Editing Prague, Oklahoma

{{For|other uses of Prague|Prague (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Prague, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Prague Municipal Building, Prague, Oklahoma.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Prague Municipal Building
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = OKMap-doton-Prague.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Prague, Oklahoma
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Oklahoma]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oklahoma|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Lincoln County, Oklahoma|Lincoln]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Nikki Everhart<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cityofpragueok.org/city-officials/ |title=City Officials |last= |first= |date= |website=The City of Prague|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 9.05
|area_land_km2            = 8.13
|area_water_km2           = 0.93
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.50
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.14
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.36
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2356
|population_density_km2   = 289.88
|population_density_sq_mi = 750.80
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 948
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|29|56|N|96|42|00|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 74864
|area_code                = [[Area codes 405 and 572|405/572]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-60500<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411483<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411483}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.cityofpragueok.org/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}

'''Prague''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|eɪ|ɡ}} {{respell|PRAYG}}<ref>{{Cite news |title=Why Lima, Ohio, and Lima, Peru, Don't Have the Same Pronunciation |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/21/705594604/why-lima-ohio-and-lima-peru-dont-have-the-same-pronunciation |work=[[All Things Considered]] |date=21 March 2019 |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref>) is a city in [[Lincoln County, Oklahoma]], United States. The population was 2,356 at the 2020 census, a 1.76 percent decrease from the figure of 2,388 in 2010.<ref>[http://censusviewer.com/city/OK/Prague CensusViewer:Prague, Oklahoma Population.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202101245/http://censusviewer.com/city/OK/Prague |date=February 2, 2014 }} Retrieved January 19, 2014.</ref> Czech immigrants founded the city, and named it after the [[Prague|capital]] of the present-day [[Czech Republic]].

==History==
After the opening of the [[Sac and Fox Nation|Sac and Fox Reservation]] by a land run on September 22, 1891, Czech immigrants settled and founded Prague. 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.<ref name="EOHC-Prague">Pritchett, Roger. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=PR001 ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. "Prague."] Retrieved March 6, 2015.</ref> The town's name has been adopted in [[Fox language|Sac and Fox language]] as ''Pwêkeki''.<ref>Gordon Whittaker, 2005, "A Concise Dictionary of the Sauk Language", The Sac & Fox National Public Library Stroud, Oklahoma. [https://www.sacandfoxnation-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Copy-of-A-Concise-Dictionary-Sauk.pdf]</ref>

On March 27, 1943, the film ''[[Hangmen Also Die!]]'' had its world premiere in Prague in an event which featured [[Adolf Hitler]], [[Hirohito]] and [[Mussolini]] being hanged in effigy on Main Street. The town of Prague was apparently chosen because the movie is loosely based on the 1942 assassination of [[Reinhard Heydrich]], the Nazi Reich Protector of the German-occupied city of [[Prague]], now in the Czech Republic.  After the premiere, the film opened nationwide in the first days of April, beginning with 20 key cities.

On May 24, 1952, a head-on automobile collision seriously injured Indian mystic [[Meher Baba]] near Prague.<ref>Kalchuri, Bhau (1986). Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba. Manifestation.</ref> The accident site has become a place of pilgrimage for world wide Meher Baba followers.

An F5 tornado tore through Prague on [[May 1960 tornado outbreak sequence|May 5, 1960]].

For the [[1996 Summer Olympics]], the torch was carried through the town of Prague in order to commemorate the legacy of the legendary [[Sac and Fox Nation|Sac and Fox native]] Olympic athlete, [[Jim Thorpe]], who was born and raised in this region.<ref>Hutchison, Mark A. “Prague Carrying Olympic Torch for Native Son.” Oklahoman.com. Oklahoman, December 9, 1995. [https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2522962/prague-carrying-olympic-torch-for-native-son].</ref>

On November 5, 2011, a series of [[2011 Oklahoma earthquake|earthquake]]s struck near Prague, the first one a magnitude 4.7 at 2:15&nbsp;a.m. [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]], followed by a series of aftershocks, and then a second quake of magnitude 5.7 at 10:53&nbsp;p.m. CST, the strongest recorded in Oklahoma history until a 5.8-magnitude earthquake occurred on September&nbsp;3, 2016. This continued on November 7, 2011 when another 4.7 hit at 8:45&nbsp;p.m., just five miles northwest of Prague.

On February 2, 2024, there was a 5.1 magnitude earthquake around 11:25pm.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Elamroussi |first1=Aya |title=A preliminary magnitude 5.1 earthquake strikes east of Oklahoma City |url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/a-preliminary-magnitude-5-1-earthquake-strikes-east-of-oklahoma-city/1618849 |website=accuweather.com |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=4 February 2024 |date=4 February 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.8|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1025
|1920= 1127
|1930= 1299
|1940= 1422
|1950= 1546
|1960= 1545
|1970= 1802
|1980= 2208
|1990= 2308
|2000= 2138
|2010= 2386
|2020= 2356
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,138 people, 864 households, and 567 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,211.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,021 housing units at an average density of {{convert|578.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 83.07% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.70% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 9.92% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.33% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.09% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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.

==Newspapers==
[[File:Bohemian Hall, Prague, Oklahoma 3.jpg|thumb|[[ZCBJ Lodge No. 46|Bohemian Hall]], an early symbol of Prague's Czech heritage]]

The ''Shawnee News Star'' and the ''Prague Times Herald'', provide news coverage of Prague.

The ''Oklahomski Noviny'' was a Czech-language newspaper printed in Prague in the 20th century.<ref name="EOHC-Prague"/>

==Education==
The [[Prague Public Schools]], the school district for this community,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40081_lincoln/DC20SD_C40081.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lincoln County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-07-14}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40081_lincoln/DC20SD_C40081_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> serve approximately 1000 students.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==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.<ref name="EOHC-Prague"/>

==Government==
Prague has a council-manager form of city government.<ref name="EOHC-Prague"/>

==Transportation==
Prague is at the intersection of [[Oklahoma State Highway 99|U.S. Routes 377]] and [[U.S. Route 62 in Oklahoma|62]], and is approximately 10 minutes north of [[Interstate 40 in Oklahoma|Interstate 40]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Prague,+OK+74864/@35.49074,-96.7203291,13.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87b3e91412bb0455:0xbaa1935d2f69e48f!8m2!3d35.4867368!4d-96.6850174 |title=Prague, Oklahoma|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=July 23, 2020}}</ref>

The Prague-owned Prague Municipal Airport (FAA Identifier—O47) is two miles west of town, and features a 3600’ asphalt runway.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.airnav.com/airport/O47 |title=Prague Municipal Airport|publisher=AirNav| access-date=July 23, 2020}}</ref>

==Culture==
The Prague Historical Museum is located on the town's main street, Jim Thorpe Boulevard. The street is named for Olympic athlete and [[Sac and Fox Nation|Sac and Fox Tribe]] member [[Jim Thorpe]].<ref>[Al, Zagofsky. “A Visit to Jim Thorpe's Birthplace: Times News Online.” A visit to Jim Thorpe's birthplace – Times News Online, June 12, 2010. [https://www.tnonline.com/20100612/a-visit-to-jim-thorpes-birthplace/].</ref>

Reflecting its Czech Catholic heritage, Prague has hosted an annual "[[Kolache]] Festival" on the first Saturday in May since 1965.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Douglas |first=Kaylee |date=2020-04-07 |title=Prague Kolache Festival canceled amid coronavirus outbreak |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/prague-kolache-festival-canceled-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |work=[[KFOR-TV]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=JaNae |title=Eat your heart out: Festivals where food is a major attraction in Oklahoma |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/lifestyle/food/2024/04/16/things-to-do-oklahoma-food-related-festival-list/73331566007/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref> The festival was cancelled in 2020 for the first time due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=":0" /> Prague is also the home of a Papal-authorized copy of the [[Infant Jesus of Prague]], known as the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus, which draws numerous visitors each year.<ref>{{Cite web | title = The National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague, Oklahoma | publisher = The National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague, Oklahoma | year = 2007 | url = http://www.shrineofinfantjesus.com | access-date = 9 February 2010 }}</ref>


==Notable people==
*[[Kyle Denney]] (born 1977), baseball player
*[[Walter E. Fountain]] (born 1961), [[United States Army]] officer
*[[Olinka Hrdy]] (1902–1987), artist
*[[Richard James (Oklahoma politician)|Richard James]] (1926–2013), lawyer and legislator
*[[Orville Edwin Langley]] (1908–1973), U.S. District Judge for Eastern Oklahoma (1965-1973)
*[[Jim Thorpe]] (1887–1953), athlete, the first Native American Olympic gold medalist

==NRHP sites==
{{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Oklahoma}}
The following sites in Prague are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:
*Prague City Hall and Jail
*[[ZCBJ Lodge No. 46]], also known as Bohemian Hall

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121023090242/http://www.pragueok.org/ City of Prague, Oklahoma]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013411/http://www.library.okstate.edu/okmaps/ Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory]
* [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~oklincol/tower.html Tower, William Ray. "A General History of the Town of Prague, Oklahoma 1908 - 1948."]
* [https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-okpra.html Flag of Prague, Oklahoma]

{{Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area}}
{{Lincoln County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Oklahoma City metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Lincoln County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Czech-American culture in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:1902 establishments in Oklahoma Territory]]