About Us:

The town site was purchased in 1881 by F.M. Mansfield, a Hartville attorney and George H. Nettleton, a Kansas City railroad surveyor. The first board of trustees for the town included S.W. McNaul, G.W. Freeman, N.N. Nichols, and E.B. Young. G.J. Roote was clerk and Henry Coday treasurer.

The railroad was built through the county in 1882 and Mansfield became the mail and freight distribution point for towns north to Grovespring and south to the Arkansas line. A Post Office was also established this year and three merchants started general stores.

In 1883, the first school was built and the first church, the Presbyterian in 1884. By 1884, a survey of the town was completed and in August, 1886, Mansfield was officially incorporated as a village. Later that same year, city council authorized the building of wood side walks, council was headed by the town's first mayor, G.J. Roote, a mining engineer. Shortly afterward, the first city jail was constructed at a cost of $65.50. William Day, first city marshal, was the chief calaboose keeper.

Because of the establishment of mining companies in the mid-80's , Mansfield became the fastest growing city in the county in the 1890's. In 1900 telephone service became city wide and the city was incorporated as a fourth class city. By 1914, the Mansfield Power and Light Co., was organized and the city came out of the dark. By 1920, Mansfield had gained to a population of 757.