Manchester Township is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. 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 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 43,070, reflecting an increase of 4,142 from the 38,928 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,952 from the 35,976 counted in the 1990 Census. The 2010 population was the highest recorded in any decennial census.Manchester Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1865, from portions of Dover Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Lakehurst on April 7, 1921. The township was named by William Torrey for Manchester, England.