) versus $35,336 (+/- $2,860) for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,364 (+/- $1,573). About 16.2% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 26,847 people, 10,043 households, and 7,010 families residing in the city. The population density was 633.9 people per square mile (244.8/km²). There were 10,652 housing units at an average density of 251.5 per square mile (97.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.13% White, 14.99% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.16% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.17% of the population.

There were 10,043 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.65 and the average family size was 2.15.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,378, and the median income for a family was $46,093. Males had a median income of $36,915 versus $26,669 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,632. About 12.1% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Millville has a Ukrainian community and is home to Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church and St Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church

Economy

Portions of Millville are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.

Local government

In 1801, Millville was first organized as a township; It became a city in 1866. Until 1913, Millville operated under a Mayor-Council form of government where the mayor was elected by the people. In 1913, a change of form of government to the Walsh Act was passed and the commission form of government became the way the city was run. Under this form of government as used in Millville, five commissioners are elected and one of these is selected from among its members to serve as the mayor and another as vice mayor. each commissioner is assigned a department to oversee.

As of 2016, the Millville City Commission consists of Mayor Michael Santiago, Commissioner of Public Safety; Lynne Porreca Compari, Commissioner of Public Affairs; David W. Ennis, Commissioner of Public Works; and Joseph Sooy, Commissioner of Parks and Public Property; with one seat vacant.

Vice Mayor James F. Quinn, Commissioner of Revenue and Finance, resigned from office in January 2016 to take a seat on the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders. As the four remaining commission members were unable to come to agreement on a replacement, the seat will remaian vacant until the November 2016 general election.

All five commissioners were elected in November 2014 in a vote that made Santiago the city's first Hispanic mayor, with terms of office that run concurrently until December 31, 2017.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 17,500 registered voters in Millville, of which 4,652 (26.6%) were registered as Democrats, 2,802 (16.0%) were registered as Republicans and 10,033 (57.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 60.6% of the vote (6,653 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 38.1% (4,182 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (146 votes), among the 11,074 ballots cast by the city's 18,821 registered voters (93 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 58.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.6% of the vote (6,523 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 39.8% (4,515 votes), with 11,330 ballots cast among the city's 17,715 registered voters, for a turnout of 64.0%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 50.9% of the vote (5,082 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 46.8% (4,677 votes), with 9,992 ballots cast among the city's 15,685 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 63.7.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 57.4% of the vote (3,794 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 40.0% (2,640 votes), and other candidates with 2.6% (171 votes), among the 6,854 ballots cast by the city's 17,941 registered voters (249 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 48.4% of the vote (3,169 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 40.9% (2,675 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 6.9% (453 votes), with 6,541 ballots cast among the city's 17,167 registered voters, yielding a 38.1% turnout.

Federal, state and county representation

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

New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 1st Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township) and in the General Assembly by Bob Andrzejczak (D, Middle Township) and R. Bruce Land (D, Vineland). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Cumberland County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the freeholders select one member to serve as Freeholder Director and another as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Cumberland County's Freeholders (with committee liaison assignments, political party, residence and term-end dates listed in parentheses) are Freeholder Director Joseph Derella (Administration / Public Safety; D, Millville, term ends December 31, 2015), Freeholder Deputy Director Douglas M. Long (NA; D, Upper Deerfield Township, 2015), Darlene Barber (Education; D, 2016, Upper Deerfield Township), Carol Musso (Community Services; D, Deerfield Township, 2014), James Sauro (Agriculture; R, Vineland, 2014), Thomas Sheppard (Health; R, Lawrence Township, 2016) and Tony Surace (Public Works; D, Millville, 2014). The county's constitutional officers are County Clerk Gloria Noto (Vineland, 2014), Sheriff Robert A. Austino (Vineland, 2014) and Surrogate Douglas M. Rainear (Bridgeton, 2018).

Education

Millville Public Schools serves students in 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 2011-12 school year, the district's 10 schools had an enrollment of 6,023 students and 499.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.07:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Child Family Center (631 students) for preschool, six K-5 elementary schools — Bacon Elementary School (304), Holly Heights Elementary School (502), Mt. Pleasant Elementary School (251), Rieck Avenue Elementary School (455), Silver Run Elementary School (554) and Wood Elementary School (227) — Lakeside Middle School for grades 6-8 (1,131), Memorial High School for grades 9 and half of 10th (739) and Millville Senior High School for grades 11, 12, and the other half of the 10th grade (1,229).

The district has high school sending/receiving relationships with Commercial Township, Lawrence Township and Maurice River Township. Students from Woodbine had attended the district's high school programs until a July 2013 ruling by the New Jersey Department of Transportation under which Woodbine students would start attending Middle Township High School as of September 2014, while Woodbine students who had already started attendance in Millville would be allowed to graduate.

St. Mary Magdalen School is a Catholic school serving children in grades K-8 operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. The school opened in 1882 with an enrollment of 45 students. Former Camden Bishop Joseph Galante announced in January 2012 that the school would close in June due to poor finances resulting from a declining student body.

Transportation

The city had a total of 172.73 miles (277.98 km) of roadways, of which 107.90 miles (173.65 km) were maintained by the municipality, 42.39 miles (68.22 km) by Cumberland County and 22.44 miles (36.11 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 47, Route 49 and Route 55 all pass through the city.

Public transportation

Millville Municipal Airport, operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, serves general aviation.

NJ Transit has several bus routes that service the Millville region. Service includes the 313 route from Cape May to Philadelphia, the 408 route between Milville and Philadelphia and the 553 route from Upper Deerfield Township to Atlantic City.

Attractions

Notable people

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