Vineland is a city and the most populous municipality in Cumberland County, within the U.S. state of New Jersey. Bridgeton and Vineland are the two principal cities of the Vineland-Bridgeton metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses those cities and all of Cumberland County for statistical purposes. The Vineland-Bridgeton metropolitan area and the city of Vineland are also included as part of larger Philadelphia metropolitan area, also known as the Delaware Valley.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022. The MSA had a population of 156,898 as of the 2010 census.DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ Metro Area , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 8, 2012. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 60,780, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 56 (+0.1%) from the 60,724 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,453 (+7.9%) from the 56,271 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 60,491 in 2022, ranking the city the 639th-most-populous in the country.
Vineland was incorporated on July 1, 1952, following the merger of Landis Township and Vineland Borough, which was approved by voters in a referendum held on February 5, 1952.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 120. Accessed May 30, 2024.via Associated Press. "Merger Campaign Arouses Vineland; 'Hole' in Jersey 'Doughnut' Fights for Civic Status in February 5 Referendum Merger Defeated in 1929 Wide Interest Noted", The New York Times, November 25, 1951. p. 58. Accessed June 11, 2024. "It's a good bet that Vineland, a rural borough of 8,000 persons in the middle of south Jersey's boardflat pine woods and farm lands, will become a city of almost 30,000 next Feb. 5."Staff. "New City Set in Jersey; 2 Communities Vote to Merge as Vineland on July 1", The New York Times, February 6, 1952. Accessed February 8, 2012. "Citizens of Landis Township and Vineland Borough voted by a large majority in a special election today to join forces and become one city -- Vineland -- on July 1." Celebrations marking the merger included a parade and speeches by prominent figures, among them U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver.Staff. "Big City Born in Jersey; Vineland Borough and Landis Township Plan Fete Tonight", The New York Times, July 1, 1952. Accessed February 8, 2012. The city’s name reflects the intentions of its founder, who planned to use the land for grape cultivation.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 18, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 311. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed October 18, 2015.
Geographically, Vineland is located in South Jersey. It has large Italian-AmericanBichao, Sergio. "Hey, paisan! The most Italian-American towns in New Jersey Read More: Hey, paisan! The most Italian-American towns in New Jersey", WKXW, October 8, 2017. Accessed January 27, 2023. "The figures are 2015 estimates by the American Community Survey. Greatest total of Italian-Americans... Vineland Population: 60,724 / Italian-Americans: 12,404" and Hispanic-American populations.Procida, Lee. "Vineland's Hispanic growth offers preview of national trend", The Press of Atlantic City, April 16, 2011. Accessed January 27, 2023. "After a decade that saw the number of Hispanics here increase by more than a third, 38 percent of Vineland is now of Hispanic descent, according to the 2010 U.S. Census."
History Charles K. Landis purchased of land in 1861 and an additional in 1874, near Millville, along what would become the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad line, which provided service between Camden and Cape May. He intended to establish an alcohol-free, utopian community based on agriculture and progressive ideals. The first houses were constructed in 1862, and rail service connected the settlement to Philadelphia and New York City. The population reached approximately 5,500 by 1865 and grew to 11,000 by 1875.Our People of the Century: Charles K. Landis - Founder of a City, Creator of a Dream, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed November 2, 2019.The Communistic Societies of the United States, Charles Nordhoff, 1875. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Vineland was an early temperance town in which the sale of alcohol was prohibited. Landis required land purchasers to build a house on their property within one year of acquisition, to clear and cultivate of the often heavily wooded land each year, and to leave adequate space between houses and roads for the planting of flowers and shade trees along the town’s thoroughfares. Landis Avenue was constructed as a wide and approximately long road running east–west through the center of the community, with narrower streets intersecting it at right angles.The Founding of Vineland and Its Growth as an Agricultural Center, West Jersey and South Jersey Heritage. Accessed August 28, 2007.
After determining that the soil in Vineland was well suited for grape cultivation (hence the city’s name), Charles K. Landis began advertising to attract Italian grape growers to the area. He offered land, on the condition that it be cleared and planted with grapevines. Thomas Bramwell Welch, founder of Welch's Grape Juice, purchased locally grown grapes to produce what he described as “unfermented wine,” or grape juice. The area’s sandy soil also supported the glassmaking industry and attracted companies such as Progresso Soup. During the first half of the 20th century, much of the city’s economy was centered on poultry farming, earning Vineland the nickname "The Egg Basket of America."Spahr, Rob. "Vineland celebrates its 150th anniversary with parade, fireworks and cake", The Press of Atlantic City, August 8, 2011. Accessed July 26, 2012. "On Sunday, the city wrapped up a weekend-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of Landis' land acquisition, with carnival rides, a parade, fireworks, commemorative shot glasses, and, of course, birthday cake."
Vineland Poultry Laboratories was founded by Arthur Goldhaft. Goldhaft is credited with helping to popularize the phrase “a chicken in every pot” through his development of a fowl pox vaccine that saved millions of chickens from death. His work at Vineland Poultry Laboratories in Vineland contributed significantly to protecting the global poultry supply from fowlpox. The facility’s operations were closed by Lohmann Animal Health in 2007.Our People of the Century - Arthur Goldhaft: Pioneering Vet Put "a chicken in every pot", Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed November 2, 2019.
Vineland is home to New Jersey’s first school for people with intellectual disabilities, the Vineland Developmental Center, which now operates east and west campuses. The institution housed women with intellectual disabilities in fully staffed cottages. Henry H. Goddard, an American psychologist, coined the term "Moron" while serving as director of the Research Laboratory at the Vineland Training School. The facility was well known enough that a 1955 pamphlet published by the American Prison Association described Vineland as "famous for its contributions to our knowledge of the feebleminded".Jacobs, Frank. "293 - Come Visit New Jersey... You'll Never Leave", Bigthink.com. Accessed June 26, 2017. "Here Vineland – famous for its contributions to our knowledge of the feebleminded. Another arrow elucidates: Here the Vineland Training School and Vineland State School."
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 donated elaborate cakes for the event as well as over 1,000 servings of cake for the celebration.Dineen, Caitlin. "Vineland's bakeries enjoyed participating in 150th birthday celebration following "Cake Boss" controversy", The Press of Atlantic City, August 9, 2011. Accessed July 26, 2012. "Vineland Mayor Robert Romano said when he first called "The Cake Boss" — Buddy Valastro of TLC network fame — to make a cake for Vineland's 150th birthday celebration it was nothing personal against local bakers, it was simply a chance for free publicity."
Since the 1970s, the city has held an annual dandelion festival. Introduced to the area by early Italian immigrants, dandelion greens are cultivated as a crop by farms in and around Vineland.Roncace, Kelly. "Dandelions for dinner? Vineland to host 40th annual event", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 3, 2013, updated March 30, 2019. Accessed February 5, 2020. "For the past 40 years, Vineland has celebrated the dandelion — yes, that little yellow flower most people yank out of the flower bed and toss aside — with a festive dinner party.... 'Vineland is famous for dandelions because it was a huge crop here, planted by Italian immigrants who established homes here,' Hunter said. 'We still have several local farms here who grow dandelions.'"
Barbara Kingsolver's 2018 novel Unsheltered is set in Vineland.Emre, Merve. "Barbara Kingsolver’s Superficial View of the American Family in the Trump Era The first U.S. novel to treat the 2016 election at length aims for timeliness rather than genuine insight into a dramatic political moment.", The Atlantic, November 2018. Accessed November 11, 2020. "The novel, Kingsolver’s eighth, chronicles Willa’s attempt to save her dead aunt’s house, a crumbling Victorian mansion in Vineland, New Jersey. An (actual) old Temperance town whose soil once made it attractive to glassmakers and chicken farmers and the founders of Welch’s Grape Juice, Vineland lost its raison d’être after a line of pesticide manufacturers poisoned the land and fled, along with many of the town’s jobs and a noticeable portion of its white people."
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 68.99 square miles (178.68 km2), including 68.39 square miles (177.14 km2) of land and 0.60 square miles (1.54 km2) of water (0.86%). Of all the municipalities in New Jersey to hold the type of City, Vineland is the largest in total area. (Hamilton Township in Atlantic County is the largest municipality in New Jersey in terms of land area. Galloway Township, also in Atlantic County, is the largest municipality in total area, including open water within its borders.)Vineland , Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed November 2, 2019. "Vineland is New Jersey's largest city in 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.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 8, 2015. That last community (adjacent to Newfield Boro) is not to be confused with the City of Pleasantville in Atlantic County.