Editing Sparta, Tennessee

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Sparta, Tennessee
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = Bluegrass USA
| motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Downtown-Sparta-tn1.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Sparta's business district
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = File:White County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sparta Highlighted 4770180.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Sparta in White County, Tennessee.
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Tennessee]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Tennessee|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[White County, Tennessee|White]]

<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='47'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 17.41
| area_land_km2            = 17.41
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi         = 6.72
| area_land_sq_mi          = 6.72
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total         = 4998
| population_density_km2   = 287.05
| population_density_sq_mi = 743.42

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 919
| coordinates              = {{coord|35|55|56|N|85|28|11|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 38583
| area_code                = [[Area code 931|931]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 47-70180<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1269179<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1269179}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|spartatn.com}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
}}

'''Sparta''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[White County, Tennessee|White County]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> [[Tennessee]], United States. The population was 5,001 in 2020.<ref name=census3>[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], United States Census Bureau. Accessed: March 14, 2016.</ref>

The [[Calfkiller River]] flows through the city. Seven sites in Sparta are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in White County, Tennessee|National Register of Historic Places]].

== History ==

Sparta was established in 1809 as a county seat for White County, which had been created in 1806. The city was named after the ancient Greek city-state [[Sparta]].<ref name=williams>Coral Williams, "[http://www.danielhaston.com/history/tn-history/white-county/legends-whiteco1.htm Legends and Stories of White County, Tennessee]."  Transcribed for web content by Dona Terry, 2002. Retrieved: January 6, 2008.</ref>  
[[Image:Sparta-tennessee-rockhouse2.jpg|thumb|left|The Sparta Rock House]]

Sparta nearly became the capital of the state of Tennessee, as, early in the history of Tennessee, the state legislature voted to choose a location for the permanent state capital. The final vote resulted in a near tie between Sparta and [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]. Sparta lost to Nashville by one vote.<ref name=williams />

Sparta grew quickly due to its location along the stage road between [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] and Nashville. In the 1830s, brothers Barlow and Madison Fisk built the [[Sparta Rock House]], which served as an inn along the stage road. The Rock House, strategically situated in an area where the Cumberland Plateau gives way to the Calfkiller valley, was a common stopover for figures important to the early history of the state, including [[Andrew Jackson]] and [[Sam Houston]].<ref>Tennessee Historical Commission marker 2D 35 on US-70 in Sparta, Tennessee. Information obtained: January 5, 2008.</ref> The building is now a state historic site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sparta is notable as a place where two renowned airmen lost their lives. [[Hawthorne C. Gray]], an aviation record holder, died in a balloon-basket mishap over Sparta in 1927, and [[Lansing Colton Holden Jr.]], a World War I flying ace, crashed his plane near Sparta in 1938.

Teenagers [[Disappearance of Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel|Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel]] went missing in Sparta in 2000, and were not discovered until February 2022 when scuba diver [[Jeremy Sides]] found Foster's vehicle in the [[Calfkiller River]].<ref name=":0">Peiser, Jaclyn. "Two teens went missing 21 years ago. A scuba-diving YouTuber solved the cold case." ''Washington Post'', December 10, 2021, p. NA. ''Gale General OneFile'', link.gale.com/apps/doc/A686196232/ITOF?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e66d95f2. Accessed July 21, 2022.</ref>

==Geography==
Sparta is located at {{coord|35|55|56|N|85|28|11|W|type:city}} (35.932335, -85.469837),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> approximately fifteen miles south of [[Cookeville, Tennessee|Cookeville]]. The city is situated on the [[Highland Rim]], near the western base of the [[Cumberland Plateau]]. The [[Calfkiller River]] traverses Sparta north-to-south en route to its confluence with the [[Caney Fork]] several miles to the south.

Sparta is traditionally concentrated around its courthouse square along [[U.S. Route 70 in Tennessee|U.S. Route 70]] (signed locally as Bockman Way), which connects Sparta with [[Crossville, Tennessee|Crossville]] to the east and [[Smithville, Tennessee|Smithville]] to the west. [[State Route 111 (Tennessee)|State Route 111]], which traverses the western part of Sparta, connects the city with [[Cookeville, Tennessee|Cookeville]] to the north and [[Spencer, Tennessee|Spencer]] to the south. A modern commercial area has developed around the intersection of US 70 and SR 111. [[Tennessee State Route 84|State Route 84]] winds its away up the Calfkiller Valley, connecting Sparta with [[Monterey, Tennessee|Monterey]] atop the Plateau to the northeast. [[U.S. Route 70S]] connects Sparta with [[McMinnville, Tennessee|McMinnville]] to the southwest.

The [[Upper Cumberland Regional Airport]] is {{convert|11|mi|km|abbr=on}} north of Sparta.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.3|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Climate==
Sparta's climate is humid subtropical (''Cfa'') under the [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] system, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Under the [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]] system, it is a borderline humid subtropical (''Cf'') and oceanic (''Do'') climate, supported by the fact that subtropical plants like [[Magnolia grandiflora|Southern Magnolia]] and the occasional [[Rhapidophyllum|Needle Palm]] can reach their full potential here but struggle much further north.

{{Weather box
|location = Sparta, Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 81
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 108
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 91
|Dec record high F = 78
|year record high F = 108

|Jan avg record high F = 68.2
|Feb avg record high F = 72.6
|Mar avg record high F = 79.1
|Apr avg record high F = 85.2
|May avg record high F = 88.7
|Jun avg record high F = 93.5
|Jul avg record high F = 95.2
|Aug avg record high F = 94.7
|Sep avg record high F = 91.9
|Oct avg record high F = 85.0
|Nov avg record high F = 77.8
|Dec avg record high F = 69.4
|year avg record high F = 96.4

|Jan high F = 47.3
|Feb high F = 51.9
|Mar high F = 60.7
|Apr high F = 70.3
|May high F = 77.9
|Jun high F = 84.8
|Jul high F = 87.9
|Aug high F = 87.3
|Sep high F = 82.1
|Oct high F = 71.8
|Nov high F = 59.9
|Dec high F = 50.7
|year high F = 69.4
|Jan mean F = 37.5
|Feb mean F = 40.9
|Mar mean F = 48.7
|Apr mean F = 57.7
|May mean F = 66.2
|Jun mean F = 73.9
|Jul mean F = 77.3
|Aug mean F = 76.3
|Sep mean F = 70.4
|Oct mean F = 58.8
|Nov mean F = 47.8
|Dec mean F = 40.8
|year mean F = 58.0
|Jan low F = 27.8
|Feb low F = 29.9
|Mar low F = 36.7
|Apr low F = 45.1
|May low F = 54.5
|Jun low F = 63.1
|Jul low F = 66.7
|Aug low F = 65.3
|Sep low F = 58.6
|Oct low F = 45.8
|Nov low F = 35.8
|Dec low F = 30.9
|year low F = 46.7

|Jan avg record low F = 8.1
|Feb avg record low F = 12.6
|Mar avg record low F = 19.3
|Apr avg record low F = 28.2
|May avg record low F = 38.0
|Jun avg record low F = 50.6
|Jul avg record low F = 56.8
|Aug avg record low F = 55.7
|Sep avg record low F = 43.3
|Oct avg record low F = 29.2
|Nov avg record low F = 19.7
|Dec avg record low F = 14.4
|year avg record low F = 5.5

|Jan record low F = -15
|Feb record low F = -20
|Mar record low F = 6
|Apr record low F = 21
|May record low F = 28
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 47
|Aug record low F = 46
|Sep record low F = 29
|Oct record low F = 19
|Nov record low F = 7
|Dec record low F = −16
|year record low F = -20
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.09
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.11
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.63
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.30
|May precipitation inch = 5.03
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.51
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.83
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.42
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.02
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.28
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.45
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.02
|year precipitation inch = 58.69
|Jan snow inch = 1.5
|Feb snow inch = 2.5
|Mar snow inch = 0.5
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.1
|Dec snow inch = 0.4
|year snow inch = 5.0
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.7
|Feb precipitation days = 12.1
|Mar precipitation days = 13.2
|Apr precipitation days = 12.0
|May precipitation days = 12.2
|Jun precipitation days = 12.0
|Jul precipitation days = 11.8
|Aug precipitation days = 9.9
|Sep precipitation days = 8.2
|Oct precipitation days = 8.4
|Nov precipitation days = 10.0
|Dec precipitation days = 12.3
|year precipitation days = 134.8
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.9
|Feb snow days = 1.3
|Mar snow days = 0.4
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.4
|year snow days = 3.0
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=ohx
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = October 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00408522&format=pdf
| title = Station: Sparta Wastewater Plant, TN
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = October 2, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 452
|1870= 414
|1890= 712
|1900= 895
|1910= 1409
|1920= 1517
|1930= 2211
|1940= 2506
|1950= 4299
|1960= 4510
|1970= 4930
|1980= 4864
|1990= 4681
|2000= 4599
|2010= 4925
|2020= 4998
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR9">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 4, 2012|title=Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:47&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Sparta racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4770180&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 4,244
| 84.91%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 236
| 4.68%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 18
| 0.36%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 56
| 1.12%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 241
| 4.82%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 205
| 4.1%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 5,001 people, 1,697 households, and 1,035 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,599 people, 1,952 households, and 1,270 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|725.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,192 housing units at an average density of {{convert|345.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.82% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.28% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.65% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.13% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.67% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.24% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.15% of the population.

[[File:Oldham-Theater-Sparta-tn1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Oldham Theater]]

There were 1,952 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,775, and the median income for a family was $33,060. Males had a median income of $26,970 versus $20,295 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,340. About 16.2% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.3% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

== Notable people ==
[[File:Lester-flatt-sparta-tn-memorial2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Lester Flatt Memorial in Sparta]]

* [[Foster V. Brown]], U.S. Congressman<ref name="Onofrio">{{cite book | last = Onofrio | first = Jan | title = Tennessee Biographical Dictionary  | publisher = Somerset | year = 2000 | isbn = 9780403097005 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zyw4bSvQxJUC&pg=PP1}}</ref>
* [[David Culley]], NFL coach<ref>{{cite web | title = David Culley | publisher = Buffalo Bills | url = http://www.buffalobills.com/team/coaches/culley_david/39c07293-6d34-434a-9107-e46739f0f016 | access-date = January 28, 2017}}</ref>
* [[John D. Defrees]], newspaperman and politician
* [[George Gibbs Dibrell]], Civil War general (Confederate) and U.S. Congressman<ref name="Onofrio"/>
* [[Lester Flatt]], bluegrass musician in the ''[[Foggy Mountain Boys]]''
* [[John C. Floyd]], U.S. Congressman <ref>{{cite web | title = John C. Floyd | url = http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000222|publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= November 11, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel]], Missing teenagers
* [[Erasmus Lee Gardenhire]], politician and judge who served in the [[Confederate States Congress]] and [[Tennessee House of Representatives]]; lived his adult life in Sparta<ref>{{cite web | title = Erasmus Lee Gardenhire | publisher = Overton County News | date = August 21, 2012 | url = http://ww.overtoncountynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8275:erasmus-lee-gardenhire&catid=66:history&Itemid=99 | access-date = November 11, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131111064334/http://ww.overtoncountynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8275:erasmus-lee-gardenhire&catid=66:history&Itemid=99 | archive-date = November 11, 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
* [[Kellie Harper]], former player and head coach of the [[Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball|Tennessee Lady Vols]] basketball team; grew up in Sparta<ref>{{cite web | last = Killan | first = Teresa | title = From the Bench with Kellie Harper, Award-Winning Coach of the NCAA-Bound Lady Catamounts | publisher = Western Carolina University | date = March 16, 2009 | url = http://thereporter.wcu.edu/2009/03/from-the-bench-with-kellie-harper-womens-basketball-head-coach/}}</ref>
* [[Benny Martin]], bluegrass musician who invented the eight string fiddle<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Benny+Martin?filter_anv=1&anv=Benny+Martin+And+His+8+String+Fiddle | publisher = discogs.com | title = Benny Martin And His 8 String Fiddle | access-date = August 21, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Ethan Roberts]], Major League Baseball pitcher
* [[Tom Rogers (baseball)|Tom Rogers]], Major League Baseball pitcher
* [[Charles Edward Snodgrass]], U.S. Congressman; uncle of [[Henry C. Snodgrass]]<ref>{{cite web | title = SNODGRASS, Charles Edward, (1866 - 1936) | publisher = Biographical Directory of the United States Congress | url = http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000654 | access-date = November 11, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Henry C. Snodgrass]], U.S. Congressman<ref>{{cite book | last = Capace | first = Nancy | title = Encyclopedia of Tennessee | publisher = Somerset | year = 2000 | isbn = 9780403093496 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=v8KkJq1ZRwYC&pg=PP1}}</ref>
* [[Lefty Stewart]], Major League Baseball pitcher<ref>{{cite web | title =  Lefty Stewart | 
publisher = Baseball Reference | url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stewale01.shtml | access-date = November 11, 2013}}</ref>
* [[James W. Throckmorton]], 12th Governor of Texas and U.S. Congressman<ref>{{cite web | title = Texas Governor James Webb Throckmorton  | publisher = National Governors Association | url = http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_texas/col2-content/main-content-list/title_throckmorton_james.html | access-date = November 11, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Michelle Violette]], Tennessee Tech graduate 
* [[Earl Webb]], Major League Baseball outfielder

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.spartatn.com/ City of Sparta - Official Website]
* [http://www.sparta-chamber.net Sparta - White County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.whitecountyhighschool.com/ White County High School]
* [http://www.whitecosheriff.org/ White County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://www.myspartanews.com/ Sparta Expositor Official Site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110208032603/http://whitecountyelections.com/ White County Elections Office]

{{White County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Cities in White County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:County seats in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1809]]
[[Category:1809 establishments in Tennessee]]