Manchester Township is a township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is noted for containing the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, the site of the infamous Hindenburg disaster of May 6, 1937. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 45,115, the highest recorded in any decennial count and an increase of 2,045 (+4.7%) from the 2010 census count of 43,070, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,142 (+10.6%) from the 38,928 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.
History Manchester Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1865, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township). The township was named by William Torrey for Manchester, England.Manchester Township History, Manchester Township. Accessed September 4, 2015. "Founded by William Torrey for its namesake, a British manufacturing city, Manchester Township was formed through an Act of Congress on April 5, 1865."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 4, 2015. Portions of the township were taken to form Lakehurst on April 7, 1921.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 204. Accessed May 29, 2024.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 82.51 square miles (213.70 km2), including 81.42 square miles (210.87 km2) of land and 1.09 square miles (2.83 km2) of water (1.32%).
Cedar Glen Lakes (with a 2020 Census population of 1,517), Cedar Glen West (1,379), Crestwood Village (8,426), Leisure Knoll (2,562), Leisure Village West (3,692), Pine Lake Park (8,913) and Pine Ridge at Crestwood (2,537) are all unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Manchester Township.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 30, 2012.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 30, 2012.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), p. III-4. United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 30, 2012. "New CDPs: Leisure Village West (formed from part of deleted Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park CDP); Pine Lake Park (formed from part of deleted Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park CDP and additional area); Deleted CDPs: Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park (split to form Leisure Village West CDP and part of Pine Lake Park CDP)" Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park had been a combined CDP through the 2000 United States census and was split as of the 2010 enumeration.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Beckerville, Boyds Hotel, Brainards, Brick Yards, Buckingham, Giberson, Goose Pond, Horican, Keswick Grove, Old Halfway, Pasadena, Pine Lake Park Estates, Ridgeway, Roosevelt City and Whiting.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015. Cedar Glen Lakes, Cedar Glen West, Crestwood Village, Pine Ridge, Fox Hollow, Lakewood Heights, Keswick Grove, Winwood, Timbergreen, and Roosevelt City are all within Whiting which makes up the largest territory in Manchester in geography and demographics with 33,180 out of 45,115 people.
The township borders Berkeley Township, Jackson Township, Lacey Township, Plumsted Township and Toms River Township in Ocean County; and both Pemberton Township and Woodland Township in Burlington County.Areas touching Manchester Township, MapIt. Accessed February 26, 2020.Ocean County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed February 26, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. The township completely surrounds the independent borough of Lakehurst, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.
Manchester's largest development, Pine Lake Park, is known for its man-made lake, Pine Lake, built in the 1970s."Big town or small borough: Both offer lots of living", Asbury Park Press, November 10, 2005. Accessed May 12, 2007.
The township is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.Toms River Watershed , Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 3, 2022.
Demographics
2020 census The 2020 United States census counted 45,115 people in the township.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 43,070 people, 22,840 households, and 11,694 families in the township. The population density was . There were 25,886 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 92.00% (39,623) White, 3.84% (1,654) Black or African American, 0.09% (38) Native American, 1.78% (768) Asian, 0.02% (10) Pacific Islander, 1.11% (479) from other races, and 1.16% (498) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.79% (2,062) of the population.
Of the 22,840 households, 9.7% had children under the age of 18; 42.5% were married couples living together; 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 48.8% were non-families. Of all households, 45.4% were made up of individuals and 36.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.85 and the average family size was 2.55.
10.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 12.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 50.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 65.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 74.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 71.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $37,942 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,492) and the median family income was $54,114 (+/− $1,831). Males had a median income of $51,366 (+/− $2,772) versus $39,427 (+/− $3,352) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,264 (+/− $754). About 4.2% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Manchester township, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 30, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 38,928 people, 20,688 households, and 10,819 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 22,681 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 94.34% White, 3.06% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Manchester township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 30, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Manchester township, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 30, 2012.
There were 20,688 households, out of which 9.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.7% were non-families. 45.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 39.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.85 and the average family size was 2.53.
In the township the population was spread out, with 10.7% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 13.4% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 54.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 68 years. For every 100 females, there were 73.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $29,525, and the median income for a family was $43,363. Males had a median income of $41,181 versus $30,523 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,409. About 3.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government