Prosper, Texas

Prosper is a suburb in Collin and Denton counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Prosper is located within the Dallas-Fort Worth area. As of the 2010 census, its population was 9,423.^[4] As of 2023, the population was 37,746.^[5]

Prosper, Texas
Town
Motto(s):  "A Place Where Everyone Matters" and "Small Town, Big Heart"
Location of Prosper in Collin County, Texas
Coordinates: 33°14′45″N 96°50′27″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Collin, Denton
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area [1]
• 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 [2]	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 codes	214, 469, 945, 972
FIPS code	48-59696[3]
GNIS feature ID	2412510[2]
Website	www.prospertx.gov

History

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 a 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 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 the 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.

Prosper was incorporated in 1914 with a commission form of government and a population of 500. Uncas Norvell Clary was mayor and served in that position for the next 49 years. Prosper became a growing area with many new homes and communities being developed. The Prosper Community of Windsong Ranch features a man-made crystalline lagoon.^[6]

Geography

Prosper is located in western Collin County and eastern Denton County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.8 sq mi (59.1 km²), of which 0.23 sq mi (0.6 km²), or 1.09%, is covered by water.^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	501		—
1980	675		34.7%
1990	1,018		50.8%
2000	2,097		106.0%
2010	9,423		349.4%
2020	30,174		220.2%
2023 (est.)	41,660	[8]	38.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

^[10]

Prosper, Texas - Racial and ethnic composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)^[a]

Race	Pop 2010[12]	Pop 2020[13]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	7,527	20,678	79.88%	68.53%
Black or African American (NH)	478	2,480	5.07%	8.22%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	44	128	0.47%	0.42%
Asian (NH)	176	2,141	1.87%	7.10%
Pacific Islander (NH)	2	19	0.02%	0.06%
Some Other Race (NH)	9	125	0.10%	0.41%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	174	1,535	1.85%	5.09%
Hispanic or Latino	1,013	3,068	10.75%	10.17%
Total	9,423	30,174	100.00%	100.00%

According to the 2020 U.S. census, the town of Prosper had a population of 30,174, up from 9,423 at the 2010 census.^[5] The median household income as of 2023 was $176,000.^[5]

Economy

According to the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top 10 employers in the city are:^[14]

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Prosper Independent School District	3,334
2	Kroger	416
3	Chick Fil A	400
4	Town of Prosper	393
5	Walmart	270
6	Home Depot	185
7	Lowe's	141
8	Cook's Childrens	140
9	Dick Sporting Good	78
10	Longo Toyota	66

Arts and culture

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 "Barbecue Cookoff", a 5K race, an art show, a music festival, and a Sunday Family Fellowship.

Education

Prosper High School

Most of the Town of Prosper is served by the Prosper Independent School District.^[15][16]

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

In January 2018, Prosper ISD began construction of a natatorium and a football stadium. The facilities opened in the fall of 2019.^[17][18]

Prosper ISD opened their third high school, Walnut Grove High School, in the fall of 2023.^[19]

The Glenbrooke and Doe Creek subdivisions in far west Prosper are within the Denton Independent School District.^[16] Residents currently attend:

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

The Texas Legislature designated Collin College as the community college for all of Collin County and for Prosper ISD. The majority of Denton County, including the part of Prosper in Denton ISD, is zoned to North Central Texas College.^[20]

Notable people

• Christopher Buescher — NASCAR Cup Series driver for RFK Racing and 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion^[21]
• Matt Carpenter — Major League Baseball player, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres
• Todd Eldredge — three-time Olympian and six-time world champion figure skater
• Pat Fallon — member of the Texas House of Representatives
• Marc Fein — journalist and NBC news anchor
• Justin Forsett — Former NFL player
• LaTroy Hawkins — Former MLB player
• Torii Hunter — MLB player, Minnesota Twins and Anaheim Angels
• Ronald Kauffman — Olympic figure skater
• Jaret Reddick — musician
• 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
• Davis Webb — professional football player and coach

Notes

1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.^[11]