Sparta, Wisconsin

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Sparta is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States,<ref name="GR6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> along the La Crosse River. The population was 10,025 at the 2020 census.

HistoryEdit

Sparta is located on former Ho-Chunk territory acquired by the United States in 1837. White settlement began after the government surveyed the land in 1849 and created a crossroads by building early state roads from Prairie du Chien to Hudson in 1849 and from Portage to La Crosse in 1851.Template:Sfn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first recorded settlers were brothers Frank and William Petit, who opened a tavern near the crossroads in 1851.Template:Sfn Their mother, recorded only as Mrs. Petit, named the settlement after the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A post office has been in operation at Sparta since 1852.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1854, the Wisconsin Legislature named Sparta the county seat for the newly organized Monroe County. The settlement grew with the arrival of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad in 1858 and the Chicago and North Western Railroad in 1873. The La Crosse River and area creeks provided water power for early sawmills and gristmills, and the town attracted a variety of small manufacturers in the late nineteenth century. Residents also promoted Sparta as a health resort after drilling artesian wells for mineral water in the 1860s.Template:Sfn The current Monroe County Courthouse was built in Sparta in 1895, replacing an 1863 structure.<ref name="nrhpdoc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The United States Army began to acquire land for training grounds near Sparta in 1905 and 1909. The training camp developed into Fort McCoy, named for Sparta resident Robert Bruce McCoy, and became a significant contributor to the city's economy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1967, the former route of the Chicago and North Western Railroad into Sparta was converted into the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, considered the nation's first rail trail conversion.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

GeographyEdit

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="gaz2020">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Sparta, Wisconsin skyline.jpg

Sparta, Wisconsin with interstate 90 in the foreground, looking North.

File:Sparta, Wisconsin looking south of Interstate 90.jpg

Looking south of Interstate 90.

ClimateEdit

Sparta's location in the United States' upper midwest gives the area a temperate, continental climate. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average high temperature of 85 °F (29 °C), with overnight low temperatures averaging 63 °F (18 °C). January is the coldest month, with high temperatures averaging 26 °F (−4 °C), with the overnight low temperatures around 6 °F (−14 °C).

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DemographicsEdit

Template:US Census population

2020 censusEdit

As of the census of 2020,<ref name="2020-census-5575325">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the population was 10,025. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,388 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 84.5% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.9% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 4.2% from other races, and 7.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 11.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016–2020, the median income for a household in the city was $50,993, and the median income for a family was $70,509. Male full-time workers had a median income of $46,476 versus $32,100 for female workers. The per capita income for the city was $27,491. About 6.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="2020-EconChar-5575325">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Of the population age 25 and over, 91.1% were high school graduates or higher and 22.5% had a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref name="2020-SocChar-5575325">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2010 censusEdit

As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> of 2010, there were 9,522 people, 3,986 households, and 2,342 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,192 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White, 1.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.8% of the population.

There were 3,986 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.2% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 36.5 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 censusEdit

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> of 2000, there were 8,648 people, 3,583 households, and 2,217 families living in the city. The population density was 1,582.2 people per square mile (610.4/km²). There were 3,733 housing units at an average density of 683.0 per square mile (263.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.97% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,583 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% 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 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

EconomyEdit

File:Sparta frac sand mine 2.jpg

Sparta frac sand mine

File:Century Foods in Sparta.jpg

Century Foods in Sparta

Sparta is the home and international headquarters of several businesses including Century Foods International, Northern Engraving Corp., Spartek, Mathews Inc., F.A.S.T. Corp., Sparta Brush Company, McPherson Guitars, Multistack, Lake States Lumber, and Wesco Home Furnishings. Template:Multiple image

Annual eventsEdit

Butterfest is an annual event in the city. Incorporated on February 14, 1984, it was formed to raise funds and conduct fundraising projects for the advancement of the general welfare of the city of Sparta.<ref>Sparta Butterfest - Sparta, WI</ref>

TransportationEdit

Commuter bus service towards La Crosse or Tomah is provided three times daily per direction by Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In addition, there is a daily intercity bus from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, which stops in Sparta. (See: List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin)

The Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport serves general aviation for the area.

Railroad tracks owned by Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) pass through Sparta, providing freight service.

The city is served by several major highways, including Interstate 90, Wisconsin State Highway 16, Wisconsin State Highway 21, Wisconsin State Highway 27, and Wisconsin State Highway 71.

Sparta is at one end of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. Opened in 1967, this is considered to be the first rail trail conversion. It is a 32-mile (51 km) bike trail that was redeveloped from an abandoned railway and passes through rural scenery and three tunnels. It is part of the larger Wisconsin bike trail system operated by the state of Wisconsin.<ref>"The Elroy-Sparta State Trail: America’s First Rails-to-Trails Project | Travel Wisconsin", Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Madison, 2022.</ref> Based on this, Sparta dubs itself the "Bicycling Capital of America"; the entrance to the town is marked by an oversized sculpture of a bicyclist on an old-fashioned penny farthing high-wheel bicycle. The statue, named Ben Bikin', has been given the title of "World's Largest Bicyclist."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> An annual bike ride held annually in October and called the "Will to Ben" runs between the Ben BikinTemplate:' statue with another from the same mold, named Will B. Rolling, which is located in Port Byron, Illinois.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>