Spring City's twentieth-century history has followed the socioeconomic patterns established earlier; its relatively pristine visual environment has resulted in the town being *listing as **a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places. In the nineteenth century the key road through the county, now U.S. Highway 89, bypassed Spring City a mile west of town. This economic disadvantage has been partly compensated for by the lack of newer structures replacing historic sites. As a result, since the mid-1970s, many architectural gems have been restored, both by local residents and by interested newcomers. Some of the vacant buildings have been converted to new commercial, cultural, or residential uses, in part accounting for the city's population growth in each decade since 1970. Accommodating economic and social growth while retaining its historical character will be a continuing challenge for Spring City as it approaches the twenty-first century.

Allen Roberts