[18] Covering nearly 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2) 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 0.097 square miles (0.25 km2), ranked as New Jersey's smallest municipality by area.

[19] The combined population of the municipalities that been part of 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.

[citation needed] Shrewsbury was part of the Navesink Patent or Monmouth Tract granted soon after the creation of East Jersey in 1665.

[20] When it was formed in 1693, Shrewsbury Township covered an area of almost 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2), 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.

[21] The Parker Homestead, one of the oldest buildings in state, was built by early settlers to the region.

[23] 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.

[24] 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.

[25][26] 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.

[5][45] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

[3][46][47][48][49] With Maryellen McNama-Bailly taking office in January 2015, control of the council shifted to the Republican Party.

With Lester J. Jennings defeating incumbent Republican Maryellen McNama-Bailly in the 2017 General Election, Democrats had full control of the council.

[54] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[57] For the 2024-2025 session, the 11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vin Gopal (D, Long Branch) and in the General Assembly by Margie Donlon (D, Ocean Township) and Luanne Peterpaul (D, Long Branch).

The school also serves students from Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Naval Weapons Station Earle.

[96] As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 1.49 miles (2.40 km) of roadways all of which were maintained by the municipality.

[97] No Interstate, U.S., state or county highways serve Shrewsbury Township directly.