June 22, 1905

Located in Clay County, and later known as the birthplace of songwriter Wilburn Steven “Bill” Rice, the town of Datto voted to receive official incorporation. Created when the Cotton Belt Railroad constructed a line through the area, Datto was built to house the displaced population of the neighboring town of Thurman after the construction of the railroad. At the time of incorporation, Datto had a school and a hardware mill, and it was also a thriving timber community. By 1933, Datto had three grocery stores, a drugstore, two barbershops, and two churches that served Baptist and Methodist congregations.