Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Prague, Oklahoma

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Country
  
United States

County
  
Lincoln

FIPS code
  
40-60500

Area
  
4.6 km²

Zip code
  
74864

Local time
  
Saturday 2:48 PM

State
  
Oklahoma

Time zone
  
Central (CST) (UTC-6)

GNIS feature ID
  
1096887

Elevation
  
308 m

Population
  
2,414 (2013)

Area code
  
405

Prague, Oklahoma

Weather
  
12°C, Wind NW at 19 km/h, 65% Humidity

Prague /ˈprɡ/ is a city in southeastern Lincoln County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,386 at the 2010 census, an 11.6 percent increase from 2,138 at the 2000 census. Czech immigrants founded the city, and named it for the capital of the Czech Republic with an altered pronunciation of the name.

Contents

Map of Prague, OK 74864, USA

History

Czech immigrants settled Prague, after the opening of the Sac and Fox Reservation by a land run on September 22, 1891. Eva Barta owned the land, and named the new town "Prague" for the Czech capital in Europe, then part of Austria-Hungary. The town incorporated in 1902.

On May 24, 1952, a head-on automobile collision seriously injured Indian mystic Meher Baba near Prague.

On November 5, 2011 a series of earthquakes struck near Prague, the first one a magnitude 4.7 at 2:15 AM CST, followed by a series of aftershocks, and then a second quake of magnitude 5.7 at 10:53 PM CST, the strongest recorded in Oklahoma history until a 5.8-magnitude earthquake occurred on September 3, 2016. This continued on November 7, 2011 when another 4.7 hit at 8:45 PM, just five miles northwest of Prague.

An F5 tornado tore through Prague on May 5, 1960.

Geography

Prague is located at 35°29′10″N 96°41′16″W (35.486092, -96.687792).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,138 people, 864 households, and 567 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,211.6 people per square mile (469.0/km²). There were 1,021 housing units at an average density of 578.6 per square mile (224.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.07% White, 3.70% African American, 9.92% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.

There were 864 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,779, and the median income for a family was $32,137. Males had a median income of $24,083 versus $19,438 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,381. About 11.3% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.

It has an airfield with an 840 m (2757 ft) asphalt runway, located about a kilometer west of the town center; its identifier is "O47".

Newspapers

The Shawnee News Star and the Prague Times Herald and praguecommunity.com, which was formerly praguetimesherald.com, provide news coverage of Prague. As of September 1, 2007, after a contract dispute, the Times Herald is no longer under AndersonCorp LLC. The former site is now praguecommunity.com, an independent online news source under AndersonCorp LLC.

The Oklahomski Noviny was a Czech-language newspaper printed in Prague in the 20th Century.

Education

The Prague Public Schools serve approximately 1000 students.

Economy

Agriculture, with corn as the primary crop, initially drove Prague's economy. This was still true at the beginning of the 21st century. Industry and commerce began to contribute later.

Government

Prague has a council-manager form of city government.

Culture

On the first Saturday of May each year there is a 'Kolache Festival'. It celebrates the Czech culture brought from the 'old country.' One can learn more at the Prague Historical Museum on the town's main street, Jim Thorpe Boulevard, which is named for the town's most famous son, the Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe. Reflecting its Czech Catholic heritage, Prague is also the home of the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus, which draws numerous visitors each year.

Notable people

  • Kyle Denney, former major league baseball player.
  • Walter E. Fountain, United States Army Brigadier General, Assistant Adjutant General of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, acting Deputy Director of the Army National Guard
  • Richard James, lawyer and legislator
  • Jim Thorpe, Olympic gold medalist, considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports.
  • Olinka Hrdy, artist
  • Other

    In May 2013 filming began for a movie called Justice with Tommy Lister, Jr. and James Russo.

    References

    Prague, Oklahoma Wikipedia