Sparta, Georgia


Sparta is a city in Hancock County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,400 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Hancock County. It is part of the Milledgeville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Sparta was founded in 1795 in the newly formed Hancock County. It was designated county seat in 1797. It was incorporated as a town in 1805 and as a city in 1893. The community's name is a transfer from Sparta, in Ancient Greece.

Geography

Sparta is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land.

Major Highways

According to the 2010 census estimate, there were 1,522 people, 617 households and 385 families residing in the city. The population density was 835.4 per square mile. There were 725 housing units at an average density of 397.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 4.5% White, 95.70% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.33% Asian, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 617 households of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.4% were married couples living together, 31.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.20.
Age distribution was 27.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.
The median household income was $21,664, and the median family income was $24,044. Males had a median income of $21,375 versus $17,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,403. About 31.8% of families and 34.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.2% of those under age 18 and 38.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Sparta is the site of Georgia's Hancock State Prison.

Education

Hancock County School District

The Hancock County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 103 full-time teachers and over 1,659 students.