Shrewsbury Township is a township situated in the Jersey Shore region, within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,076, a decrease of 65 (−5.7%) from the 2010 census count of 1,141, which in turn reflected an increase of 43 (+3.9%) from the 1,098 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.

Covering nearly when it was first formed in 1693, the originally large Shrewsbury Township steadily diminished in size as 74 new municipalities were created from its former boundaries, leaving the township as it currently exists, covering , ranked as New Jersey's smallest municipality by area.Astudillo, Carla. "The 10 tiniest towns in New Jersey (they're really small)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 1, 2016, updated May 16, 2019. Accessed March 5, 2020. "We used square mile data from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to rank the ten municipalities with the smallest area size.... 1. Shrewsbury Township - Coming in at a miniature 0.097 square miles, Shrewsbury Township is New Jersey's tiniest municipality.... Nicknamed 'the Incredible Shrinking Township,' Shrewsbury township used to be much, much bigger. In 1693, the township spanned almost 1,000 square miles and included all of present-day Ocean County. The town was officially incorporated in 1798, making it also the oldest town on our list. Over its 300-year history, 74 other municipalities separated themselves from Shrewsbury." The combined population of the municipalities that were previously part of old Shrewsbury Township was 935,232 in 2020, which would have made it the 13th largest city in the country, slightly more than that of Fort Worth, Texas.

History

Shrewsbury was part of the Navesink Patent or Monmouth Tract granted soon after the creation of East Jersey in 1665.Middletown and Shrewsbury - Using the Records of East and West Jersey Proprietors, State of New Jersey. Accessed June 25, 2017. "Middletown & Shrewsbury, 1665 (a.k.a. Navesink or Monmouth Patent) – In April 1665, twelve men, principally from Long Island, obtained a triangular tract from Governor Nicolls extending from Sandy Hook to the mouth of the Raritan River, up the river approximately twenty-five miles, then southwest to Barnegat Bay. The area was first known as Navesink, then Middletown and Shrewsbury County, and finally in 1683 as Monmouth County. Founders were mostly Baptists and Quakers. Purchasers at Middletown and Shrewsbury subscribed £3 or £4, which entitled them to 120 acres with additional increments for wives and children, and 60 acres for each servant. As many as eighty families arrived from Long Island, Rhode Island and Massachusetts during the first years. Quaker meetings were established by 1670. Settlers understood their patent to have endowed them with a right of government."

When it was formed in 1693, Shrewsbury Township covered an area of almost , extending to the north to the Navesink River, south to include all of present-day Ocean County, east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the present-day border of Monmouth County. It retained its size and scope until 1750, when Stafford Township was formed, taking away most of present-day Ocean County.Karcher, Alan J. "New Jersey's Multiple Municipal Madness", via Google Books, p. 34 ff. Rutgers University Press, 1998. . Accessed November 16, 2008. The Parker Homestead, one of the oldest buildings in state, was built by early settlers to the region.

What is now Shrewsbury Township was originally formed on October 31, 1693, and was created as a township by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798.

Creation of new municipalities Over the centuries, portions of the township have been taken to form Stafford Township (March 3, 1750), Dover Township (March 1, 1768, now Toms River Township), Howell Township (February 23, 1801), Ocean Township (February 24, 1849), Atlantic Township (February 18, 1847, now Colts Neck), Red Bank (March 17, 1870), Eatontown (April 4, 1873), Rumson (May 15, 1907),Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 257. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 3, 2015. Fair Haven (March 28, 1912), Little Silver (March 19, 1923), Shrewsbury borough (March 22, 1926) and New Shrewsbury (April 15, 1950, now Tinton Falls). The township was named for Shrewsbury, England.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 3, 2015.

The remaining land was formerly owned by the Government and called Camp Vail, a complex of 265 homes constructed for families of Fort Monmouth employees.Township at a Glance, Township of Shrewsbury. Accessed February 5, 2025. "After several municipalities seceded from the Township to create their own municipality (e.g. Red Bank, Eatontown, and Shrewsbury Borough), the U.S. Army, in cooperation with the Federal Public Housing Authority, bought the remaining land in Shrewsbury Township and constructed 265 homes during World War II (accommodating the influx of personnel assigned to Fort Monmouth)." After World War II the government planned to close the site but the established families, with nowhere else to go, purchased the land from the Army with the help of Ann Switek who arranged to maintain the Original Township Charter which had been abandoned. Ann Switek was then elected Town Clerk of Shrewsbury Township and maintained that post for close to 50 years. Camp Vail became Alfred Vail Mutual Association, one of New Jersey's first cooperative housing entities. Following the end of federal subsidies to Shrewsbury Township schools and services residents of the community outside the Vail Homes felt that the residents in the homes received undue benefits. They attempted to force the Vail Homes out of Shrewsbury Township but were unable to. They instead seceded from Shrewsbury to form New Shrewsbury which was later renamed Tinton Falls.Karcher, Alan J. New Jersey's Multiple Municipal Madness. Press, 1998.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 185. Accessed May 30, 2024.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), all of which was land.

Covering about when it was established in 1693, a total of 74 municipalities have been established from its original territory, leaving Shrewsbury Township as the state's smallest municipality.Astudillo, Carla. "The 10 tiniest towns in New Jersey (they're really small)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 1, 2016, updated May 16, 2019. Accessed March 5, 2020. "Coming in at a miniature 0.097 square miles, Shrewsbury Township is New Jersey's tiniest municipality.... Nicknamed "the Incredible Shrinking Township," Shrewsbury township used to be much, much bigger. In 1693, the township spanned almost 1,000 square miles and included all of present-day Ocean County. The town was officially incorporated in 1798, making it also the oldest town on our list. Over its 300-year history, 74 other municipalities separated themselves from Shrewsbury."

The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls.Areas touching Shrewsbury Township, MapIt. Accessed March 5, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 5, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 1,141 people, 583 households, and 266 families in the township. The population density was 10,877.7 per square mile (4,199.9/km2). There were 648 housing units at an average density of 6,177.7 per square mile (2,385.2/km2). The racial makeup was 72.13% (823) White, 14.29% (163) Black or African American, 0.09% (1) Native American, 6.57% (75) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 2.98% (34) from other races, and 3.94% (45) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.11% (161) of the population.

Of the 583 households, 22.1% had children under the age of 18; 25.4% were married couples living together; 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 54.4% were non-families. Of all households, 47.5% were made up of individuals and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.79.

18.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 82.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 76.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $51,548 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,211) and the median family income was $55,625 (+/− $11,553). Males had a median income of $44,844 (+/− $7,203) versus $36,136 (+/− $6,032) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,891 (+/− $3,658). About 3.1% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Shrewsbury township, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 1, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,098 people, 521 households, and 254 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 546 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 66.76% White, 16.67% African American, 10.02% Asian, 2.82% from other races, and 3.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.65% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Shrewsbury township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 1, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Shrewsbury township, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 1, 2012.

There were 521 households, out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.6% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.1% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the township the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 37.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $36,875, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $32,813 versus $30,598 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,574. About 6.9% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government