Old mill town with a long history of art and glass production
In 1720, Millville was founded in Southern New Jersey near Union Lake, and the city was incorporated into Cumberland County in 1866. The town was named after its many mills, the most popular being Wheaton Industries. Most of the mills have since closed, and Millville pivoted to an arts-centered economy that honors its glass manufacturing roots. “Millville was mainly a glass town, and Wheaton employed thousands of people,” says Bill Horin, a longtime resident and active community member. “When they went out of business, the city started looking for other ways to upgrade the economy, and the arts was one of the things they hit on. Around 2000, they started the arts district.”
Today, Millville is known for its surrounding nature, arts scene, museums and access to larger cities. Mike Trout, nicknamed The Millville Meteor, found his footing as a dominating baseball player here and later became an award-winning athlete for the Los Angeles Angels. "Millville has a staunch community that has been here for a long time,” Horin says. “The people who were born and raised here are very loyal. I was born and raised here, and I moved back three years ago for a couple of reasons. My main business is in the arts, and there’s a lot of art going on in Millville.”
Millville has a long history of glass making.
Carlisle School of Glass Art in Millville teaches classes and makes their own tools.
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Working in glass manufacturing or health care
Over 26,000 people call Millville home, and many residents work in glass manufacturing, health care or retail. Inspira Medical Center Vineland has over 2,700 employees, while ARC International North America, LLC has over 4,000. “The city is very active in attracting new businesses,” Horin says. “They just brought in a meat processing plant, which is a huge deal.”
There was a 37% increase in reported crimes from 2021 to 2022, according to Uniform Crime Reports from the New Jersey State Police. FBI data shows reported crime rates from the Millville Police Department exceeded state and national averages in 2023.
Inspira Medical Center is the largest hospital near Stow Creek Township.
Carlisle manufacturing makes many of the tools required for glass making in Millville.
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No HOAs, plentiful ranch-style homes and bungalows
There are no neighborhoods in Millville with homeowner associations. Ranch-style homes and bungalows are most common and range from $245,000 to $400,000. Cape Cods with wrap-around porches and Craftsmans can sell for $400,000 or more. Homes for $145,000 or less often require renovations.
Millville’s median price is $247,000, far below the $418,700 national median reported by the National Association of Realtors. The Holly City Development Corporation aims to improve housing codes, affordable housing and rehabilitation grants to draw more attention to Millville’s housing market. Spring in Millville often comes with rain and wind, and there’s some snow in the winter.
Millville has some of the most unique and colorful homes in the area.
Most of the homes in Millville are single family residents.
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Downtown art scene with glass mill roots
Millville’s Glasstown Arts District holds some of the town’s most popular restaurants, like Jim’s Lunch and Old Oar House Irish Pub. North High Street is lined with more locally owned restaurants and leads north to the Cumberland Mall and big box stores.
The Levoy Theatre has been standing for over a century and hosts movies, concerts and Broadway shows. The Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center runs the Museum of American Glass, which holds the world's largest hand-blown glass bottle — standing over 7 feet tall — and original pieces made by Wheaton Industries. Visitors can watch artists at work, either creating pottery or blowing glass.
In 1941, the Millville Executive Airport was designated as America’s first defense airport, and fighter pilots trained here until the training center closed four years later. The airport now serves private flights, but visitors can explore the Millville Army Air Field Museum or dine at Glasstown Brewing Company. Just south of the airport, the New Jersey Motorsports Park’s main course is named “Thunderbolt Raceway” after the Thunderbolt P-47 planes pilots flew during training at the airfield.
Downe Township residents can find all of the amenities they need in nearby Millville.
Millville artists can contribute to the local murals along the Maurice River.
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Fishing, biking, hiking and birding along Maurice River
Maurice River cuts through the city up to Union Lake, with nature preserves and parks lining the waterway. “Millville has a lot of things people don’t know about, like nature and recreation,” Horin says. “There are beautiful parks along the Maurice River. The city does a great job of maintaining the parks. You’ve got the dam, where people go to photograph and spot eagles and other wildlife. So, it’s a very eclectic community that doesn’t get a lot of credit it deserves.”
Maurice River Bluffs Preserve has five walking trails for birders looking to spot a bald eagle or osprey and 6 miles of biking trails. Captain Joseph Buck Park’s boardwalk runs along the Maurice River, giving fishing enthusiasts access to the water and walkers a clear view of the river. Union Lake Park blends water and land recreation with a dog park, baseball field and beach.
You can take a hike at the Maurice bluffs in the snow covered winter months.
You can cast a line for stripped bass at one of Stow Creek's many waterways.
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Enjoying short films and county fair events
Horin co-founded the CUT International Short Film Festival, which is held every September with screenings at the Levoy Theatre and an awards show. The Cumberland County Fair has been a tradition since the late 1600s, making it the oldest event in the state. Every July, the fair includes demolition derbies, pageants and 4H shows.
Millville locals can take in the local art at Wheaton Arts.
The Levoy theater has been in Millville for over a hundred years.
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Driving to Philly or hopping a bus to Atlantic City
When it comes to getting around town, Millville offers a few options. NJ Transit buses run throughout the city and connect commuters to nearby Bridgeton, Vineland and Atlantic City. The Millville Medical Center offers routine medical services, and the Inspira Medical Center hospital is about 7 miles north, next door to the Rowan College of South Jersey campus.
Philadelphia and the Philadelphia International Airport are 45 miles north along U.S. Route 55, about an hour by car. Residential streets in the north part of town feature paved sidewalks that run in front of homes and create a direct walking path to the arts district. Most places of worship here are churches that mainly line state Route 47. The First United Methodist Church was founded in 1809, and the congregation meets for services in the 1845 building, recognized by its tall brick watch tower and stained glass windows.
Pursuing future careers at Millville High School
Millville Public Schools has eight schools and earns a C-plus from Niche. Millville High also gets a C-plus and offers career and technical education elective courses focusing on areas like automotive technology and financial literacy. Students can choose a career Interest pathway to focus their studies on their future careers, including Human Services and Health Services.
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