See Lehigh Valley Railroad for more information. Manchester was an important division point and car classification yard for the Lehigh Valley Railroad and was, at one time, the largest such facility in the world. As a division point, crews and locomotives were exchanged. Freight cars were switched from track to track, organizing them for delivery to their destinations. Support services included the 30-stall roundhouse, the coaling tower, facilities for ash removal, track maintenance, car repair, a control tower, the yard office, an ice house, and the bunkhouse-restaurant. With the failure of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the mid-60s, the division yard's purpose was largely unneeded. By the next decade, all that remained in use at the yard was the mainline travelling through the town. Today only a few crumbling structures, some old track, and a couple of rusted boxcars remain.
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,258 people, 3,589 households, and 2,447 families residing in the town. The population density was 245.0 people per square mile. There were 3,815 housing units at an average density of 39.0 persons/km². The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White, 0.53% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 3,589 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01. In the town, the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $39,154, and the median income for a family was $47,117. Males had a median income of $32,444 versus $25,041 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,285. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% under the age of 18 and 3.5% age 65 or older.
Communities and locations in the Town of Manchester
Bunker Hill - A location in the northeast part of the town west of Gypsum.
Clifton Springs - The western part of the Village of Clifton Springs is in the town.
Gypsum - A hamlet at the east town line on County Road 27. It has previously been called "Dutch Settlement" and "Plainville."
Littleville - A hamlet by the south town line on County Road 19. It was first called Parkers Mills after Mill owner Edward Parker. The name changed when Norman Little purchased the mill.
Manchester - The Village of Manchester on NY-21.
Manchester Center - A hamlet in the east part of the town, on the north side of the Thruway on County Road 7.
