Sparta, North Carolina

Sparta is a town in Alleghany County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,770 at the 2010 census.[5] It is the county seat of Alleghany County.[6]

Sparta, North Carolina
Town
Downtown Sparta during a local music event in 2017
Coordinates: 36°30′20″N 81°7′18″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyAlleghany
Named forSparta, the Greek city-state
Government
 • MayorWes Brinegar
Area
 • Total2.36 sq mi (6.11 km2)
 • Land2.35 sq mi (6.08 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
2,927 ft (892 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,770
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
1,723
 • Density733.50/sq mi (283.23/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28675
Area code(s)336
FIPS code37-63680[3]
GNIS feature ID0995271[4]
Websitewww.townofsparta.org

History

James H. Parks, an early businessman whose store stood near the present location of the ABC store, was one of three men who donated land for the county seat in 1866. Parks is credited with suggesting the name "Sparta", after the Greek city-state.

Noteworthy businesses established in Sparta included The Alleghany News (1889), the Bank of Sparta (1902), and the second store purchased by home improvement giant Lowe's (1949). Sparta's first shopping center, Trojan Village, opened in 1977, followed by Sparta Plaza in 1986.[7]

The Alleghany County Courthouse and Jarvis House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8]

On August 9, 2020, the town was the epicenter of a moderate earthquake that was felt as far as Georgia.[9] The earthquake, which registered as a 5.1 on the Richter magnitude scale, was the largest earthquake to occur in North Carolina in over 100 years.[10]

Geography

Sparta is located at 36°30′20″N 81°7′18″W (36.505639, -81.121718).[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), of which 0.0077 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.32%, is water.[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
189095—
1900501427.4%
1910199−60.3%
1920159−20.1%
1930466193.1%
194064839.1%
1950620−4.3%
19601,04768.9%
19701,30424.5%
19801,68729.4%
19901,95716.0%
20001,817−7.2%
20101,770−2.6%
2019 (est.)1,723[2]−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,817 people, 825 households, and 441 families residing in the town. The population density was 765.2 people per square mile (296.0/km2). There were 922 housing units at an average density of 388.3 per square mile (150.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.06% White, 1.98% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.71% of the population.

There were 825 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.5% were non-families. 41.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.1% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,474, and the median income for a family was $37,596. Males had a median income of $23,304 versus $18,281 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,237. About 10.6% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 33.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable locations

Notable people
  • Sparta was stated to be the hometown of Charlotte Simmons in Tom Wolfe's 2004 novel I Am Charlotte Simmons.
  • The infamous alternate music video for "Can't Tell Me Nothing" by musical artist and producer Kanye West was filmed on location in Alleghany County near Sparta, North Carolina. The video stars actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis, as well as indie folk artist Will Oldham. Galifianakis was approached by West following a stand-up comedy show and was asked if he could "produce and perform a video for him". Galifianakis was given complete authority over the content of the video. The video includes several locals, including a young group of female cloggers from the area.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sparta town, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. Lewis, J.D. (2007). "A History of Sparta, North Carolina".
  8. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. Eliott C. McLaughlin. "5.1-magnitude earthquake strikes 100 miles north of Charlotte, along Virginia border". CNN. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  10. WRAL (2020-08-09). "Magnitude 5.1 earthquake hits NC, tremors felt across state :". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. http://teapotmuseum.org/ Sparta Teapot Museum
  14. Old time music performed by Boyden Carpenter, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, part 2. loc.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
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