| Sparks Ridge | E Mitchell County between Bear Creek and Bailey Meadows. |
| Sparta | town and county seat, central Alleghany County. Post office est. there as Bower's Store, 1825; name changed to Gap Civil, 1846, and to Sparta, 1879. Inc. 1879. Named for the ancient city in Greece. Alt. 2,939. Produces apparel and textiles. See also Gap Civil Township. |
| Sparta | See Old Sparta. |
| Sparta Mill Pond | central Alleghany County on Little River. Formed in 1920. Covers 8 acres; max. depth 10 ft. Fishing and swimming. |
| Sparta Township | former township in SE Edgecombe County, now township no. 8. |
| Spear | community in W Avery County; settled 1815-30. Named for nearby Spear Tops Mountain. |
| Spear Tops Mountain | on Avery-Mitchell county line. Named because of its two spear-shaped peaks. |
| Speculation Land | massive tract in W Polk and E Henderson Counties acquired in 1790s by Speculation Land Company organized by Tench Coxe of Philadelphia. Some property remained unclaimed into the mid-twentieth century. In time, land was managed by Carolina Power Company (later Duke Power) and today is part of the Green River wildlife management area. |
| Speed | town in E Edgecombe County; inc. 1901. Named for E. T. Speed. |
| Speedwell | community in W Jackson County on Tilley Creek. |