Top 5 Things You May Not Know About Sweetwater

The Greatest Little Show on Earth

Once upon a South Florida time (1938 to be exact), Sweetwater was born thanks to a troupe of retired Russian circus performers—all little people—who decided they'd had enough of big tents and bigger cities. 

So, what did they do? They built themselves a village of miniature homes, creating what newspapers cheekily dubbed the "Midget Community of Sweetwater." 

Back then, they used the term differently, but today we treat it as part of this city's delightfully quirky history. 

Picture a neighborhood out of a Wes Anderson film—pastel bungalows, tight-knit vibes, and circus stories for days. 

These performers were Sweetwater's original icons who inspired a town that still embraces the unexpected. 

So, when in doubt, follow the circus.

Population: 25.

In 1941, Sweetwater was a tiny town with a population of only 25 people. 

And get this: all of them voted in the city's first election. 

It's possibly the only election in history where everyone knew each other and what everyone was bringing to the potluck. 

The first mayor was Joe Sanderlin, a 6-foot-tall manager of the local circus troupe who became the towering guardian of the town's dreams (and its shortest residents), like running a government and a variety show all at once. 

Who says you need a thousand votes to make a city? 

In Sweetwater, all it took was 25 determined dreamers, and probably a lot of coffee and cookies.

A Musical Block Party with a Religious Twist

Move over, carolers—there's a new kind of holiday singing group in the house. 

Every December 7th, Sweetwater celebrates La Gritería—a festive Nicaraguan tradition that mixes religion, music, and intense sugar highs. 

Here, families set up altars to the Virgin Mary in their front yards, on porches, or even in the backs of trucks, in anticipation of the fun that starts with neighbors walking the streets, shouting and singing, "¿Quién causa tanta alegría? – ¡La Concepción de María!" as the whole city transforms into a joyful, musical call-and-response. 

And instead of boring candy canes, you get handmade Nicaraguan sweets, toys, or even tamales. 

It's like Halloween met Christmas in a Latin street fiesta, and we're pretty sure that if heaven had a block party, it would look (and sound) like this.

Fritanga Crawl, Anyone?

If your stomach could choose a city to move to, there's no doubt it would pick Sweetwater. 

Why? Because it's a fritanga paradise, where you can have Nicaraguan soul food galore served at cozy, no-frills eateries on every corner. 

Craving carne asada, gallo pinto, or queso frito at 2 PM or 2 AM? Drop by Sweetwater's local foodie HQ, El Centro Comercial Managua, a strip mall home to legends like Carne Asada Tortilleria Nica, and Raspados Loly's, which has been offering sweet, fruity shaved ice for decades. 

Sweetwater is an edible tour of Nicaragua sans the passport—need we say more?

Sweetwater's Shopping Supernova 

What happens when a city annexes a mall the size of a small country? You get Sweetwater's most ambitious growth spurt ever. 

In 2010, Sweetwater gobbled up 2 square miles of land around Dolphin Mall, and—boom—it doubled in size faster than a holiday sale at Zara. 

This mall is a shopping safari, complete with outlet treasures, movie theaters, bowling, and more restaurants than your weekend cheat day can handle. 

Locals say it's easy to get lost in Dolphin Mall—and honestly, they're not wrong. 

You'll enter looking for socks and emerge six hours later with three bags, a takeout meal, and some emotional support pretzels. 

Shop till Sweetwater drops? BIG FAT YES, all day, every day.