 About 34.3% of families and 87.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.1% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.Sparta has a Mayor and Board of Alderman System with 2 wards and 2 alderman per ward.As of April 2017, the mayor is Nathan Stapp and as of April 2018, Ward 1 alderman are Jenni Davis and Jason Stephens and Ward 2 alderman are Steve Otten and Jarret Iorg.