The Township of Manchester, deriving its lineage from the Duke of Manchester, England was laid out in 1742 by Thomas Cookson. Mr. Cookson was a representative of the Lancaster County Courts, because at that time York County was a part of Lancaster County. The township extended from the Susquehanna River on the east, to the Bermudian Creek on the west; and from the Conewago Creek on the north to Springetts Manor on the South. The length was fifteen (15) miles and approximately four and one half (4 ½) miles in width. In the entire township there were 300 inhabitants. The first settlers were English Quakers. Later the German immigrants settled in the township and established it as an important agricultural community.