Prosper, Texas

The first settlers arrived in 1846 to farm cotton in the black fertile prairie soil. Between 1850 and 1902, two settlements existed - Rock Hill was two miles south of the present town and Richland was one mile north. The development of these small communities was expedited in 1876 when County Courts ordered small tracts of land to be established for quick sale. These tracts, each about 160 acres in size, were sold for $3.50 per acre. Dr. A. T. Bryant of McKinney purchased what later became the center of the present town.

The towns merged during the establishment of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad in March 1902. For years, Prosper was the central stop for the railroad between Dallas and Sherman. When community officials applied for a post office with the name "Richland", they were informed that city name was already taken. Postmaster B.J. Naugle asked for an alternative name and J.C. Slaughter suggested the name "Prosper", because crops that year had been very prosperous.

The Town of Prosper was incorporated in 1914 with a commission form of government and a population of 500. U.N. Clary was mayor and served in that position for the next 49 years. Prosper High School cost $113.5 million to construct and is 590,000 ft², complete with a medical tech lab, a restaurant-worthy kitchen, a greenhouse, a broadcast studio, and an indoor football practice facility.

The Town of Prosper holds an annual Christmas festival and Fourth of July event. Each May, Prosper Founders Fest celebrates its history, people, and arts. The event combines the Prosper Fire Department's IBCA-sanctioned Barbecue Cookoff, a 5K race, an art show and music festival, and a Sunday Family Fellowship.

Prosper is a growing area with many new homes and communities being developed. The Prosper Community of Windsong Ranch is the only place in North Texas with a man-made crystalline lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons' technology[5]

Prosper is located in western Collin County and eastern Denton County at 33°14′18″N 96°47′27″W.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.8 square miles (59.1 km²), of which 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²) are land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km²), or 1.09%, is covered by water.[7]

As of 2019, the racial makeup of the town was 89.2% White, 4.9% Asian, 2.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, and 2.0% of some other race. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 5.2% of the population.[7]

As of 2019, the median household income was $141,273.

The Town of Prosper is served by the Prosper Independent School District.

• Prosper High School (Grades 9–12)
• Reynolds Middle School (Grades 6-8)
• Rogers Middle School (Grades 6-8)
• Hays Middle School (Grades 6-8)
• Baker Elementary School (Grades K–5) *Located in McKinney, Texas
• Boyer Elementary School (Grades K-5) *Located in Celina, Texas
• Cockrell Elementary School (Grades K–5)
• Folsom Elementary School (Grades K–5)
• Furr Elementary School (Grades K-5) *Located in McKinney, Texas
• Hughes Elementary School (Grades K-5) *Located in McKinney, Texas
• Light Farms Elementary School (Grades PK-5) *Located in McKinney, Texas
• Rucker Elementary School (Grades K–5)
• Spradley Elementary School (Grades K-5) *Located in Frisco, Texas
• Windsong Ranch Elementary School (Grades K–5)

In January 2018, Prosper ISD began construction for both a natatorium and football stadium. The facilities are scheduled to open by August 2019.[9][10]

• Chris Buescher, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Roush Fenway Racing who won the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship[11]
• Matt Carpenter, Major League Baseball player, St. Louis Cardinals
• Todd Eldredge, three-time Olympian and six-time world champion figure skater
• Pat Fallon, president of Virtus Apparel, based in Prosper, and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 106 in Denton County
• Marc Fein, journalist and NBC news anchor
• LaTroy Hawkins, MLB player
• Justin Forsett, NFL player
• Torii Hunter, MLB player, Minnesota Twins and Anaheim Angels
• Dak Prescott, NFL player[12]
• Lorene Rogers, biochemist; first woman in the United States to lead a public university, the University of Texas
• Ann Ward, winner of the 15th cycle of America's Next Top Model
• Ronald Kauffman, Pairs figure skater (with his sister, Cynthia) in 1964, 1968 Olympics; Four-time US Champions 1966-69; Two-time North American Champions 1967, 1969; US Figure Skating Hall of Fame Inductee (1995)
• Davis Webb, NFL player and former quarterback for Texas Tech University and the University of California

• Town of Prosper official website