THE BIGGEST SMALL TOWN IN TEXAS
Prosper is a beautiful community located just a few miles north of Plano, Texas. D Magazine listed Prosper as the 11th Best Suburb to live in the DFW Metroplex. It’s no wonder, just drive down Preston Road and you’ll see luxurious neighborhoods dotted with trees, lakes and walking paths. Plus, with it’s wide open spaces, Prosper is one area that you can find homes with larger lots and acreage.
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 approximately 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. (Courtesy Wikipedia)
THINGS TO DO
There’s plenty of shopping to be done — in nearby Frisco or McKinney. Among the more impressive drive-by sights in town are the new High School, which looks like the campus of a private college, and ex-NFL star Deion Sanders’ massive 100-acre estate, currently on the market for $21 million. But there is one spot, known as downtown Prosper, where you can get a feel for what small town business is all about.
You won’t want to miss the annual Christmas festival and Fourth of July events. Each May, Prosper Founders Fest celebrates its history, people and arts. The event combines the Fire Department’s IBCA-sanctioned Barbecue Cookoff, a 5K race, an art show and music festival and a Sunday Family Fellowship. (Courtesy DMagazine)
SCHOOLS
In 2017 PISD projects an enrollment of 10,000 students.
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)
- Baker Elementary School (Grades K–5) *Located in McKinney, Texas
- Cockrell Elementary School (Grades K–5)
- Folsom Elementary School (Grades K–5)
- Hughes Elementary School (Grades K-5) *Located in McKinney, Texas
- Light Farms Elementary School (Grades K-5) *Located in Celina, Texas
- Rucker Elementary School (Grades K–5)
- Windsong Elementary School (Grades PreK–5)