Sparta, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sparta, North Carolina
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Aerial view of Sparta
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  North Carolina |
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| County | Alleghany | |
| Named for | Sparta, the Greek city-state | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.36 sq mi (6.11 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.35 sq mi (6.08 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) | |
| Elevation | 2,861 ft (872 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,834 | |
| • Density | 780.76/sq mi (301.47/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
28675
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| Area code(s) | 336 | |
| FIPS code | 37-63680 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407378 | |
Sparta is a charming town located in North Carolina, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Alleghany County. According to the 2020 United States census, about 1,834 people live in Sparta.
Contents
Exploring Sparta's Past: A Look at History
How Sparta Got Its Name
Sparta became the county seat in 1866. A businessman named James H. Parks helped make this happen. He was one of three people who gave land for the town. Mr. Parks is also known for suggesting the name "Sparta." He named it after the famous ancient Greek city-state.
Growing Businesses and Landmarks
Over the years, Sparta saw many important businesses start up. The Alleghany News, a local newspaper, began in 1889. The Bank of Sparta opened its doors in 1902. Later, in 1949, the well-known home improvement store Lowe's opened its second-ever location here. The town also welcomed its first shopping center, Trojan Village, in 1977. Sparta Plaza followed in 1986.
Some buildings in Sparta are very special. The Alleghany County Courthouse and the Jarvis House are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
The 2020 Earthquake in Sparta
On August 9, 2020, Sparta experienced a notable event. A moderate earthquake happened right in the town. People felt this earthquake as far away as Georgia! It measured 5.1 on the Richter magnitude scale. This made it the biggest earthquake in North Carolina in over 100 years.
Sparta's Location and Natural Surroundings
Understanding Sparta's Area
The United States Census Bureau tells us about Sparta's size. The town covers a total area of about 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.0077 square miles (0.02 km2), is water. This means Sparta is mostly land-based.
Sparta's Weather: A Look at the Climate
Typical Weather Patterns
Sparta experiences a varied climate throughout the year. The weather box below shows the average temperatures and rainfall. You can see how the seasons change in Sparta. Summers are generally warm, and winters are cool. The town also gets a good amount of rain and some snow each year.
| Climate data for SPARTA 3.5 SSW, NC, 1991-2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44.5 (6.9) |
46.4 (8.0) |
52.8 (11.6) |
63.4 (17.4) |
70.6 (21.4) |
79.8 (26.6) |
83.6 (28.7) |
82.1 (27.8) |
75.0 (23.9) |
65.8 (18.8) |
54.8 (12.7) |
46.2 (7.9) |
63.8 (17.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.4 (0.8) |
35.4 (1.9) |
42.1 (5.6) |
51.6 (10.9) |
59.9 (15.5) |
68.5 (20.3) |
72.7 (22.6) |
70.9 (21.6) |
63.9 (17.7) |
53.5 (11.9) |
43.4 (6.3) |
36.0 (2.2) |
52.6 (11.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.3 (−5.4) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
39.8 (4.3) |
49.2 (9.6) |
57.1 (13.9) |
61.7 (16.5) |
59.6 (15.3) |
52.7 (11.5) |
41.2 (5.1) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
25.8 (−3.4) |
41.4 (5.2) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.46 (113) |
3.15 (80) |
4.91 (125) |
5.36 (136) |
5.48 (139) |
4.87 (124) |
5.23 (133) |
4.93 (125) |
5.13 (130) |
4.52 (115) |
4.54 (115) |
4.51 (115) |
57.09 (1,450) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.3 (13) |
4.2 (11) |
3.1 (7.9) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
4.7 (12) |
18.6 (47) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.2 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 11.0 | 11.3 | 11.1 | 8.1 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 101.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 6.7 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Sparta: Population and Community
Population Growth Over Time
The population of Sparta has changed over many years. The table below shows how many people lived in the town during different census counts.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 95 | — | |
| 1900 | 501 | 427.4% | |
| 1910 | 199 | −60.3% | |
| 1920 | 159 | −20.1% | |
| 1930 | 466 | 193.1% | |
| 1940 | 648 | 39.1% | |
| 1950 | 620 | −4.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,047 | 68.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,304 | 24.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,687 | 29.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,957 | 16.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,817 | −7.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,770 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,834 | 3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Sparta's Community in 2020
The 2020 United States census counted 1,834 people living in Sparta. There were 732 households and 409 families in the town. The table below shows the different groups of people who make up Sparta's community.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,329 | 72.46% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 35 | 1.91% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 10 | 0.55% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 59 | 3.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 394 | 21.48% |
Sparta's Community in 2000
The census in 2000 showed that 1,817 people lived in Sparta. There were 825 households and 441 families. The town had about 922 units per square mile (356 units/km2) housing units. The population density was about 765.2 inhabitants per square mile (295.4/km2). The community was made up of 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. About 7.71% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Things to See
- The Alleghany Historical Museum, located at 45 N. Main Street, is open Thursday through Saturday (11 a.m.-3 p.m.).
- The Dr. Grabow American pipe smoking manufacture has been located in Sparta since 1943.
Famous People from Sparta
Sparta is home to some notable individuals:
- Boyden Carpenter (1909–1995), a talented bluegrass artist.
- Zach Galifianakis (born 1969), a well-known American actor, comedian, musician, and writer.
- Del Reeves (1932–2007), a popular country singer.
See also
In Spanish: Sparta (Carolina del Norte) para niños
