Abstract
In the Cowhouse valley of western Bell County, the rural community of Sparta existed for one hundred years. Unlike many small communities that fell to the pressures of commercial farming and urbanization, Sparta remained a cohesive and vital community until the waters of Belton Reservoir inundated its farmland. Twelve historic farmsteads, located in the uplands surrounding the reservoir, were deemed historically significant, and thus, merited further investigation, Archival documentation of each site, such as deed and tax records, population and agricultural censuses, as well as a description of the artifacts collected, are presented here. Six oral histories were collected from former residents of the Sparta community. They gave testimony to life on the farm and involvement in the community. The data obtained from these three avenues of inquiry are synthesized within the community study model of Kolb and Snead (1997). This model focuses on three elements of community--social reproduction, subsistence production and community self-awareness. Through its application, aspects of the community's tenancy have come to light. Sparta's families were economically self-sufficient, however, they participated in a system of mutual dependency. The bonds that sustained the life of Sparta through three and four generations have been attributed to stability on the land, strong kinship ties, an active social life, a common vocation and a shared history.
Macaulay, Carol Fiorillo (1998). Sparta, Texas traditions of self-sufficiency and community solidarity. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1998 -THESIS -M33.