Information about Prosper, Texas
Prosper: The Beginnings
The first settlers arrived in what was to become Prosper in 1846 attracted by the black fertile prairie soil of North Texas where cotton was "King". Between 1850 and 1902, two settlements existed. One community, two miles south of the present town, was called Rock Hill. The second community, one mile north, was called Richland. The development of these small communities was expedited in 1876 when County Courts ordered small tracks 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 one of the tracts, which later became the geographic nucleus for the Town of Prosper.
The establishment of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad in March of 1902 created the change that forced the communities of Rock Hill and Richland to merge forming the Town of Prosper. For years, Prosper was the central stop for the railroad between Dallas and Sherman. .
The Town of Prosper was incorporated in 1914 with a commission form of government and a population of 500. In 1980, the introduction of light industry, combined with the growth of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, led to more growth for Prosper.
For more detailed information on the history and future growth of Prosper, contact the Prosper Economic Development Corporation office at (972) 346-3397.
Prosper: Today
From a small town of 3,500 in 2004 Prosper is projected to grow to over 80,000 residents by 2040. In order to keep pace with this level of growth the city council must plan accordingly. All the pertinent growth statistics including projected population growth, planned street, land use, infrastructure as well as developments not under the direct control of the Prosper City Council such as roadway improvements in adjoining communities and state funded projects can be found on the Prosper city website (http://www.prospertx.gov/) or on the Prosper Economic Development Corporation website http://www.prosperedc.com/.
Well publicized planned developments include The Gates of Prosper a 500 acre mix of commercial properties and homes for sale on the north side of U.S. 380 at Preston Road. Majority owners are Blue Star Land L.P. which has developed Starwood in Frisco and Star Creek in Allen. Prosper Plaza, a Class –A retail center on a 40-acre site at the corner of US380 and Custer Road has been earmarked for a $35 million shopping center on which ground was broken in 2008. These two major developments will be complimented by plans for a shopping center, hotel and conference center along with residential space at the intersection of the Dallas North Parkway and US380. These combined with a 2,100 acre master planned community to be developed on the north side of U.S. 380 at Fields Road will provide continued growth and a strong job market in Prosper for many years to come.