Sparta, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sparta, Michigan
Village
Village of Sparta
Village of Sparta welcome sign
Location within Kent County
Sparta, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Sparta, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Kent
Settled	1844
Platted	1867
Incorporated	1883
Government
• Type	Village council
Area
• Total	2.56 sq mi (6.63 km2)
• Land	2.55 sq mi (6.60 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	800 ft (243 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,244
• Density	1,663.01/sq mi (642.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	49345
Area code(s)	616
FIPS code	26-75420
GNIS feature ID	0638470

Sparta is a small village in Kent County, located in the state of Michigan in the United States. In 2020, about 4,244 people lived there. Sparta is part of Sparta Township.

This village is also part of the larger Grand Rapids metropolitan area. It is located about 10 miles (16 km) north of the city of Grand Rapids.

History of Sparta

The area where Sparta is now was first settled in 1844. The township was officially set up in 1846. The first person to settle in what is now the village was Jonathan Nash in 1846. He named the place Nashville and built a sawmill on Lick Creek. Later, he changed the creek's name to Nash Creek.

Since there was already a Nashville in Michigan, the state government suggested the name Sparta. The village was officially mapped out in 1867 and became an incorporated village in 1883.

Sparta During World War II

During World War II, Sparta was home to a camp for German prisoners of war. These prisoners worked as farmhands because many local farmers had gone to fight in the war. The prisoners were treated well. Some even wrote letters to the farm owners, saying they enjoyed their time on the farm.

Music Scene in Sparta

In the 1960s, Sparta had its own independent record company and recording studio called Fenton Records. This label recorded many local bands and other "garage bands" from Michigan. Because only a few records were made, Fenton vinyl 45rpms are very rare and can be worth hundreds of dollars today. Many of these songs were later put together on a CD called Scream Loud!!!: The Fenton Records Story.

Geography and Location

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village of Sparta covers a total area of about 2.56 square miles (6.63 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.55 square miles (6.60 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.

The Rogue River flows through the eastern part of the village.

Main Roads in Sparta

• 

  M-37 highway sign
  M-37 is a major highway that runs north and south through the western edge of the village.

People of Sparta

The population of Sparta has grown steadily over the years. In 2010, there were 4,140 people living in the village. There were 1,644 households, which means groups of people living together.

About 28.5% of the people in Sparta were under 18 years old in 2010. The average age in the village was 34 years. Slightly more than half of the residents were female (52.9%), and 47.1% were male.

Famous People from Sparta

• Amherst B. Cheney – He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and ran for governor in 1888.
• Ahmed Fareed – A television personality who works for NBCSN.
• Vivian Martin – A famous stage and silent film actress.
• Cody Stamann – A professional UFC fighter.

See also

• In Spanish: Sparta (Míchigan) para niños