Cumberland County, NJ 1876

In 1748, Cumberland County was formed from the west side of Salem County. It was named in honor of the Duke of Cumberland. Six townships were also recognized: Greenwich, Cohansey, Hopewell, Stow Creek, Maurice River, and Deerfield.

Fast-forward 100 years, Charles K. Landis, the 28-year-old Philadelphia attorney purchased about 20,000 acres of land at the heart of Cumberland County to build utopian community in 1861. Landis carved broad streets through a dense wilderness, creating what would later become “Vineland.”

Landis heavily promoted his new town in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States. Before long, Vineland was known as a mecca for both intellectual and industrial growth. He built and offered farms for sale: in 1869, he promoted a 20 x 24-foot house with five finished rooms on two lots planted with apple, pear and cherry trees for $1,900.