Community
History & Demographics
Facts and figures about the Town of Sparta.
Sparta is the county seat of Alleghany County. The community was named for the ancient city of Greece. The latitude of Sparta is 36.505N. The longitude is -81.121W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 2,927 feet.
Heritage, Opportunity, Pleasant Environment
Sparta's seal carries this motto and the dates 1866 and 1924. In 1866, James H. Parks and others donated land for the county seat. Sparta was first incorporated in 1879, then re-incorporated in 1924 after North Carolina changed its municipal incorporation rules.
The 1924 petition at the Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society (opens in a new tab)
Demographics
| Group | People | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,818 | |
| Male | 835 | 46.0% |
| Female | 982 | 54.0% |
| Ages 15 or younger | 272 | 15.0% |
| Ages 16 to 24 | 207 | 11.4% |
| Ages 25 to 44 | 442 | 24.3% |
| Ages 45 to 64 | 459 | 25.3% |
| Ages 65 and over | 437 | 24.1% |
- Total population
- 1,817
- Square miles (land)
- 2.37
- Population per square mile
- 765.22
The average commute time for Sparta workers is 18 minutes, compared with 26 minutes nationwide.
- More facts about Sparta at Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
- Facts about Alleghany County, North Carolina at Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Town milestones
1866
A town site for the county seat
James H. Parks and others donated land for Sparta's town site, the seat of Alleghany County.
1924
Sparta re-incorporated
Sparta was re-incorporated in 1924. The dates 1866 and 1924 appear on the Town seal.
1969
Crouse Park
The park was donated to the town in 1969 by R. Floyd Crouse and Crystal S. Crouse in memory of Floyd Crouse and Sarah Ellen Gambill Crouse.
2018
Streetscape and Waterline Project begins
Finding it necessary to replace the existing 80-year-old waterline, the Town began the Sparta Downtown Streetscape & Waterline Project along the downtown corridor.
2019
Notice to Proceed
The Notice to Proceed was signed by Mayor Wes Brinegar on August 22, 2019.
2021
Streetscape project complete
The project's final update, July 12, 2021, reads Project Complete.
2022
Town tax collection begins
Beginning July 1, 2022, the Town of Sparta began billing and collecting tax money due to the Town for 2022 taxes and beyond.
2026
FY2026-2027 budget
The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Message was published in June 2026.