Sparta is a small town located in Christian County, Missouri. With a population of roughly 1,500, Sparta is the third most populous city in Christian County. The town itself is 0.9 square miles. The cost of living is about 25 percent less than most cities in the United States.
Traditionally, Sparta has been a town that has voted Republican. In the early 1900s, it was home to a Republican newspaper. The majority of the town, approximately 71 percent, votes Republican.
Sparta started out as the county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri. Robert Duncan was one of the first settlers of Sparta. In 1841, he owned the land on which the town courthouse was built. The courthouse was used for voting until about 1893. Some of the other early settlers of Sparta included Edward Davidson, Jacob Cogdill and Abner Copeland.
Sparta began its existence with an economy that was centered on agriculture as well as shipping and mining. There was a flour mill that provided employment from many residents of the town. It was also a central town for shipping lumber. Agriculture and the service industry continue to account for a significant share of Sparta's economy today.
Industries such as transportation and manufacturing account for about 25 percent of employment in Sparta. Service employment makes up approximately 16 percent of jobs in the town. There has been an increase in the professional sector. Those positions now make up close to 30 percent of employment in Sparta.
In 1900, the population of Sparta is estimated to have been 600 to 700 people. The population has hovered between 1,400 and 1,600 people for decades.
When Sparta was settled, there was one public school for grades 1 through 12. As the population increased, so did the number of schools. There is now an elementary school, middle school, high school as well as an alternative high school that serves at-risk youth. There are currently no private schools in this town.
Sparta's current demographics largely resemble what they were when the town was first settled. More than 95 percent of the population is Caucasian of European ancestry. The only shift has been that there has been a very slight increase in the Hispanic population.
