MILLVILLE, NJ

Millville is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 28,400, reflecting an increase of 1,553 (+5.8%) from the 26,847 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 855 (+3.3%) from the 25,992 counted in the 1990 Census. Millville, Bridgeton and Vineland are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses those cities and all of Cumberland County for statistical purposes.

Millville was originally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 24, 1801, from portions of Fairfield Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Landis Township on March 7, 1864. Millville was reincorporated as a city on March 1, 1866, based on the results of a referendum passed that same day. The city derives its name from a proposal to create a mill town in the area.

History

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

In 1790, Joseph Smith and Henry Drinker purchased 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 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 government's 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, as illustrated by 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, and 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. Opened in 1908 and closed in 1974 with declining numbers of customers, the Levoy Theatre re-opened in September 2012.

One of Millville's claims to fame is an original paperweight making technique which originated there. Fine paperweights from the classic period (1845-1870) were made with one of three techniques: millefiori, lampwork or cameo incrustations (sulphides). In the first decade of the twentieth century, crimp flowers, mostly roses, originated in Millville, with several glassworkers making them in their off duty time. These paperweights are commonly called "Millville roses," even when sometimes made elsewhere.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 44.50 square miles (115.25 km²), including 42.00 square miles (108.78 km²) of land and 2.50 square miles (6.47 km²) of water (5.62%).

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 the Cumberland County municipalities of Commercial Township, Deerfield Township, Downe Township, Fairfield Township, Lawrence 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.

Climate

The city has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and the hardiness zone is 7a bordering 6b.

Demographics

Census 2010

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 the city are part of a joint Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) with Vineland, 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 (half of the % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants. Established in October 1988, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.

Government

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. The city is one of 30 municipalities (of the 565) statewide that use the commission form of government. Under this form of government as used in Millville, the governing body is comprised of five commissioners who are elected to four-year concurrent terms of office at-large on a non-partisan basis as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held after each election, each commissioner is assigned a department to oversee and one commissioner is selected from among its members to serve as the mayor and another as vice mayor.

, the Millville City Commission is composed of

Mayor Michael Santiago Commissioner of Public Works),

Bruce Cooper (Commissioner of Parks and Public Property),

W. James Parent (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance),

Joseph Pepitone (Commissioner of Public Safety) and

Asheligh Udalovas (Commissioner of Public Affairs), all serving concurrent terms of office that end December 31, 2021.

Vice Mayor James F. Quinn, who was 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 remained vacant until the November 2016 general election.

In November 2014, Michael Santiago, the city's first Hispanic councilmember, became Millville's first Hispanic mayor.

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.

Education

Primary and secondary

Millville Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. Burke 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 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of nine schools, had an enrollment of 5,540 students and 420.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.2:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are

Child Family Center with 614 students in PreK,

R. M. Bacon Elementary School with 296 students in grades K-5,

Holly Heights Elementary School with 500 students in grades K-5,

Mt. Pleasant Elementary School with 242 students in grades K-5,

Rieck Avenue Elementary School with 470 students in grades K-5,

Silver Run Elementary School with 518 students in grades K-5,

Lakeside Middle School with 1,074 students in grades 6-8,

Memorial High School with 807 students in grades 9-10 and

Millville Senior High School with 887 students in grades 11-12;

Thunderbolt Academy is a partnership between Millville Public Schools and Camelot Education. Camelot offers an alternative setting for students facing behavioral, emotional or academic challenges.

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.

As part of a project $137 million project begun in 2019 and funded by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, Millville Senior High School has undergone a project that will add of space, which will allow all high school students to attend high school in a single building; when complete, the phased high school expansion project will add of new space at the high school, as well as extensive renovations to existing facilities in the building. Starting in the 1960s, grades 9-10 have been served in Memorial High School and grades 9-12 at Millville Senior High School.

Facing a deficit of $3 million for the 2017–18 school year, the district closed R.D. Wood Elementary School in order to generate $1.8 million in savings.

Students are also eligible to attend Cumberland County Technology Education Center in Millville, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.

St. Mary Magdalen School was 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. Bishop Schad School in Vineland and St. Mary Regional School in East Vineland are nearby. Additionally Bishop McHugh Regional School in Dennis Township in Cape May County takes students from Millville.

Sacred Heart High School was in nearby Vineland until its 2013 closure. St. Joseph High School in Hammonton was the closest Catholic high school. However that school closed in 2020.

College

Rowan College of South Jersey Cumberland Campus (former Cumberland County College) is partially in the Millville city limits with the other portion in Vineland.

Library

Millville Public Library is the city's public library.

Transportation

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.

Major roads that pass through the city include Route 47, Route 49 and Route 55.

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

Parks and recreation

The Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA is in nearby Vineland. The corporate name was changed from Vineland YMCA as the board of directors decided to expand the organization's service area to Atlantic County and Cape May County.

There was a previous YMCA campus in Millville that in August 1990 stopped operations. In late 1997 Millville Housing Authority purchased the campus. An apartment complex was installed in the former administration building and gymnasium, while a new building was constructed on the site of the former racquetball courts. Millville Housing Authority occupied the second floor with the first floor for a new exercise center. The first floor of the new building and a pre-existing basement became used by the Holly City Development Corp. Family Center (HCDC), which leases from the housing authority and opened its facilities on January 2, 2001.

Notable people

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