Sparta for a city guy? (Kansas City, St. Louis: 2009, new home, purchasing)

[Deadeye600]

I am looking at purchasing my first house. I came across Sparta and noticed you can get a brand new home for a good price. I have several questions if someone would kindly answer them for me. Please bare with me, I don't want to make a mistake on where I live.

1. I am a computers and network technician for a college so I will need high speed internet access to telecommute.. Does Sparta have cable TV and high speed cable internet access? If so, who is the provider? Do you get Springfield TV stations or somewhere else?

2. What business are in Sparta? Can I get some food at 3am somewhere, or does everything shut down? Where is the nearest DOR office? How far off is medical help? How are taxes? etc.

3. How is the water? What is there source of water? Any problems with the water?

4. What is the mayor like? Conservative, liberal, etc? And council people if anyone knows about them?

5. How are the police? Are there only two officers? Does the county patrol the area?

6. Where is the nearest firearms/ammo store? and Grocery store?

7. What types of churches are there, denominations?

8. Any other info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[melissajo]

I will try my best to answer these for you.

Sparta is a tiny town. For most of your shopping and entertainment, you will be going to either Ozark or Springfield or Branson. You can get a house at a good price. I, too, have been looking at some great new construction there. However, do consider resale may be a little hard, as many in that area are looking for Ozark Schools.

1. I am a computers and network technician for a college so I will need high speed internet access to telecommute.. Does Sparta have cable TV and high speed cable internet access? If so, who is the provider? Do you get Springfield TV stations or somewhere else?
I would guess Cebridge/Suddenlink would be the internet provider in the area. They are the providers for Ozark.

2. What business are in Sparta? Can I get some food at 3am somewhere, or does everything shut down? Where is the nearest DOR office? How far off is medical help? How are taxes? etc.
In Sparta there is a China Buffet, AJ's Pizza, Subway, a few gas stations, and a couple locally owned cafes. You will not likely be able to do ANYTHING at 3am in Sparta...and not much in Ozark either. The closest DOR office is in Ozark on the square. There are dr. offices in the area, and Cox and St. Johns both have great hospital facilities not too far away in Springfield. I have never lived in Sparta so I cannot comment on taxes, thought I would assume they would be below Nixa and Ozark.

3. How is the water? What is there source of water? Any problems with the water?
I don't know about this one.
4. What is the mayor like? Conservative, liberal, etc? And council people if anyone knows about them?
The town is very conservative...not sure I have ever seen the mayor or any other city official type. I know the school board and superintendent are conservative type people. There are a lot of really nice people in this area.
5. How are the police? Are there only two officers? Does the county patrol the area?
I would guess there are like 2 police officers Don't speed in front of the school or they will get you.l speak from experience.
6. Where is the nearest firearms/ammo store? and Grocery store?
There is a small grocery store in town but for a larger variety I would guess you would have to run to Ozark (walmart is about 10 minutes away). There is also a small hardware store, but Lowes in Ozark is only about ten minutes away...next to WalMart.
7. What types of churches are there, denominations?
There are several christian churches in the area. I couldn't tell you much more than that.

Good luck in your home search.

8. Any other info would be appreciated.

[Deadeye600]

I also forgot to ask. What about snow removal? Will I be snowed in for days? I don't have a 4 wheel drive.

Thanks for the answers!

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by Deadeye600

I also forgot to ask. What about snow removal? Will I be snowed in for days? I don't have a 4 wheel drive.

Thanks for the answers!

Mostly they get to you when they can and the busiest roads are taken care of first. Please realize that you will have to be more self sufficient than you ever thought about being in a city.

[Deadeye600]

What do you mean by self sufficient? Make sure I am well stocked up on food, gas, and ice melt? It will definitly be a change. I grew up in St. Louis and moved to Springfield about 3 years ago.

[sparta06]

Sparta is a good choice. I'm not sure about your first question.

There are several types of businesses in Sparta ranging to food (Pizza, Chinese, Subway, etc), Pharmacy, Video Store, Dollar General, etc. Taxes are low compared to the surrounding cities such as Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, etc.

I'm not sure what the source of the water is, but to my knowledge it's good water. The City is currently expanding their wasterwater treatment plant which will allow more growth and as soon as that is done, they plan on improving and expanding their water services which will be made possible by a new water tower.

Sparta just recently elected a new mayor so I don't know much about him. Typically people in Sparta are conservative, but they're open to new and different things at the same time. Mayors of small towns such as Sparta don't really get an opportunity to run the city to their political beliefs, not like they would in a bigger city like St. Louis or Kansas City. Just like the Mayor, Sparta recently elected two new City Council Members that from what I heard, have some good ideas for Sparta's future including getting the new City Park up and running.

Sparta has at least two if not three police officers. For the most part the county stays out of the City unless they're needed for assistance.

There is a grocery store in town but you would still have to go probably to Ozark to get everything you need.

MANY types of churces to choose from.

[Junk Bond]

Your posting raises some interesting questions.
1. Are you currently employed in the Ozarks or will you be looking for a job?
3. If you already have a job or are being relocated, which city is it in?
2. Are you just wanting to move to Sparta because of the cheap housing or are there other reasons?
You sound more like a transplant as a native of the area would probably already know these things. Like has been already stated it is not only small town living but it is small town OZARKS living. To some it is the greatest lifestyle immaginable but to others it can leave a bad taste in your mouth depending on what you are used to. It just sounds like you might be of the big city liberal persuassion. If you are then there's nothing wrong with that but just realize that in the Ozarks people are relatively conservative and if you can't keep your views to yourself (picking arguments with people regularly) you may find yourself marginalized at work, church, etc. Personally I never had a problem working with people of differing political views because I always kept mine to myself.

[xtoq]

1. I am a computers and network technician for a college so I will need high speed internet access to telecommute.. Does Sparta have cable TV and high speed cable internet access? If so, who is the provider? Do you get Springfield TV stations or somewhere else?

Inside of Sparta, I don't believe there is cable access or cable high speed internet. Outside of city limits, there is definitely NO cable access. CenturyTel is the DSL and phone service provider in the Sparta area. You can receive Springfield stations on most regular televisions, although the clarity is iffy.

2. What business are in Sparta? Can I get some food at 3am somewhere, or does everything shut down? Where is the nearest DOR office? How far off is medical help? How are taxes? etc.

Sparta rolls up its streets at 11pm, with the only thing being open from 10pm-11pm is Casey's. Sparta is a small town, with only 1100 people, and most do not need to be up and around after dark. With that in mind, be aware if you are driving around after midnight, for whatever reason, you will draw attention of those in authority.

3. How is the water? What is there source of water? Any problems with the water?

Inside the city limits, there is city water, which I don't know where it comes from. It tastes good, although not as good as my well water outside of town.

4. What is the mayor like? Conservative, liberal, etc? And council people if anyone knows about them?

We have a mayor, but honestly it often seems more like a resume padder than a real job. Most any city official or person in authority is going to be conservative to ultra-conservative. My advice is thus: if you can keep your opinions to yourself and not extract the opinions of others, generally you will never have to worry about the political leanings of those in authority.

5. How are the police? Are there only two officers? Does the county patrol the area?

Yes to both questions. I believe there are 4 officers, although I've only met 3, and the county patrols the area on the weekends and regularly. You will see the Sparta police daily, driving around and enforcing the speed limit, which is 25 in most of the town and 15 in front of the school, regardless of time of day.

6. Where is the nearest firearms/ammo store? and Grocery store?

There is a grocery store in Sparta, but unfortunately unless you really only need a few items you are better off going to Ozark to the PriceCutter or the Wal-Mart. The prices at the J&M in Sparta are quite high, and don't offset the cost of gas if you have to do your full shopping there. Firearms stores, unfortunately you're probably going to have to go to Springfield, unless you're looking for hunting ammo, in which case there is a small store in Sparta and one in Ozark.

7. What types of churches are there, denominations?

Mostly Baptist. Inside the city limits there are at least 2 churches, and outside the city limits (within a 6 mile radius) there are at least 6 more.

8. Any other info would be appreciated.

Honestly, unless you are prepared for a drastic change in life, even more drastic than the change from St. Louis to Springfield, you should *not* consider living in Sparta. It is a small town in nearly all aspects, and rather stiff towards outsiders. Plus you are looking at a 35 mile drive to Springfield, which can take anywhere from 35-60 minutes, depending on farm traffic. All in all, Sparta is a nice place to live, but I would think twice if you're not looking for the rural life. Ozark or Nixa is a good option for the small-town feeling without the small-town hangups. Also, if you get on the wrong side of the wrong people in Sparta, your life can become pretty touchy, as this is the heart of the "good ol' boy" system here. I've lived here all my life, and I am still an outcast because my parents moved here from California nearly 30 years ago. Fair warning.

[huntman58]

Deadeye600
About the internet and TV stations. I live in an area here in California that dose not offer any high sped internet or cable at all only local free TV and dial up. I use dish net work for TV and love it I also get the local stations with it and believe you can also there. For internet I came across a great fix for me .I need high speed and have 3 collage students also using it. We have a sprint lap top card in a linksys router. It works great with very livable uploads and down loads most times I just ran a test from California to Texas and here are the results.
Latency = 86 ms
Download = 1010kb/s
Upload = 252 kb/s
This is on an EVDO system only offered by Sprint and Verizon. All the cell phone providers offer a data system but only sprint and Verizon can you also use a router as a gateway. Some also offer a USB connector type now check what cell is best in the area and what system they have but evdo is the best. My system has two desktops and on lap top on it now. We have had 4 computers on it along with two game systems at times with no noticeable down grade in speed. Just a thought from an internet junky that looked for a way around dial up only LOL.

Originally Posted by xtoq

It is a small town in nearly all aspects, and rather stiff towards outsiders. Plus you are looking at a 35 mile drive to Springfield, which can take anywhere from 35-60 minutes, depending on farm traffic. All in all, Sparta is a nice place to live, but I would think twice if you're not looking for the rural life. Also, if you get on the wrong side of the wrong people in Sparta, your life can become pretty touchy, as this is the heart of the "good ol' boy" system here. I've lived here all my life, and I am still an outcast because my parents moved here from California nearly 30 years ago. Fair warning.[/b]

This is both good news for me and sad news. It is what I want and how I want to live when I move to Missouri and sad because I would become from California and also one of the reasons I decided not to stay in Boise Idaho! funny part is I see my self as a good old boy more then any thing but it is a lot nicer to live were your welcomed then looked down on because of the state you moved from

[sparta06]

Sparta is not "stiff" toward outsiders. I've lived in Sparta basically my whole life and people have came and gone before without a hitch.

As for the "good ol boy" system, back in April the citizens of Sparta got rid of that when they ousted members of the City Council and the sit-in Mayor in favor of newer/"fresh" citizens for those elected position. In just the past few months of the new Mayor and City Council being in office I can tell that they'll accomplish more in a year then what the past officials tried to do in 10 years.

Sparta has cable and high speed internet. The cable offers anywhere from 35-40 channels if I remember right. I haven't had the cable for a few years, went to dish network instead, but cable is offered to the citizens. As for internet, you have a few choices/options on how you wish to receive it. My family currently has DSL through CenturyTel.

A new "salvage" grocery store is going to be opening/built soon in Sparta. Some citizens are currently trying to get an ATV Motorcross Track developed that they say will bring 500-1,000 people to Sparta which in turn will help the local businesses and spur more growth. The city as of now seems to be on board with the Motorcross Track but are waiting for more information before they totally sign off on it and annex the land into the city.

The city is now searching for land for the new city park with Summer of 2009 still down as the "wishful" opening date for the park.