In 2024, more Millville City owners sold their homes with Keller Williams Real Estate than any other real estate broker.
Neighborhoods
The City of Millville [†] is located in central Cumberland County about 10.7 miles east of Bridgeton, the county seat. The county is located in southern New Jersey. Regionally, Millville is 40 miles from Philadelphia, 36 miles from Wilmington and 111 miles from New York City. The City is surrounded by the municipalities of Vineland to the north, Maurice River to the east, Commercial, Downe and Lawrence to the south, and Fairfeld and Deerfield to the west. The City comprises 44.3 square miles of which 41.81 square miles is land and 2.19 square miles is water. Though many traditional cities have lost population, Millville's population has continued to grow. The city includes a total of approximately 10,000 households.
The earliest recorded settlement in what is now known as Millville occurred with the construction of the first bridge across the Maurice River in 1754. When the Union Company purchased some 14,563 acres in 1790, established mills along the river, and constructed a dam to create Union Lake, the City's industrial foundation was initiated. In 1795, Colonel Joseph Buck purchased the Union Company Mill and much of the land within the City's boundaries. Colonel Buck designed the first plan for the City, but did not live to see its fruition.
Millville's chief industries have traditionally been the manufacture of glassware and textile goods. The City's first manufacturing facility was a glass factory built in 1806 by James Lee. The Millville Manufacturing Company purchased the Union Company Mill in 1822 and constructed a cotton mill in 1854. As industry developed and prospered, the City's population expanded from 150 in 1822 to 7,200 by 1880. Millville was incorporated in 1866.
In 1888, Dr. Theodore Wheaton, an established physician, purchased and established a glass factory out of an interest in scientific glassware. Wheaton Industries grew to become the largest family-owned glass container manufacturing company in the United States and Millville's economy has remained inextricably linked to the glass industry.
Millville's location along the Maurice River has also influenced the early development of the City. Water transportation was the exclusive method of shipping wood and timber from Millville to other markets along the east coast. The extensive amount of wood and timber shipped from the City led to the establishment of shipyards.
Transportation along the river was greatly augmented by the railroad system. The City's first railroad was built in 1859 and extended 22 miles to Glassboro. A rail connection with Cape May was established in 1863. In 1879, several lines were merged into the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad Company, which was later joined with the Atlantic City Railroad Corporation to form the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines. Passenger, mail, and freight service was provided to residents and industries.
† Master Plan, Millville, New Jersey, 2005, millvillenj.gov, accessed January, 2025.
Nearby Towns: Vineland City •