History 

Manilla, Iowa is located in the beautiful rolling hills of southern Crawford County. Minutes from the county seat, Manilla offers access to air transportation, and public ground transportation.

Residents, primarily of German descent settled in Manilla in 1886. The new community was then known as a railroad center and boasted a roundhouse with twelve stalls. The choices for the new town's name were Manilla and Paupville, in honor of Les Paup, who had sold the land to the railroad. The choice was made in a community game of Tug-of-War at the 4th of July celebration in Astor and gave birth to Manilla's slogan, "The Town People Pull For." The community still honors its railroad heritage. A Milwaukee Road Caboose Museum is located downtown in the Bandshell Park, and Manilla's entrance sign depicts a steam engine and caboose promoting its 1986 centennial

As transportation changed, Manilla went from being a railroad community to being an agricultural-based community. Seed companies, a Coop, and a Lumber yard are a few of the business's that compliment the agriculture base. Three Churches, a local Newspaper, and the Public School add to the dynamic rural culture. The real strength of Manilla is the people that live and work here, and the pride they take in their community and their heritage.