Sparta

History

Sparta began as a village named "Brock's Station" in 1802, and was incorporated as a town in 1852. The community took its name from the local Sparta gristmill. Sparta became a stop on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad; the CSX railroad still runs through Sparta along Eagle Creek. Interstate 71 now is one mile from the city. In 1999, the Kentucky Speedway was built to eventually host a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. In 2000, the Truck Series raced the inaugural race, and an Xfinity Series race was held the next year. Finally in 2011, the Sprint Cup Series came and hosted their inaugural race.

Geography

Sparta is located in southwestern Gallatin County. The center of town is in Gallatin County on the north side of Eagle Creek; the city limits extend south across the creek into Owen County and north for up Kentucky Route 35, past Interstate 71 at Exit 57 and encompassing all of the Kentucky Speedway north of the Interstate. Via KY 35 it is north to Warsaw, the Gallatin County seat, and south to Owenton, the Owen County seat. I-71 leads northeast to Covington and southwest to Louisville. Kentucky Route 467 crosses KY 35 in the center of Sparta, leading northeast to Glencoe and southwest to Sanders. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.57%, is water. Eagle Creek, which flows past the center of town, continues west to the Kentucky River, a tributary of the Ohio River.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Gallatin County High School
  High · Warsaw · 493 students · 17:1 ratio
• Gallatin County Lower Elementary
  Elementary · Warsaw · 423 students · 17.6:1 ratio
• Gallatin County Middle School
  Middle · Warsaw · 326 students · 19.2:1 ratio
• Gallatin County Upper Elementary
  Elementary · Warsaw · 290 students · 14.5:1 ratio