Manor Township municipal offices are located at 950 West Fairway Drive, Lancaster PA 17603.
Phone: 717‑397‑4769.
950 West Fairway Drive
Lancaster, PA 17603
Neighborhoods
Early Settlement and Origins [1]
Manor Township derives its name from Manatawny Manor, a large land grant of approximately 7,000 acres that was awarded to Ann Parsons (widow of William Parsons) and her children in 1752. William Parsons had served as Surveyor General of Pennsylvania. The township was officially formed from portions of Amity Township in 1860.
Geographic and Agricultural Development
The township is located in the northeastern section of Berks County and is characterized by rolling farmland and wooded areas. Throughout its history, Manor Township has maintained a predominantly rural and agricultural character. The fertile soil and favorable climate made it well-suited for farming, which became the primary economic activity for generations of residents.
Community Growth
The township developed as a collection of small communities and family farms rather than as a centralized urban area. Local churches, schools, and community organizations played vital roles in bringing residents together and establishing the social fabric of the township. These institutions served as focal points for community life and helped maintain the township's cohesive character over time.
Transportation and Infrastructure
The development of roads and transportation routes through Manor Township facilitated commerce and connected residents to neighboring communities and larger markets. As the region grew, improvements in infrastructure supported both agricultural operations and the gradual residential development that would come in later years.
Modern Era
While Manor Township has experienced some residential growth and development in recent decades, it has largely preserved its rural character and agricultural heritage. The township continues to balance preservation of its historical identity with the needs of a growing population, maintaining its connection to the past while adapting to contemporary requirements.
Historical Significance
Manor Township represents an important example of Pennsylvania's rural township development and the enduring legacy of colonial land grants. The connection to the Parsons family and Manatawny Manor links the township to the broader history of Pennsylvania's settlement and development during the colonial period.
Beginnings[1]
Manor is an original township, and it contained the entire area of Conestoga Manor, for which it is named. It enjoyed the enviable reputation of being the wealthiest and most populous township in the county, but this honor has now passed to Manheim. Conestoga Manor was surveyed and laid out in 1717-18, together with tracts owned by Provincial Secretary James Logan, and John Cartlidge, an Indian trader of that region. A native boulder of picturesque chloritic rock, to which is attached an inscribed bronze tablet, was erected by the Lancaster County Historical Society and the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, September 12, 1924. On this occasion the ceremony was in charge of Hon. Henry W. Shoemaker and Dr. Herbert H. Beck, and the historical addresses were delivered by David H. Landis, Daniel F. Magee and Albert Cooke Myers. The occasion was attended by Hon. William C. Sproul, Governor of the Commonwealth. Historic Turkey Hill extends along the Susquehanna River nearly five miles, and forms the southwestern corner of the township. Conestoga Creek is the chief stream, with its affluents Little Conestoga and Indian Town Run. Few, if any, sections of Pennsylvania, or of the Atlantic States, are richer in Indian history; it was the theatre of the most important occurrence in aboriginal history. The Susquehanna Indian fort, between Turkey Hill and Blue Rock, and the several Indian villages were the scenes of strife and treaties, detailed accounts of which are told elsewhere. German Mennonites and Swiss emigrants were early settlers. The infamous Dr. John Connolly, who occupied such a conspicuous hut unenviable position during the struggle for American independence, was born in Manor Township, in 1744, upon the farm owned by James Patterson, the celebrated Indian trader. Tobacco and other agricultural products are the chief industries. Population in 1940 was 3,940.
Nearby Towns: Chanceford Twp • Columbia Boro • Conestoga Twp • Lancaster Twp • Lower Windsor Twp • Martic Twp • Millersville Boro • Mountville Boro •