Up to 1883, Manning had no incorporated cemetery association. Private lots in different parts of town were used for burial, with a section of Gardner's Second Addition, along Sue Street at the north edge of the city limits, designated as the main burial area.

As the agitation for a permanent cemetery was made, W.F. Howard, U.S. Heffelfinger, J.M. Turner and Wm. Laughery were appointed to a committee to select the ground and arrange for the purchase and laying out of the lots. By June, 1884, the bodies were removed from the old grounds and reinterred in the new cemetery on the town's southern limits. An ordinance had been enacted a month earlier to provide for the removal of these bodies.

The ground selected was purchased from the Manning Driving Park Association and was south of the old fair grounds. By 1895, it was necessary to extend the cemetery and more land farther south was purchased. In 1920, the town of Manning acquired the land and upkeep of the cemetery from the Cemetery Association, and the first lot in the municipal site was sold to Henry Sievers.

In recent years, it was again necessary to add more land. About 23 acres of a farm owned by Harry Hinz was purchased and added to the cemetery.

In February, 1891, a number of ladies organized a society for the purpose of beautifying the cemetery and raised enough money to build a sidewalk from the town out to the cemetery.

In May, 1888, two acres of land at the northeast edge of town were purchased from J.W. Gardner for use as a cemetery under the auspices of the Catholic Church. The amount paid for the land was $300, which was subscribed by the heads of families, who each paid $10.

P.M. Loes, J.W. Martin, and Mathias Hoffmann were appointed to purchase and lay out the land. The first interment was Julia Signall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Signall.

Prior to World War II, airplanes coming to Manning landed in stubble fields and pastures near town. One of the popular sites was the Fuss pasture, site of the present airport at the southwest edge of town. Area residents recall Fred Funk and Gus Ruge as the local barnstormers.

Interest in permanent airport facilities coincided with the national enthusiasm developed during World War II. On January 4, 1945, the Chamber of Commerce presented the city council with a petition proposing a municipal airport. The bond authorizing $17,000 for purchase of the land and bearing an interest of 1.5% per annum was voted on favorably in February of 1945. The land, now the existing airport, was purchased that spring, seeded in July, and the first plane, a two passenger Luscombe, landed in October. The existing wooden hanger was also constructed in 1945. At the airport dedication, Hap Dusenberry gave rides in a two passenger Fairchild.

In 1954, landing lights were installed, and at a later date the small building containing toilet facilities and the associated well were constructed representing the current facilities at the airport.

Currently, there are three planes based in Manning, with two physicians flying in on a regular basis to work at the hospital. The city council's Airport Advisory Committee is presently investigating the possibilities of upgrading the airport to keep pace with increasing demand.

Manning received its first hardsurfaced outlet in the fall of 1933, when Highway 46 (now 141) was paved from Highway 71 to the paving junction at the east edge of the city. Paving to the west of Manning to Manilla and Highway 59 was completed several years later.

Sixth Street, the part of Highway 141 which extends through Manning, was widened into a four-lane road in 1960.