Manly is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States, whose population was 1,256 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
thumb|U.E. Church, circa 1914
History
Manly (originally called Manly Junction) was laid out in 1877 at the junction of two railroads: the Rock Island and the Chicago Great Western.
In 1912 the Rock Island made it a division point, with roundhouse and shops that employed several hundred workers. A Rock Island caboose sits at the southeast railroad crossing of IA-9 in commemoration of the town's history, and in 2006 a Rock Island engine was installed next to it with a dedication ceremony held on Manly's annual Railroad/Ag Days celebration.
Geography
Manly is located 16 miles south of the Minnesota border placed at the conjunction between Highway 65 and 9.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Education
Manly's public schools are operated by the Central Springs Community School District, established on July 1, 2006, by the merger of North Central Community School District and Nora Springs–Rock Falls Community School District. Prior to the merger, it was in the North Central district.
Manly is the home of the Central Springs Panthers, previously the North Central Falcons. Elementary students from the Manly, Hanlontown, and Plymouth region go to school in Manly from preschool through 3rd grade. Elementary students from the Nora Springs, Rock Falls, and Portland area go to school in Nora Springs. All students then attend middle school in Nora Springs. Upon completion of 8th grade, they go to high school in Manly. The high school's colors are black and blue, and the mascot is a panther.
The schools in the Central Springs Community School District are:
- Central Springs High School (Manly)
- Central Springs Middle School (Nora Springs)
- Central Springs Elementary School – Manly campus (Manly)
- Central Springs Elementary School – Nora Springs campus (Nora Springs)