This borough was laid out by John Doolittle, and incorporated September 6, 1872, from the southeastern part of Robinson. An effort had previously been made to have a new township formed from the adjacent portions of Robinson and Scott, but as it was evident that the village on the west bank of the creek would thus lose its individuality, its people opposed the measure. The first burgess of the borough was William Hill. The first ordinance of the borough, "For the regulation of sidewalks and street-crossings," was approved December 9, 1872.

In 1867, two years after the completion of the Pan Handle railroad, few indications of village growth were apparent. There were four houses between the creek and the railroad, two of which were owned by Samuel Yourd and P. Wilbert, respectively. Three houses were situated on Fifth avenue, those of Jacob Doolittle, David Steen and Joseph Chalfant. Russell Errett, W. E. Justus, Henry Keib and J. C. Morrow lived on "Trust Company" hill, and there were also several houses on Campbell’s run, occupied by transient residents. Samuel Yourd and Caldwell were the only merchants at that time. A rapid expansion was noticeable until 1873, when the panic affected this part of the country with the effects generally experienced everywhere. The population in 1880 was 1,852, but the past four years have been a period of great building activity, and three thousand is an approximate estimate at the present time.

It would be the expression of a platitude to say that the prosperity of the town depends almost entirely upon its industrial activities, and largely upon the development of the mineral resources of the surrounding country.

The Mansfield Coal & Coke company, William Carr, president; John K. Shinn, secretary and treasurer; D. Reisinger, manager, was incorporated in 1862. Mining operations were begun in 1863. Colliery No. 1, on the line of the borough and township, was opened in 1863, and has a daily capacity of 600 tons. No. 2 is mentioned in the history of Scott township. Six coke-ovens were built in 1868, and 16 in 1870, making a total of 22 now operated, producing 25 tons of coke daily. The company also owns 500 acres of coal-land in Collier township, to which a railway is now in course of construction. It is proposed that these works, when placed in operation, shall have a daily capacity of 1,500 tons. D. Steen & Sons were the proprietors of a colliery within the borough limits for some years, but the coal-measures upon which they depended have been exhausted, and a row of houses marks the former location of their works. . . . The Grant mines have experieced many changes of proprietorship, and are now operated by W. L. Scott & Co.

The Pennsylvania Lead company, J. E. Schwartz, president; B. W. Doyle, secretary; Robert Wardrop, treasurer; F. C. Blake, superintendent, was organized in 1872, with a capital of five hundred thousand dollars. The works comprise nine acres, situated at the junction of the Pan Handle and Pittsburgh, Chartiers & Youghiogheny railroads, just outside the borough limits. The ores are obtained in Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, and are received at the works in the form of base bullion; the foreign elements of their composition are removed, and the silver and gold separated from the lead by chemical processes. The product consists of pig-lead, used in the manufacture of whitelead, shot, pipe and sheet-lead to the amount of 25,000 tons annually; silver bars, used at the mint for coinage and in the arts, 5,000,000 ounces annually; and gold bars, principally exported to London, England, 20,000 ounces annually; the aggregate value being $6,000,000. Similar statistics in 1877 show a product valued at $1,700,000. The plant is valued at $150,000; 120 men are employed.

The Chartiers Iron & Steel company, John C. Kirkpatrick, chairman; D. A. Carter, secretary; B. C. Wilson, treasurer; J. Henry, superintendent, was incorporated in October, 1883. The works are situated in Chartiers borough. The plant consists of a frame building 277 feet long and 120 feet wide, comprising 33,000 square feet of floor-surface; 2 trains of rolls, consisting of 5 mills; 15 furnaces, 2 knobbling-fires, steam-engines of 700- and 65-horse power, respectively; a steam hammer weighing 4 tons. The works were placed in operation August 12, 1884, with 150 operatives, which number has since increased to 200. The product consists of sheet-iron and sheet-steel to the value of $500,000 annually.

The Mansfleld Roller Flour-mills, Forsythe & Foster, proprietors, manufacture roller flour and feed for local and city consumption. There are other smaller industries of a varied character, which may appear comparatively unimportant as compared with those mentioned, but perceptibly swell the aggregate of production.

The business of the town is locally important. There are a number of stores and hotels, and several large business blocks. The Mansfleld Valley postoffice was once conducted here, and the postoffice under the name of Putnam established January 8, 1885.

Several newspapers have been published at various times, the latest journalistic effort being the Independent, George W. Haley, editor, of which the first number was issued July 31, 1887. The borough school-building reflects an intelligent interest in educational matters. More than ten thousand dollars were expended in sustaining the schools in 1886. Among the secret and benevolent fraternities represented are the Masons, Odd-Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Sons of St. George, Sovereigns of Industry, Junior Order United American Mechanics, Knights of Labor, Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and Knights of the Mystic Chain.

The Catholic population of this vicinity attended mass at St. Philip’s Church, Crafton, until Mansfield was attached to Washington mission under the pastoral care of Rev. J. O. G. Scanlon, October, 1866. He secured property within the limits of the borough of that name, which was dedicated by the bishop of the diocese July 28, 1867, under the invocation of St. Luke. This building was known as the "wool-house," and had been the first place of worship for others than this church. Upon the death of Father Scanlon, in May, 1871, Rev. W. A. Nolan became pastor. The principal event of his incumbency was the large increase in the membership and the purchase of a site for a new church-edifice. Its erection was not begun until August, 1879, owing to the financial stringency of 1873 and the following years. It is one hundred and twenty feet long and fifty-four feet wide, in pure gothic style. Rev. P. May was pastor 1873-75; Thomas Walsh, 1875-77, and Hugh Haggerty, 1877-. The German Catholic element worshiped at St. Mary’s church, Stowe township, until the organization of St. Luke’s; and as they increased in numbers, a meeting was held June 8, 1879, at which formal action was taken, resulting in the organization of St. Joseph’s German Catholic Church. The cornerstone of the church-edifice was laid by Rev. W. Pollard September 21, 1879; the bishop performed the ceremony of dedication January 1, 1880. Rev. John Stillerich was pastor in 1879-80; E. W. Trautwein, from March to October, 1880; Joseph Lingel, 1880-84; Julius Kuenzer, 1884-87, when Joseph Fleckinger, the present incumbent, was appointed. The German Lutheran church of Chartiers, Rev. E. F. A. Dittmer, pastor, was erected in 1872. A parish school is connected with the church. The property comprises a brick church-edifice, school-building and pastoral residence.