Before the first settlers arrived in the vicinity of Manns Harbor, the Native American village Dasamongueponke existed on or close to the site.
Located east of the intersection of U.S. Routes 64 and 264, it is nestled along the western bank of Croatan Sound. Before 1957, Manns Harbor used to harbor a ferry that traversed the sound and provided access to Roanoke Island. Today, the William B. Umstead Bridge (completed in 1957) and the four-lane Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge (completed in 2002) link Manns Harbor on the mainland to Manteo on Roanoke Island. The community provides a gateway to North Carolina's Outer Banks.[5]
The residents of Manns Harbor are governed by the Dare County Board of Commissioners. Manns Harbor is part of District 1, along with Manteo, Roanoke Island, and Wanchese.
In 2013, local resident, Harry C. Mann, was indicted for nearly $334,000 in kickbacks from Chowan County metal recycling companies and others over six years to scrap metal and equipment from the range. Military aircraft use the nearby Dare County Bombing Range on mainland Dare County off U.S. 264 south of Manns Harbor for target practice.[6]
