Sparta, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sparta, Georgia
|
|
|---|---|
Sparta Historic District
|
|
Location in Hancock County and the state of Georgia
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Hancock |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2) |
| • Land | 1.81 sq mi (4.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,357 |
| • Density | 749.31/sq mi (289.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
31087
|
| Area code(s) | 706 |
| FIPS code | 13-72584 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0323330 |
Sparta is a city located in Hancock County, Georgia, United States. It is also the county seat, meaning it's the main town where the county government is located. In 2020, about 1,357 people lived in Sparta.
Contents
History of Sparta
Sparta was founded in 1795. It was created in the newly formed Hancock County. In 1797, it became the county seat. This means it was chosen as the central place for the county's government.
The town officially became a town in 1805. Later, in 1893, it was recognized as a city. Sparta got its name from the ancient city-state of Sparta in Ancient Greece.
During the American Civil War in 1864, Sparta was almost untouched. This happened during a famous event called Sherman's March to the Sea. A Confederate captain named Henry Culver helped guide Union troops away from the area. He was the son-in-law of a local businessman, William Fraley.
Geography and Location
Sparta is located at about 33.2773 degrees North and 82.9715 degrees West. The city covers a total area of about 1.8 square miles (4.7 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land.
Main Roads in Sparta
Several important roads pass through Sparta, making it easy to travel to and from the city.
State Route 15
State Route 16
State Route 22
Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 848 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,540 | 81.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,150 | −25.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,715 | 49.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,895 | 10.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,613 | −14.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,872 | 16.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,954 | 4.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,921 | −1.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,172 | 13.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,754 | −19.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,710 | −2.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,522 | −11.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,400 | −8.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,357 | −3.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
|||
People Living in Sparta
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 1,357 people living in Sparta. There were 669 households and 419 families.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 189 | 13.93% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,116 | 82.24% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.07% |
| Asian | 23 | 1.69% |
| Other/Mixed | 17 | 1.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11 | 0.81% |
Education in Sparta
Sparta is home to the Hancock County School District. This district provides education from pre-school all the way to twelfth grade.
The district has one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. There are 103 full-time teachers. Over 1,659 students attend schools in the district.
- Lewis Elementary School
- Hancock Central Middle School
- Hancock Central High School
- John Hancock Academy
Famous People from Sparta
Many notable people have connections to Sparta, Georgia.
- Thomas "Pee Wee" Butts – a professional baseball player.
- George Darden – a United States Representative from Georgia who attended high school in Sparta.
- Harvey Grant – a professional basketball player.
- Horace Grant – also a professional basketball player.
- Tommy Hurricane Jackson – a professional boxer.
- Adella Hunt Logan – a person who worked for women's right to vote (a suffragist).
- Jean Toomer – a writer and poet from the Harlem Renaissance era. He once worked as a school principal in Sparta.
- Angeria Paris VanMicheals – a famous drag queen who was a finalist on season 14 and won season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
See also
In Spanish: Sparta (Georgia) para niños
