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
Geography
Prosper is located in western Collin County and eastern Denton County at. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which are land and, or 1.09%, is covered by water.
Demographics
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. As of 2019, the median household income was $141,273.
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
