Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The city's population was 202,591 in 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau. As the county seat of Pulaski County, the city was incorporated on November 7, 1831, on the south bank of the Arkansas River close to the state's geographic center. The city derived its name from a rock formation along the river, named the "Little Rock" (French: Le Petit Rocher) by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in 1722. The capital of the Arkansas Territory was moved to Little Rock from Arkansas Post in 1821. The six-county Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is ranked 81st in terms of population in the United States with 748,031 residents according to the 2020 estimate by the United States Census Bureau.[2][3]

Little Rock, Arkansas
State capital city
City of Little Rock
Clockwise from top: Little Rock skyline, Arkansas Razorbacks football in War Memorial Stadium, the Arkansas State Capitol, River Market District, Little Rock Central High School, and the William J. Clinton Presidential Library
Flag
Logo
Nickname(s): 
The Rock, Rock Town, LR
Location within Pulaski County
Little Rock
Location within Arkansas
Little Rock
Location within the United States
Little Rock
Little Rock (North America)
Coordinates: 34°44′10″N 92°19′52″W
Country United States
State Arkansas
CountyPulaski
TownshipBig Rock
FoundedJune 1, 1821
Incorporated (town)November 7, 1831
Incorporated (city)November 2, 1835
Named forFrench: La Petite Roche
(The "Little Rock")
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • MayorFrank Scott Jr. (D)
 • CouncilLittle Rock Board of Directors
Area
[1]
 • State capital city123.00 sq mi (318.58 km2)
 • Land120.05 sq mi (310.92 km2)
 • Water2.96 sq mi (7.66 km2)
 • Metro
4,090.34 sq mi (10,593.94 km2)
Elevation
335 ft (102 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • State capital city202,591
 • RankUS: 118th
 • Density1,687.60/sq mi (651.58/km2)
 • Urban
431,388 (US: 89th)
 • Metro
748,031 (US: 81st)
DemonymLittle Rocker
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (CDT)
ZIP code(s)
72201-72207, 72209-72212, 72214-72217, 72219, 72221-72223, 72225, 72227, 72231, 72255, 72260, 72295
Area code501
FIPS code05-41000
GNIS feature ID83350
Major airportClinton National Airport/Adams Field (LIT)
Interstate Highways I-30, I-40, I-430, I-440, I-530, I-630
Other major highways US 65, US 67, US 70, US 167
Websitewww.littlerock.gov

Little Rock is a cultural, economic, government, and transportation center within Arkansas and the South. Several cultural institutions are in Little Rock, such as the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, in addition to hiking, boating, and other outdoor recreational opportunities. Little Rock's history is available through history museums, historic districts or neighborhoods of Little Rock like the Quapaw Quarter, and historic sites such as Little Rock Central High School. The city is the headquarters of Dillard's, Windstream Communications, Stephens Inc., University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Heifer International, Winrock International, the Clinton Foundation, and the Rose Law Firm. Other corporations, such as Amazon, Dassault Falcon Jet, LM Wind Power, Simmons Bank, Euronet Worldwide, AT&T, and Entergy have large operations in the city. The state government is a large employer, with many offices downtown. Two major Interstate highways, Interstate 30 and Interstate 40, meet in Little Rock, with the Port of Little Rock serving as a shipping hub.

Etymology

Little Rock derives its name from a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River called the "Little Rock" (French: La Petite Roche). The Little Rock was used by early river traffic as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing. The Little Rock is across the river from The Big Rock, a large bluff at the edge of the river, which was once used as a rock quarry.[4]

History

Archeological artifacts provide evidence of Native Americans inhabiting Central Arkansas for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. The early inhabitants may have been the Folsom people, Bluff Dwellers, and Mississippian culture peoples who built earthwork mounds recorded in 1541 by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. Historical tribes of the area are the Caddo, Quapaw, Osage, Choctaw, and Cherokee.

Little Rock was named for a stone outcropping on the bank of the Arkansas River used by early travelers as a landmark.[5] It was named in 1722 by French explorer and trader Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe, marked the transition from the flat Mississippi Delta region to the Ouachita Mountain foothills. Travelers referred to the area as the "Little Rock". Though there was an effort to officially name the city "Arkopolis" upon its founding in the 1820s, and that name did appear on a few maps made by the US Geological Survey, the name Little Rock is eventually what stuck.[6][7][8]

The skyline of Little Rock, viewed from the north bank of the Arkansas River

Geography

Little Rock is located at 34°44′10″N 92°19′52″W (34.736009, −92.331122).[9]

Satellite photo of Little Rock in 2020

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 116.8 square miles (303 km2), of which 116.2 square miles (301 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.52%) is water.

Little Rock is on the south bank of the Arkansas River in Central Arkansas. Fourche Creek and Rock Creek run through the city, and flow into the river. The western part of the city is in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Northwest of the city limits are Pinnacle Mountain and Lake Maumelle, which provides Little Rock's drinking water.

The city of North Little Rock is just across the river from Little Rock, but it is a separate city. North Little Rock was once the 8th ward of Little Rock. An Arkansas Supreme Court decision on February 6, 1904, allowed the ward to merge with the neighboring town of North Little Rock. The merged town quickly renamed itself Argenta (the local name for the former 8th Ward), but returned to its original name in October 1917.[10]

Neighborhoods
Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton lived in this 980 square foot (91 m2) house in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock from 1977 to 1979 while he was Arkansas Attorney General.[11]
  • Applegate
  • Birchwood
  • Breckenridge
  • Briarwood
  • Broadmoor
  • Bryce's Creek
  • Capitol-Main Historic District
  • Capitol View/Stifft's Station
  • Central High School Historic District
  • Chenal Valley
  • Cloverdale
  • Colony West
  • Downtown
  • Echo Valley
  • East End
  • Fair Park
  • Geyer Springs
  • Governor's Mansion
  • Granite Mountain
  • Gum Springs
  • Hanger Hill
  • Hall High
  • The Heights
  • Highland Park
  • Hillcrest
  • John Barrow
  • Leawood
  • Mabelvale
  • MacArthur Park
  • Marshall Square
  • Otter Creek
  • Pankey
  • Paul Laurence Dunbar School
  • Pinnacle Valley
  • Pleasant Valley
  • Pulaski Heights
  • Quapaw Quarter
  • Riverdale
  • Robinwood
  • Rosedale
  • Scott Street
  • St. Charles
  • South End
  • South Main Street (apartments)
  • South Main Street (residential)
  • South Little Rock
  • Southwest Little Rock
  • Stagecoach
  • Sturbridge
  • University Park
  • Walnut Valley
  • Walton Heights
  • Wakefield
  • West End
  • Woodlands Edge

Metropolitan area

The 2020 U.S. Census population estimate for the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area was 748,031. The MSA covers the following counties: Pulaski, Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, and Saline. The largest cities are Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Jacksonville, Benton, Sherwood, Cabot, Maumelle, and Bryant.

Climate

Little Rock lies in the humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa), with hot, humid summers and cool winters with usually little snow. It has experienced temperatures as low as −12 °F (−24 °C), which was recorded on February 12, 1899, and as high as 114 °F (46 °C), which was recorded on August 3, 2011.[12]

Climate data for Little Rock (Little Rock Nat'l Airport), 1991−2020 normals,[lower-alpha 1] extremes 1875−present[lower-alpha 2]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 83
(28)		 87
(31)		 91
(33)		 95
(35)		 98
(37)		 107
(42)		 112
(44)		 114
(46)		 106
(41)		 98
(37)		 86
(30)		 81
(27)		 114
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 72
(22)		 76
(24)		 82
(28)		 86
(30)		 91
(33)		 96
(36)		 100
(38)		 101
(38)		 96
(36)		 89
(32)		 80
(27)		 73
(23)		 102
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 50.5
(10.3)		 55.2
(12.9)		 63.7
(17.6)		 72.8
(22.7)		 80.5
(26.9)		 88.2
(31.2)		 91.7
(33.2)		 91.5
(33.1)		 85.1
(29.5)		 74.2
(23.4)		 61.9
(16.6)		 52.6
(11.4)		 72.3
(22.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 40.7
(4.8)		 44.7
(7.1)		 52.7
(11.5)		 61.4
(16.3)		 69.9
(21.1)		 78.0
(25.6)		 81.4
(27.4)		 80.8
(27.1)		 74.0
(23.3)		 62.6
(17.0)		 51.1
(10.6)		 43.0
(6.1)		 61.7
(16.5)
Average low °F (°C) 30.9
(−0.6)		 34.2
(1.2)		 41.8
(5.4)		 50.1
(10.1)		 59.3
(15.2)		 67.7
(19.8)		 71.2
(21.8)		 70.1
(21.2)		 62.9
(17.2)		 50.9
(10.5)		 40.2
(4.6)		 33.3
(0.7)		 51.0
(10.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 16
(−9)		 21
(−6)		 27
(−3)		 37
(3)		 47
(8)		 60
(16)		 66
(19)		 64
(18)		 50
(10)		 37
(3)		 26
(−3)		 20
(−7)		 14
(−10)
Record low °F (°C) −8
(−22)		 −12
(−24)		 11
(−12)		 28
(−2)		 38
(3)		 46
(8)		 54
(12)		 52
(11)		 37
(3)		 27
(−3)		 10
(−12)		 −1
(−18)		 −12
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.50
(89)		 3.97
(101)		 4.96
(126)		 5.59
(142)		 5.08
(129)		 3.55
(90)		 3.33
(85)		 3.16
(80)		 3.01
(76)		 4.47
(114)		 4.72
(120)		 5.08
(129)		 50.42
(1,281)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 1.1
(2.8)		 1.6
(4.1)		 0.5
(1.3)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.6
(1.5)		 3.8
(9.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.2 9.3 10.5 9.4 10.9 8.0 8.7 7.2 6.6 8.1 8.5 9.5 105.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.5 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 2.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 180.9 188.2 244.5 276.7 325.3 346.2 351.0 323.0 271.9 251.0 176.9 166.2 3,101.8
Percent possible sunshine 58 62 66 71 75 80 80 78 73 72 57 54 70
Source: NOAA (sun 1961−1990 at North Little Rock Airport)[13][14][15][16]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18502,167—
18603,72772.0%
187012,380232.2%
188013,1386.1%
189025,87496.9%
190038,30748.1%
191045,94119.9%
192065,14241.8%
193081,67925.4%
194088,0397.8%
1950102,21316.1%
1960107,8135.5%
1970132,48322.9%
1980159,15120.1%
1990175,79510.5%
2000183,1334.2%
2010193,5245.7%
2020202,5914.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]

2020 census
Little Rock Racial Composition[18]
Race Num. Perc.
White 85,401 42.15%
Black or African American 81,339 40.15%
Native American 497 0.25%
Asian 7,099 3.5%
Pacific Islander 69 0.03%
Other/Mixed 7,719 3.81%
Hispanic or Latino 20,467 10.1%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 202,591 people, 80,063 households, and 45,577 families residing in the city.

2005-2007 ACS

As of the 2005–2007 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, White Americans made up 52.7% of Little Rock's population; of which 49.4% were non-Hispanic Whites, down from 74.1% in 1970.[19] Blacks or African Americans made up 42.1% of Little Rock's population, with 42.0% being non-Hispanic blacks. Native Americans made up 0.4% of Little Rock's population while Asian Americans made up 2.1% of the city's population. Pacific Islander Americans made up less than 0.1% of the city's population. Individuals from some other race made up 1.2% of the city's population; of which 0.2% were non-Hispanic. Individuals from two or more races made up 1.4% of the city's population; of which 1.1% were non-Hispanic. In addition, Hispanics and Latinos made up 4.7% of Little Rock's population.

Map of racial distribution in Little Rock, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: ⬤ White ⬤ Black ⬤ Asian ⬤ Hispanic ⬤ Other

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 193,524 people, 82,018 households, and 47,799 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,576.0 inhabitants per square mile (608.5/km2). There were 91,288 housing units at an average density of 769.1 per square mile (297.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 48.9% White, 42.3% Black, 0.4% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 6.8% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

There were 82,018 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,572, and the median income for a family was $47,446. Males had a median income of $35,689 versus $26,802 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,209. 14.3% of the population is below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.9% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Crime

In the late 1980s, Little Rock experienced a 51% increase in murder arrests of children under 17, and a 40% increase among 18- to 24-year-olds. From 1988 to 1992, murder arrests of youths under 18 increased by 256%.[20] By the end of 1992, Little Rock reached a record of 61 homicides,[21] but in 1993 surpassed it with 76.[22] It was one of the highest per-capita homicide rates in the country, placing Little Rock fifth in Money Magazine's 1994 list of most dangerous cities.[20] In July 2017, a shootout occurred at the Power Ultra Lounge nightclub in downtown Little Rock; although there were no deaths, 28 people were injured and one hospitalized. In the year 2021, Little Rock saw a decrease in the number of most violent crimes, but an increase in homicides, as they increased 24% from the year prior. [23]

Economy
Downtown Little Rock

Dillard's Department Stores, Windstream Communications and Acxiom, Simmons Bank, Bank of the Ozarks, Rose Law Firm, Central Flying Service, and large brokerage Stephens Inc. are headquartered in Little Rock. Large companies headquartered in other cities but with a large presence in Little Rock are Dassault Falcon Jet (near Little Rock National Airport in the eastern part of the city), Fidelity National Information Services (in northwestern Little Rock), and Welspun Corp (in Southeast Little Rock). Little Rock and its surroundings are home to headquarters for large nonprofit organizations, such as Winrock International, Heifer International, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Clinton Foundation, Lions World Services for the Blind, Clinton Presidential Center, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, FamilyLife, Audubon Arkansas, and The Nature Conservancy. Little Rock is also home to the American Taekwondo Association and Arkansas Hospital Association. Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, Baptist Health Medical Center, Entergy, Dassault Falcon Jet, Siemens, AT&T Mobility, Kroger, Euronet Worldwide, L'Oréal, Timex, and UAMS are employers throughout Little Rock. One of the state's largest public employers, with over 10,552 employees, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and its healthcare partners—Arkansas Children's Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System—have a total annual economic impact in Arkansas of about $5 billion. UAMS receives less than 11% of its funding from the state; it is funded by payments for clinical services (64%), grants and contracts (18%), philanthropy and other (5%), and tuition and fees (2%). The Little Rock port is an intermodal river port with a large industrial business complex. It is designated as Foreign Trade Zone 14. International corporations such as Danish manufacturer LM Glasfiber have established new facilities adjacent to the port.

Along with Louisville and Memphis, Little Rock has a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis.[24]

Arts and culture

Cultural sites in Little Rock include:

  • Quapaw Quarter – start of the 20th century Little Rock consists of three National Register historic districts with at least a hundred buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

Museums
William J. Clinton Presidential Library, in downtown Little Rock
  • The Arkansas Arts Center, the state's largest cultural institution, is a museum of art and an active center for the visual and performing arts.
  • The Museum of Discovery features hands-on exhibits in the fields of science, history and technology.
  • The William J. Clinton Presidential Center includes the Clinton presidential library and the offices of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton School of Public Service. The Library facility, designed by architect James Polshek, cantilevers over the Arkansas River, echoing Clinton's campaign promise of "building a bridge to the 21st century". The archives and library have 2 million photographs, 80 million pages of documents, 21 million e-mail messages, and nearly 80,000 artifacts from the Clinton presidency. The museum within the library showcases artifacts from Clinton's term and has a full-scale replica of the Clinton-era Oval Office. Opened on November 18, 2004, the Clinton Presidential Center cost $165 million to construct and covers 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2) within a 28-acre (113,000 m2) park.
  • The Historic Arkansas Museum is a regional history museum focusing primarily on the frontier time period.
  • The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History opened in 2001, the last remaining structure of the original Little Rock Arsenal and one of the oldest buildings in central Arkansas, it was the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur who went on to be the supreme commander of US forces in the South Pacific during World War II.
  • The Old State House Museum is a former state capitol building now home to a history museum focusing on Arkansas's recent history.
  • The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is a nationally accredited, state-funded museum and cultural center focusing on African American history and culture in Arkansas.
  • The ESSE Purse Museum illustrates the stories of American women's lives during the 1900s through their handbags and the day-to-day items carried in them

Music and theater

Founded in 1976, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre is the state's largest nonprofit professional theatre company. A member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT D), The Rep has produced more than 300 productions, including 40 world premieres, in its building in downtown Little Rock. Producing Artistic Director John Miller-Stephany leads a resident staff of designers, technicians and administrators in eight to ten productions for an annual audience in excess of 70,000 for MainStage productions, educational programming and touring. The Rep produces works from contemporary comedies and dramas to world premiers and the classics of dramatic literature.

The Community Theatre of Little Rock, founded in 1956, is the area's oldest performance art company.

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra[25] performs over 30 concerts a year and many events.

The Robinson Center Music Hall is the main performance center of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

The Wildwood Park for the Arts is the largest park dedicated to the performing arts in the South; it features seasonal festivals and cultural events.

Parks and recreation

Outside magazine named Little Rock one of its 2019 Best Places to Live.[26] Little Rock has 48 parks,[27] as well as other recreational sites, including:

Arkansas Arboretum – at Pinnacle Mountain; it has a trail with flora and tree plantings.

Arkansas River Trail

Little Rock Zoo – consists of at least 725 animals and over 200 species

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

River Market District – downtown entertainment district consisting of historic buildings along President Clinton Avenue

Willow Springs Water Park – one of the first water theme parks in the U.S., built in 1928.

Government
The Pulaski County Courthouse is in Little Rock

The city has operated under the city manager form of government since November 1957. In 1993, voters approved changes from seven at-large city directors (who rated the position of mayor among themselves) to a popularly elected mayor, seven ward directors and three at-large directors. The position of mayor remained a part-time position until August 2007. At that point, voters approved making the mayor's position a full-time position with veto power, while a vice mayor is selected by and among members of the city board. The current mayor, elected in November 2018, is Frank Scott Jr., a former assistant bank executive, pastor and state highway commissioner. The city manager is Bruce T. Moore, the longest-serving city manager in Little Rock history.[28] The city employs over 2,500 people in 14 different departments, including the police department, the fire department, parks and recreation, and the zoo.

Most Pulaski County government offices are in Little Rock, including the Quorum, Circuit, District, and Juvenile Courts; and the Assessor, County Judge, County Attorney, and Public Defender's offices.

Both the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit have judicial facilities in Little Rock. The city is served by the Little Rock Police Department.

Education

Colleges and universities

Little Rock is home to two universities that are part of the University of Arkansas System: the campuses of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are in the city. UAMS is Arkansas's largest basic and applied research institution, with programs in multiple myeloma, aging, and other areas. A pair of smaller, historically black colleges, Arkansas Baptist College and Philander Smith College, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, are also in Little Rock. Located in downtown is the Clinton School of Public Service, a branch of the University of Arkansas System, which offers master's degrees in public service. Pulaski Technical College has two locations in Little Rock. The Pulaski Technical College Little Rock-South site houses programs in automotive technology, collision repair technology, commercial driver training, diesel technology, small engine repair technology and motorcycle/all-terrain vehicle repair technology. The Pulaski Technical College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute and The Finish Line Cafe are also in Little Rock-South. There is a Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock associated with the American Baptist Association. The school began as Missionary Baptist College in Sheridan in Grant County.

Public schools
President Bill Clinton led celebrations of the 40th anniversary of desegregation at Little Rock Central High School

Little Rock is home to both the Arkansas School for the Blind (ASB) and the Arkansas School for the Deaf (ASD), which are state-run schools operated by the Board of Trustees of the ASB–ASD. In addition, eStem Public Charter High School and LISA Academy provide tuition-free public education as charter schools.

The Little Rock School District (LRSD) operates the city's comprehensive public school system. As of 2012, the district has 64 schools with more schools being built. As of the 2009–2010 school year, the district's enrollment is 25,685. It has 5 high schools, 8 middle schools, 31 elementary schools, 1 early childhood (pre-kindergarten) center, 2 alternative schools, 1 adult education center, 1 accelerated learning center, 1 career-technical center, and about 3,800 employees.

LRSD public high schools include:

  • Hall High School
  • J. A. Fair Science and Technology Systems Magnet High School
  • Little Rock Central High School
  • McClellan Magnet High School
  • Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School
  • Little Rock Southwest Magnet High School

The Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) serves parts of Little Rock. PCSSD high schools are in the city such as:

  • Mills University Studies High School
  • Joe T. Robinson High School

Private schools

Various private schools are in Little Rock, such as:

  • Arkansas Baptist School System
  • Central Arkansas Christian Schools
  • Christ Little Rock School
  • Episcopal Collegiate School
  • Little Rock Catholic High School
  • Little Rock Christian Academy
  • Mount Saint Mary Academy
  • Pulaski Academy

Little Rock's Catholic high school for African-Americans, St. Bartholomew High School, closed in 1964. The Catholic grade school St. Bartholomew School, also established for African-Americans, closed in 1974.[29] The Our Lady of Good Counsel School closed in 2006.[30]

Public libraries

The Central Arkansas Library System comprises the main building downtown and numerous branches throughout the city, Jacksonville, Maumelle, Perryville, Sherwood and Wrightsville. The Pulaski County Law Library is at the William H. Bowen School of Law.

Notable places
  • Arkansas State Capitol – a neo-classical structure with many restored interior spaces, constructed from 1899 to 1915.
  • Big Dam Bridge – The longest pedestrian/bicycle bridge in North America never been used by cars or trucks.
  • Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Andrew (1878-1881)

Sports
Club League Venue Established Championships
Arkansas Travelers Texas League Dickey-Stephens Park 1963 (played as the Little Rock Travelers from 1887-1961) 7
Little Rock Rangers USL League Two War Memorial Stadium 2016 0
Little Rock Trojans NCAA Division I (Ohio Valley Conference) Jack Stephens Center and Gary Hogan Field 1927 3
Arkansas Wolves FC National Premier Soccer League Scott Field 2021 0
Dickey Stephens Park

Little Rock is home to the Arkansas Travelers. They are the AA professional Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Seattle Mariners in the Texas League. The Travelers played their last game in Little Rock at Ray Winder Field on September 3, 2006, and moved into Dickey-Stephens Park in nearby North Little Rock in April 2007.

The Little Rock Rangers soccer club of the National Premier Soccer League played their inaugural seasons in 2016 & 2017 for the men's and women's teams respectively. Home games are played at War Memorial Stadium.

Little Rock was also home to the Arkansas Twisters (later Arkansas Diamonds) of Arena Football 2 and Indoor Football League and the Arkansas RimRockers of the American Basketball Association and NBA Development League. Both of these teams played at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.

The city is also home to the Little Rock Trojans, the athletic program of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The majority of the school's athletic teams are housed in the Jack Stephens Center, which opened in 2005. As of 2022, the Trojans play in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium hosts at least one University of Arkansas Razorback football game each year. The stadium is known for being in the middle of a golf course. Each fall, the city closes the golf course on Razorback football weekends to allow the estimated 80,000 people who attend take part in tailgating activities. War Memorial also hosts the Arkansas High School football state championships, and starting in the fall of 2006 hosts one game apiece for the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Arkansas State University also plays at the stadium from time to time.

Little Rock was a host of the First and Second Rounds of the 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament. It has also been a host of the SEC women's basketball tournament.

The now defunct Arkansas RiverBlades and Arkansas GlacierCats, both minor-league hockey teams, were in the Little Rock area. The GlacierCats of the now defunct Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) played in Little Rock at Barton Coliseum while the RiverBlades of the ECHL played at the Verizon Arena.

Little Rock is home to the Grande Maumelle Sailing Club. Established in 1959, the club hosts multiple regattas during the year on both Lake Maumelle and the Arkansas River.

Little Rock is also home to the Little Rock Marathon, held on the first Saturday of March every year since 2003. The marathon features the world's largest medal given to marathon participants.

Media

Print

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette is the largest newspaper in the city, as well as the state. As of March 31, 2006, Sunday circulation is 275,991 copies, while daily (Monday-Saturday) circulation is 180,662, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The monthly magazine Arkansas Life, part of the newspaper's niche publications division, began publication in September 2008. From 2007 to 2015, the newspaper also published the free tabloid Sync Weekly. Beginning in 2020, the ADG ceased weekday publication of the newspaper and moved to an exclusive online version. The only physical newspaper the Democrat-Gazette now publishes is a Sunday edition.[31]

The Daily Record provides daily legal and real estate news each weekday. Healthcare news covered by Healthcare Journal of Little Rock. Entertainment and political coverage is provided weekly in Arkansas Times. Business and economics news is published weekly in Arkansas Business. Entertainment, Political, Business, and Economics news is published Monthly in "Arkansas Talks".

In addition to area newspapers, the Little Rock market is served by a variety of magazines covering diverse interests. The publications are:

  • At Home in Arkansas
  • AY Magazine
  • Inviting Arkansas
  • Little Rock Family
  • Little Rock Soiree
  • RealLIVING

Television

Many television networks have local affiliates in Little Rock, in addition to numerous independent stations. As for cable TV services, Comcast has a monopoly over Little Rock and much of Pulaski County. Some suburbs have the option of having Comcast, Charter or other cable companies.

Television stations in the Little Rock area include:

Call lettersNumberNetwork
KETS/AETN2PBS
KETS-22.2Create
Arkansas Information Reading Service (audio only, only on SAP; radio reading service)
KETS-32.3PBS Kids
KETS-42.4World
KARK4NBC
Laff4.2Laff
Grit4.3Grit
Antenna TV4.4Antenna TV
KATV7ABC
KATV-DT27.2Comet TV
Charge!7.3Charge!
TBD7.4TBD
KTHV11CBS
THV211.2Court TV
Justice11.3Justice Network
Quest11.4Quest (U.S. TV network)
Circle11.5Circle (TV network)
Twist11.6Twist
KLRT16Fox
16.2Escape
KVTN25VTN: Your Arkansas Christian Connection
KASN38The CW
KKAP36Daystar
KARZ42MyNetworkTV
42.2Bounce TV
42.3Ion Television
KMYA-DT49.1Me-TV

Infrastructure

Healthcare

Hospitals in Little Rock include:

  • Arkansas State Hospital – Psychiatric Division
  • Arkansas Children's Hospital
  • Arkansas Heart Hospital
  • Baptist Health Medical Center
  • Central Arkansas Veteran's Health care System (CAVHS)
  • Pinnacle Pointe Hospital
  • St. Vincent Health System
  • UAMS Medical Center

List of highways
I-30 terminates at I-40 in North Little Rock

Two primary Interstate Highways and four auxiliary Interstates serve Little Rock. Interstate 40 (I-40) passes through North Little Rock to the north, and I-30 enters the city from the south, ending at I-40 in the north of the Arkansas River. Shorter routes designed to accommodate the flow of urban traffic across town include I-430, which bypasses the city to the west, I-440, which serves the eastern part of Little Rock including Clinton National Airport, and I-630 which runs east–west through the city, connecting west Little Rock with the central business district. I-530 runs southeast to Pine Bluff as a spur route.[32] Interstate 57 (I-57) is planned to reach Little Rock.

U.S. Route 70 (US 70 parallels I-40 into North Little Rock before multiplexing with I-30 at the Broadway exit (exit 141B). US 67 and US 167 share the same route from the northeast before splitting. US 67 and US 70 multiplex with I-30 to the southwest. US 167 multiplexes with US 65 and I-530 to the southeast.

Rail

Amtrak serves the city twice daily via the Texas Eagle, with northbound service to Chicago and southbound service to San Antonio, as well as numerous intermediate points. Through service to Los Angeles and intermediate points operates three times a week. The train carries coaches, a sleeping car, a dining car, and a Sightseer Lounge car. Reservations are required.

Class I railroads

Aviation

Seven airlines serve 14 national/international gateway cities, e.g. Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Charlotte, Orlando etc. from Clinton National Airport. In 2006 they carried approximately 2.1 million passengers on approximately 116 daily flights to and from Little Rock.

Bus

Greyhound Lines serves Dallas and Memphis, as well as intermediate points, with numerous connections to other cities and towns. Jefferson Lines serves Fort Smith, Kansas City, and Oklahoma City, as well as intermediate points, with numerous connections to other cities and towns. These carriers operate out of the North Little Rock bus station.

Public transportation
The Metro Streetcar crossing the Arkansas River

Rock Region Metro, which until 2015 was named the Central Arkansas Transit Authority (CATA), provide public bus service within the city. As of January 2010, CATA operated 23 regular fixed routes, 3 express routes, as well as special events shuttle buses and paratransit service for disabled persons. Of the 23 fixed-route services, 16 offer daily service, 6 offer weekday service with limited service on Saturday, and one route runs exclusively on weekdays. The three express routes run on weekday mornings and afternoons.

Since November 2004, Rock Region Metro's Metro Streetcar system (formerly the River Rail Electric Streetcar) has served downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock. The Streetcar is a 3.4-mile (5.5 km)-long heritage streetcar system that runs from the North Little Rock City Hall and throughout downtown Little Rock before it crosses over to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. The streetcar line has fourteen stops and a fleet of five cars with a daily ridership of around 350.

According to the 2016 American Community Survey, 82.9 percent of working Little Rock residents commuted by driving alone, 8.9 percent carpooled, 1.1 percent used public transportation, and 1.8 percent walked. About 1.3 percent commuted by all other means of transportation, including taxi, bicycle, and motorcycle. About 4 percent worked out of the home.[33]

In 2015, 8.2 percent of city of Little Rock households were without a car, which increased slightly to 8.9 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Little Rock averaged 1.58 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8 per household.[34]

Notable people
  • Matt Besser (born 1967), improvisational comedian and Upright Citizens Brigade co-founder
  • Bobo Brazil (1924–1998), African-American professional wrestler
  • Howell Chambers Brown (1880–1954), printmaker[35]
  • Minnie A. Buzbee (1880–1955), banker, advertising executive
  • Chelsea Clinton (born 1980), daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton
  • Jeremy Davis (born 1985), former bassist of rock band Paramore
  • Danielle Evans (born 1985), model, winner of Cycle 6 of "America's Next Top Model"
  • John Gould Fletcher (1886–1950), Pulitzer Prize–winning Imagist poet and author[36]
  • Carlos Hathcock (1942–1999), Marine sniper
  • Will Hastings (born 1996), football player for the New England Patriots
  • Amy Lee (born 1981), vocalist and cofounder of rock band Evanescence
  • The Little Rock Nine, group of African American students who were initially prevented by the state government from entering a racially segregated school in 1957 (most members were born in Little Rock).
  • Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964), U.S. general
  • Sanford N. McDonnell (1922–2012), engineer, businessman and philanthropist; former chairman and CEO of McDonnell Douglas
  • Darren McFadden (born 1987), football player for the Dallas Cowboys
  • Charlotte Moorman (1933–1991), cellist and advocate for avant-garde music
  • Ben Piazza (1933–1991), actor
  • Nate Powell (born 1978), graphic novelist and musician.
  • Florence Price (1887–1953), classical composer
  • Brooks Robinson (born 1937), Hall of Fame third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles
  • Leora Bettison Robinson (1840–1914), author, educator
  • Pharoah Sanders (born 1940), jazz saxophonist
  • Sheryl Underwood (born 1963), Emmy-winning co-host of The Talk, stand-up comedian and actress
  • Bobby Portis (born 1995), NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks

Sister cities

Little Rock's sister cities are:[37]

  • Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1983)
  • Hanam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (1992)
  • Changchun, Jilin, China (1994)
  • Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom (1999)
  • Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (2017)

See also
  • Arkansas Metropolitan Areas
  • Baptist Missionary Association of America
  • Jack Stephens Center
  • List of capitals in the United States
  • Little Rock Air Force Base
  • Lucie's Place
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Little Rock, Arkansas
  • USS Little Rock (CL-92)
  • USS Little Rock (LCS-9)[38]

Notes
  1. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  2. Official records for Little Rock began on 28 February 1875 at the State Capitol and maintained there until 30 April 1942. The next day, and until 7 August 1942, temperature and precipitation were recorded separately at two different locations in and around Little Rock, and the official climatology station has been Adams Field since 8 August 1942. For more information, see Threadex

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. "Census finds Arkansas population increased over 3%, northwest region fastest growing area". thv11. August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  3. "Census shows overall state population up 9.1 percent". Arkansasonline.com. February 10, 2011. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  4. "Our Historical City". City of Little Rock. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  5. "Colorful Names". Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. Archived from the original on November 24, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. "The Hyde Park Historical Record". Hyde Park Historical Society. December 29, 2017. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2020 – via Google Books.
  7. Williams, C. Fred (December 29, 2017). Historic Little Rock: An Illustrated History. HPN Books. ISBN 9781893619821. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2020 – via Google Books.
  8. Herndon, Dallas Tabor (1922). The High Lights of Arkansas History. Arkansas History commission. p. 37 – via Internet Archive. arkopolis little rock.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. Bradbury, Cary (November 14, 2007). "North Little Rock (Pulaski County)". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
  11. Clinton, Bill (2004). My Life. Knopf Publishing Group. p. 244.
  12. "Climate Statistics for the Little Rock Area" (PDF). National Weather Service North Little Rock. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 1, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  13. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  14. "Station: Little Rock AP Adams FLD, AR". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  15. "Climatological Averages, Statistics and Records for Little Rock, Arkansas" (PDF). National Weather Service. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  16. "WMO 1961–1990 Climate Normals for North Little Rock Airport". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  17. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  18. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  19. "Arkansas – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  20. Prodis, Julia (October 1, 1995). "Little Rock's Boyz in the Hood Illustrate '90s American Graffiti : Violence: Gangs have colonized even small cities, bringing big-city crime with them. Lifestyle wins adherents via television". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  21. Eckholm, Erik (January 31, 1993). "Teen-Age Gangs Are Inflicting Lethal Violence on Small Cities". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  22. Koon, David; Herron, Kaya (July 15, 2015). "Bangin' in the '90s: An oral history: Police, former gang members, city leaders look back at Little Rock's gang wars". Arkansas Times. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  23. "Little Rock residents react to crime statistics for 2022". KARK. August 21, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  24. "Little Rock Branch | Regional Executive Robert Hopkins". St. Louis Fed. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  25. "arkansassymphony.org". arkansassymphony.org. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  26. "The 12 Best Places to Live in 2019". Outsideonline.com. July 11, 2019. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  27. "Parks, Facility & Trail Information". Little Rock Parks & Recreation. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  28. "City Managers of Little Rock | City of Little Rock". www.littlerock.gov. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  29. Hargett, Malea (May 12, 2012). "State's last black Catholic school to close". Arkansas Catholic. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  30. Hargett, Malea (March 28, 2013). "Despite 'year of grace,' St. Joseph School will close". Arkansas Catholic. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  31. "Sync weekly magazine to cease publication Wednesday". Arkansas Online. October 23, 2015. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  32. General Highway Map, Pulaski County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Department. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. December 22, 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  33. "Means of Transportation to Work by Age". Census Reporter. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  34. "Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map". Governing. December 9, 2014. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  35. "Brown, Howell Chambers". Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Oxford University Press. 2011. doi:10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.b00027370.
  36. "John Gould Fletcher". The Central Arkansas Library System. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  37. "Sister Cities". littlerock.gov. City of Little Rock. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  38. "Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship Little Rock" Archived February 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine DOD press release. 15 July 2011

Further reading
  • The Atlas of Arkansas, Richard M. Smith 1989
  • Cities in the U.S.; The South, Fourth Edition, Volume 1, Linda Schmittroth, 2001
  • Greater Little Rock: a contemporary portrait, Letha Mills, 1990
  • How We Lived: Little Rock as an American City, Frederick Hampton Roy, 1985
  • Morgan, James. "Little Rock: The 2005 American Heritage Great American Place" American Heritage, October 2005.
  • O'Donnell, William W. (1987). The Civil War Quadrennium: A Narrative History of Day-to-Day Life in Little Rock, Arkansas During the American War Between Northern and Southern States 1861-1865 (2nd ed.). Little Rock, Ark.: Civil War Round Table of Arkansas. LCCN 85-72643 – via Horton Brothers Printing Company.
  • Redefining the Color Line: Black Activism in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1940-1970, John A. Kirk, 2002.
Government
General information
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