Prosper, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prosper, Texas
Town
Motto(s):  "A Place Where Everyone Matters" and "Small Town, Big Heart"
Location of Prosper in Collin County, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Collin, Denton
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	25.45 sq mi (65.92 km2)
• Land	25.23 sq mi (65.34 km2)
• Water	0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2)
Elevation	643 ft (196 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	30,174
• Density	974.31/sq mi (376.18/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	75078
Area code(s)	214, 469, 945, 972
FIPS code	48-59696
GNIS feature ID	2412510

Prosper is a town in Texas, located in both Collin and Denton counties. It's a suburb that is part of the larger Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area. In 2023, about 37,746 people lived in Prosper.

History of Prosper

Early Settlers and Town Growth

The first people came to this area in 1846. They wanted to farm cotton in the rich, dark soil. Between 1850 and 1902, there were two small communities nearby. One was called Rock Hill, and the other was Richland.

These small towns grew faster after 1876. County courts decided to sell small pieces of land quickly. These land pieces were about 160 acres each. They sold for $3.50 per acre. Dr. A. T. Bryant bought the land that is now the center of Prosper.

How Prosper Got Its Name

The two towns, Rock Hill and Richland, joined together in March 1902. This happened when the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad was built. For many years, Prosper was an important stop for trains between Dallas and Sherman.

When community leaders asked for a post office, they wanted to name it "Richland." But they found out that name was already taken. The Postmaster, B.J. Naugle, asked for a new name. J.C. Slaughter suggested "Prosper." He chose this name because the crops that year had grown very well, meaning they were "prosperous."

Becoming an Official Town

Prosper officially became a town in 1914. It had a population of 500 people. Uncas Norvell Clary became the mayor. He served as mayor for a very long time, 49 years! Today, Prosper is still growing. Many new homes and neighborhoods are being built. One neighborhood, Windsong Ranch, even has a special man-made lagoon.

Geography and Location

Prosper is located in the western part of Collin County. It also extends into the eastern part of Denton County.

The town covers a total area of about 59.1 square kilometers (22.8 square miles). A small part of this area, about 0.6 square kilometers (0.2 square miles), is covered by water.

Population and People

Prosper has grown a lot over the years. In 1970, only 501 people lived there. By 2010, the population was 9,423. The 2020 U.S. census showed that Prosper had 30,174 residents. This was a big jump from 2010.

In 2023, the average household income in Prosper was about $176,000. This shows that many families in Prosper have good incomes.

Arts and Culture

Prosper hosts several fun events each year for its residents.

• The town has an annual Christmas festival.
• There is also a special event for the Fourth of July.
• Every May, Prosper celebrates its history, people, and art with the Prosper Founders Fest. This festival includes:

* A "Barbecue Cookoff" by the Prosper Fire Department. * A 5K race. * An art show. * A music festival. * A Sunday Family Fellowship.

Education in Prosper

Public Schools

Most students in Prosper attend schools in the Prosper Independent School District. This district includes several schools:

• Prosper High School (for grades 9–12)
• Rock Hill High School (for grades 9–12, located in Frisco)
• Walnut Grove High School (for grades 9-12)
• Hays Middle School (for grades 6–8, located in Frisco)
• Reynolds Middle School (for grades 6–8)
• Rogers Middle School (for grades 6–8)
• Rushing Middle School (for grades 6–8)
• Baker Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in McKinney)
• Boyer Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in Celina)
• Bryant Elementary School (for grades K–5)
• Christie Elementary School (for grades K-5, located in Celina)
• Cockrell Elementary School (for grades K–5)
• Folsom Elementary School (for grades K–5)
• Furr Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in McKinney)
• Hall Elementary School (for grades K-5)
• Hughes Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in McKinney)
• Johnson Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in Celina)
• Light Farms Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in Celina)
• Lilyana Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in Celina)
• Reeves Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in McKinney)
• Rucker Elementary School (for grades K–5)
• Spradley Elementary School (for grades K–5, located in Frisco)
• Stuber Elementary School (for grades K–5)
• Windsong Ranch Elementary School (for grades K–5)

Prosper High School

In January 2018, Prosper ISD started building a natatorium (an indoor swimming facility) and a football stadium. These new facilities opened in the fall of 2019. Prosper ISD also opened its third high school, Walnut Grove High School, in the fall of 2023.

Some parts of Prosper, like the Glenbrooke and Doe Creek neighborhoods, are in the Denton Independent School District. Students living there attend:

• Savannah Elementary School (grades K–5)
• Navo Middle School (grades 6–8)
• Ray Braswell High School (grades 9–12)

Colleges and Higher Education

The Texas Legislature has chosen Collin College as the community college for all of Collin County, including Prosper ISD. Most of Denton County, including the part of Prosper in Denton ISD, is assigned to North Central Texas College.

Notable People from Prosper

Many interesting people have connections to Prosper. Here are a few:

• Chris Buescher — A NASCAR Cup Series race car driver. He won the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship.
• Matt Carpenter — A professional baseball player who played for teams like the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees.
• Todd Eldredge — A famous figure skater who competed in three Olympics and won six world championships.
• Pat Fallon — A member of the Texas House of Representatives.
• Marc Fein — A journalist and news anchor for NBC.
• Justin Forsett — A former NFL (National Football League) player.
• LaTroy Hawkins — A former MLB (Major League Baseball) player.
• Torii Hunter — A former MLB player for teams like the Minnesota Twins and Anaheim Angels.
• Ronald Kauffman — An Olympic figure skater.
• Jaret Reddick — A musician.
• Lorene Rogers — A biochemist. She was the first woman in the United States to lead a public university, the University of Texas.
• Ann Ward — The winner of the 15th season of America's Next Top Model.
• Davis Webb — A professional football player and coach.

See also

In Spanish: Prosper (Texas) para niños