The Manchester community was a small town that was also called the Fairview town during the early days before it was changed to its current name. In 2003, the town was hit by a tornado that rated F4 causing distractions at unimaginable lengths. Since that day, the community was abandoned.

Birth of Manchester Town

Manchester town was formerly known as Fairview town in the heydays before it was changed to Manchester. The establishment and the rapid growth of the town were influenced by the construction of the railroad. Houses, a town hall, lumber yards, grain elevators, a gas station, and churches were some of the social amenities in the town. Township schools were also established which included the Manchester High School. The train schedule changed at the beginning of the 20th century and this led to a decline in the town’s growth. Many of the town’s locals left for other stable towns. However, this was not the only factor that led to the slow but steady decline in the population of the town. The worldwide economic downturn also played a role in this as many businesses were closed. The business owners who closed their business also relocated to other towns. To drive the nail on the coffin, a road was built through the Manchester town in the late 1930s but this did not attract people back to the town as they anticipated. Those residents left in the town relocated to De Smet and Huron. The population was reduced to less than 100 residents by 1986. This is the year the railroad was officially abandoned and the line sold to other railroad authorities. Two operating businesses and a few buildings are still operational in the town.

The final chapter of Manchester

In 2003 a huge tornado (rated F4) struck the town of Manchester. Due to its poor planning and congestion at the center, the tornado hit to the north causing death and major destruction that saw only one business premise left standing. It is estimated that only five families resided in the town during the tornado strike. Although lives were lost, it would have been worse if the tornado would have struck during its heydays.

What is the current state of the town?

The town lies abandoned with nothing in it apart from the buildings that were spared by the tornado and the Manchester town pump that was also spared during the strike. There are no plans to rebuild the ruins of the town. Some people live in the farmlands that surround the town. In 2007 a granite monument was erected in the townsite to remember the existence of the town and to honor the residents who lived in the town during the heydays. The town is open to the public to visit or tour.