On Highway 177, between Ardmore and Tishomingo, sits the town of Mannsville. Beginning in 1855, the area that is currently Mannsville served as a relocation settlement for Chickasaws during the removal from the Mississippi basin.

The area grew through the years, and was incorporated as a town in 1898, named after first postmasters, Wallace Mann.

At the turn of the 20^th century, the town continued to grow. In 1902, the Western Oklahoma Railroad laid tracks near the town, prompting the town to relocate slightly to reap the benefits of that major innovation.

The town expanded to include a newspaper, multiple stores, doctors, grocers, and a gin and mill to support the farming community. Mannsville continued to grow to a population of 600+ people, until the Great Depression hit and WWI began in the 1930s and 1940s. 

A stroke of bad luck hit the town in 1935 when a tornado struck and destroyed the school. However, the WPA built another school building for the town.

Since Mannsville is adjacent to the Tishomingo Wildlife Management land, many people still head to the area for hunting quail, deer, turkey, and waterfowl. If you’re lucky, you can even spot a bald eagle in the Wildlife Management Area. The area allows camping and has an outdoor shooting range.

An old bridge in Mannsville has a special place in local lore, and even in Hollywood history! The Norton Bridge, built in 1909, was a fixture in the area until 2015, when flooding washed it out. It was even featured in the 1973 movie, Dillinger, if a famous shootout!

Although the town has shrunk in population over the years, you can still plan a stop in Mannsville to enjoy a down home meal at Bill’s Café.  Order up breakfast, steak or fish to fuel your day, no matter what it entails.

As you make your way through the heart of south-east Chickasaw Country, stop by Mannsville, think about its history in the building of the area, and enjoy a solid meal.