Vineland's History

The latest census shows the population of Vineland at more than 58,000 residents, a far cry from the city’s beginnings in the Civil War year of 1861, when developer Charles K. Landis drove a stake into the ground marking the central point for his new settlement. By 1865, about 5,500 had settled in the 20,000 acres that Landis called Vineland. First-time visitors to the city are impressed by its wide streets, part of Landis’s vision. He paid workers $1 a day to cut an avenue - to be named Landis Avenue -100 feet wide and one mile long. The new town was close to a railroad, affording easy access to the marketplace of Philadelphia. When Landis died in 1900, his vision for Vineland as a well-planned town surrounded by fertile farmland had become a reality.

Vineland continued to grow, attracting various industries such as glass manufacturers, food processors and clothing companies in addition to farming. Retail stores abounded in a thriving downtown section, reaching its peak in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.

Another milestone in Vineland’s history occurred on July 1, 1952, when two subsections of the town, Landis Township and the Borough of Vineland, were consolidated to become one city. Paul Brundage, then president of the Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce, began the movement. As provided in the consolidation plan, a mayor (John Gittone) and five councilmen were installed.

Today, Vineland continues to grow and thrive. An Industrial Park attracts new industries, and the growing Cumberland Mall is the focal point for shoppers throughout the region with new national retailers moving in every day. In the midst of growth and change, however, that small-town atmosphere which makes for a relaxed, uncomplicated lifestyle has remained intact.