The township is located within the Raritan Valley region and is a part of the New York Metropolitan Area, bordering both Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, in adjacent Middlesex County, New Jersey, as well as Staten Island in New York City.

[20] Aberdeen Township was part of the Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan, an effort by nine municipalities in northern Monmouth County to reinvigorate the area's economy by emphasizing the traditional downtowns, residential neighborhoods, maritime history, and natural environment of the Raritan Bay coastline.

[21] Aberdeen has worked with neighboring Matawan to build transit-oriented development around the Aberdeen-Matawan train station.

Although the Lenape presently live in Ontario and Oklahoma, their legacy survives in such names as Mohingson, Luppatatong and Matawan Creeks and Raritan Bay.

The earliest known attempt at European settlement was in 1650 when the south side of Raritan Bay was purchased from the Lenni Lenape by the New Netherland Colony.

New Aberdeen included the Northern portions of Monmouth County in the 1680s settled by Quakers and Presbyterians who fled Scotland to avoid religious persecution.

[22] Owing to Rudyard's high office, this was quite controversial, and in 1685, the Board of Proprietors issued an order regarding the laying out of land.

Section 7 addressed questionable activity such as Rudyard's, and he sold his land to his son-in-law, Samuel Winder.

A portion of the township that extended as far northwest as Cheesequake Creek, was ceded to Middlesex County in 1710.

[26] Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Beers passed the State General Assembly and Senate, was signed by Governor of New Jersey William A. Newell, and on February 23, 1857, Matavan Township was incorporated from portions of what was then Raritan Township.

[29][30] In 1885, the Cliffwood post office was established and the name of the old Matavan settlement passed into obsolescence.

Cliffwood Beach, formed in the 1920s, was originally a resort community until after World War II when year-round homes were the norm.

Strathmore was built starting in the early 1960s by Levitt & Sons, marketed as a higher-end version of the Levittown communities that the firm was known for.

[36] Officials believed the new name would draw attention to the Township, as it is listed first alphabetically among New Jersey's municipalities.

[37] Today, Aberdeen is a suburban township of 5.4 square miles (14 km2) containing a mix of residential, light industry and shopping centers.

Two volunteer First Aid Squads response to the community's emergency medical needs; the Aberdeen Township First Aid and Rescue Squad, organized in 1954, and the South Aberdeen Emergency Medical Service, organized in 1970.

[43][44] Other unincorporated communities within Aberdeen Township include Cliffwood and Henningers Mills.

[46][47][48] The 2010 United States census counted 18,210 people, 6,876 households, and 4,923 families in the township.

[57] As of the 2000 United States census[14] there were 17,454 people, 6,421 households, and 4,770 families residing in the township.

The Manager, appointed by and reporting to the council, is the chief executive and oversees the day-to-day operation of the borough.

[6][61][62] As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Aberdeen Township is Democrat Fred Tagliarini, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025.

[63] Members of the Aberdeen Township Council are Deputy Mayor Margaret Montone (D, 2025), Greg J. Cannon (D, 2027), Arthur S. Hirsch (D, 2027), Concetta B. Kelley (D, 2027), Joseph J. Martucci Sr. (D, 2025) and Robert L. Swindle (D, 2027).

[68][69][70] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch).

[73] For the 2024-2025 session, the 13th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Declan O'Scanlon (R, Little Silver) and in the General Assembly by Vicky Flynn (R, Holmdel Township) and Gerard Scharfenberger (R, Middletown Township).

This was the first time a Republican candidate had won Aberdeen Township and achieved over 50% of votes cast since at least 1992.

Republican United States Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw simultaneously won the township with 49.4% of the vote (5, 124).

[102] Aberdeen Township is part of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, together with the neighboring community of Matawan.

Seats on the district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with six assigned to Aberdeen Township.

[120] The Garden State Parkway is the largest highway in Aberdeen, with exit 118 in the township.