Mankins Crossing on the San Gabriel River was named for pioneer settler Samuel Mankins, who purchased land along the river in 1849. The river's limestone bed provided a convenient crossing for area farmers, and a nearby community included a school, church, and cotton gin. A 1914 concrete and gravel causeway was replaced by a State Highway Department concrete bridge in 1931. After the Highway Department built a new bridge on higher ground at Highway 29 in 1958, the Mankins Crossing bridge became a popular recreational site for area residents.