Sparta, Illinois

Sparta
City
Intersection of Market Street and Broadway downtown
Intersection of Market Street and Broadway downtown
Location of Sparta in Randolph County, Illinois.
Location of Sparta in Randolph County, Illinois.
Coordinates: 38°08′57″N 89°43′50″W / 38.14917°N 89.73056°W / 38.14917; -89.73056[3]
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyRandolph
Established1829
Government
[1]
 • TypeMayor–council
Area
[2]
 • Total
11.43 sq mi (29.60 km2)
 • Land11.17 sq mi (28.93 km2)
 • Water0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
Elevation
[3]
469 ft (143 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
4,095
 • Density366.6/sq mi (141.55/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
62286
Area code618
FIPS code17-71448
GNIS feature ID2395921[3]
Websitespartaillinois.us
Pyrite discs in coal, from an old Sparta mine. Harvard Museum of Natural History

Sparta is a city in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,095 at the 2020 census.[4] It has a total area of 11.443 square miles (29.64 km2), of which 11.17 square miles (28.93 km2) (or 97.61%) is land and 0.273 square miles (0.71 km2) (or 2.39%) is water.[5]

The city was the principal filming location for the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night.[6]

Printing

After World War II, Sparta became known as "Magazineland, U.S.A." due to the presence of numerous printing plants that produced most of the mass-market color comic books in the United States. Spartan Printing employed as many as 1,000 people at its peak. Later, major comics distributors situated their warehouses in and around Sparta.[7]

Sports venue

In 2005, the expansion of the Dayton International Airport forced the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) to relocate from its previous headquarters in Vandalia, Ohio. The association chose to move to the vicinity of Sparta, following extensive lobbying by the city and the state.

In 2006, then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and local dignitaries opened the World Shooting and Recreational Complex north of Sparta. The ATA hosted its first Grand American at the facility in August, with several thousand shooters attending. In 2012 the ATA moved their national headquarters to 1105 East Broadway, Sparta, Illinois.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18701,335—
18801,75431.4%
18901,97912.8%
19002,94148.6%
19103,0814.8%
19203,3408.4%
19303,3851.3%
19403,6648.2%
19503,576−2.4%
19603,452−3.5%
19704,30724.8%
19804,95715.1%
19904,853−2.1%
20004,486−7.6%
20104,302−4.1%
20204,095−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 2020[4]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Sparta had a population of 4,095. The median age was 41.9 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83.7 males age 18 and over.[9][10]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[11]

There were 1,757 households in Sparta, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.0% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9]

There were 2,045 housing units, of which 14.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.0%.[9]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[10]
Race Number Percent
White 3,024 73.8%
Black or African American 706 17.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native 8 0.2%
Asian 15 0.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0%
Some other race 53 1.3%
Two or more races 288 7.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 105 2.6%

2000 census

As of the 2000 census[12], there were 4,486 people, 1,783 households, and 1,164 families residing in the city. The population density was 496.6 inhabitants per square mile (191.7/km2). There were 2,014 housing units at an average density of 223.0 units per square mile (86.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.39% White, 15.65% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.

There were 1,783 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,139, and the median income for a family was $41,908. Males had a median income of $30,386 versus $19,819 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,343. About 10.9% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "City Government". City of Sparta Illinois.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sparta, Illinois
  4. ^ a b "2020 Census Data". United States Census Bureau.
  5. ^ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films, 1961–1970, Part 2. American Film Institute. 1997. p. 530.
  7. ^ "End of an Era — Diamond Closing Sparta: Moving DC to Memphis". ICv2. September 9, 2001.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  10. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  11. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "Death Claims Noted Citizen". New Pittsburgh Courier (Obituary). August 25, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved September 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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