The first Czech settlers arrived around 1855 and established themselves because the landscape reminded them of their home region. The community was and is predominately Catholic and they built their own church in 1878 which was the town's first structure. Protivin was platted in 1878, and incorporated as a town in 1894.
Protivin is located at . The Protivin area has many wildlife areas and opportunities for hunting and fishing. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land. Taylor's Pond is located a few miles northwest of Protivin and has a four-acre pond used for fishing as well as picnic facilities. Protivin is located on a state highway between U.S. Routes 52 and 63.
As of the census of 2010, there were 283 people, 143 households, and 79 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 167 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 99.3% White, 0.4% Asian, and 0.4% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population. There were 143 households of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couplesliving together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.8% were non-families. 39.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.53. The median age in the city was 48.6 years. 18% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 29.7% were from 45 to 64; and 24% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 317 people, 154 households, and 79 families living in the city. The population density was 663.5 people per square mile. There were 180 housing units at an average density of 376.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city is 99.68% White and 0.32% Asian. There were 154 households out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.7% were non-families. 43.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 29.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.86. In the city, the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 29.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,779, and the median income for a family was $35,156. Males had a median income of $30,179 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,818. About 10.1% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under the age of 18 and 20.7% of those ages 65 and older.
