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.
In this thriving community the population has ranged from 136 in 1900 to a high of 361 in 1980, it continues to average around the 350 mark. We continue to be a very active community. In 1978 we celebrated the 100 year anniversary of our Catholic Parish, the celebration was a great effort of all the people living in and around the Protivin area. A large parade was held and a great variety of entertainment for our visitors. It was estimated that 35,000 people were present for this event, the people filled all of main street from one end to the other. We have continued to hold a weekend celebration called "Czech Days" the third weekend in August annually. For this celebration plans begin right after it is over with for the next year. Volunteers begin baking in July ending up with a total of about 1300 dozen kolaches and 800 dozen rohliky. They also make 275 Ibs of homemade noodles for noodle soup. We have many visitors from a number of states and have had visitors from the Czech Republic a number of times. For several years we had visitors from Protivin, Czech Republic.
Although many of our historic buildings are gone we continue to have a very active business community. There are 27 business operating in town today including the following: Fencl Oil & L.P., Farmers' Mill, Art's Milling Service, The Mint Restaurant & Bar, Rocking Horse Bar & Grill, Conway Funeral Home, Hugeback Funeral Home, J.P. Building Services, Sam's Service, Panos Farm Supply lumber yard & hardware, Protivin Builders, Ondrashek Construction, Allan Moudry-Ron Novak Builders & Cabinet Making, Jane's Little Villa Salon, Koshatka Farm Equipment, Protivin Guest House, Protivin Locker & Meat Market, Bank of the West for all your banking needs, Fenske Blacksmith Shop, Hansmier Welding, Protivin Community Fire Department, Jestrab Excavating, Shindelar Auction Service, Bill Berka Lawn & Garden, Bob Bader Small Engine Repair, Ernest Fencl Milk Hauling, Micki's Mini Mart.
Protivin also boasts a fine Softball Park, a City Park, newly constructed City Hall also Housing the Protivin Post Office, a Veterans Memorial, a large Community Center, Trinity Catholic School, a very well kept Holy Trinity Cemetery and a short distance east of Protivin is the Bohemian National Cemetery.