The City of Manor, founded in 1872, was located on the Houston and Texas Central Railway, giving residents easy access to markets. By the mid-1880s Manor had a district school, three churches, six general stores, and a population of 125. Cotton, cottonseed, and grain were the principal commodities shipped from the area. The community grew rapidly in the late nineteenth and early centuries, with population estimates reaching 500 by 1892 and 900 by 1914. In the late 1920s, Manor had 1,000 residents but the onset of the Great Depression led to a decline. Manor continued to serve as a commercial center for area farmers, many of whom used the railroad to ship livestock and dairy products. Based on the Decennial Census, the 2,000 population was 1,200 persons. Today, Manor’s population exceeds an estimate of 8,500 residents.
The City of Manor is situated approximately 12 miles east of Austin on U.S. Highway 290, which links much of Central Texas to Houston.
