Little Rock, Arkansas

City of Little Rock, Arkansas
—  City  —
Downtown Little Rock
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The Rock (official), Rock Town, "LR"
Location in Pulaski County, Arkansas
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Pulaski
Founded	1821
Incorporated	1831
Government
- Type	Council-Strong Mayor
- Mayor	Mark Stodola
Area
- City	116.8 sq mi (302.5 km2)
- Land	116.2 sq mi (300.9 km2)
- Metro	4,090.34 sq mi (10,593.94 km2)
Elevation	335 ft (102 m)
Population (2009)
- City	191,930
- Metro	685,488
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	501
FIPS code	05-41000
GNIS feature ID	0083350
Website	www.littlerock.org

Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had a population of 685,488 people, according to 2009 census estimates. The MSA is in turn included in the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area, which had a population of 862,488 in the 2009 census estimates. As of 2009, according to the US census, Little Rock had a population of 191,930.^[1] It is the county seat of Pulaski County.

Located near the geographic center of Arkansas, Little Rock derives its name from a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River called la Petite Roche (French: "the little rock"). The "little rock" was used by early river traffic as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing.

History

Origins

Archeological artifacts provide evidence of Native Americans' inhabiting Central Arkansas for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. The early inhabitants may have included the Folsom people, Bluff Dwellers, and Mississippian culture peoples who built earthwork mounds recorded in 1541 by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto's expedition. Historical tribes of the area included 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. La Petite Roche (French for "the Little Rock"), 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" and the landmark name stuck.

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

Timeline

• 1722 – French explorer Jean-Baptiste Benard de la Harpe lands near a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River which he reputedly names la Petite Roche (the little rock). La Harpe builds a trading post near the little rock. The Quapaw Indians reside nearby.
• 1812 – William Lewis, a fur trapper, builds a home near the little rock.
• 1820 – Little Rock is surveyed.
• 1820 – Robert Crittenden, born 1797, and Chester Ashley, born 1791, enter into an agreement for a "Partnership in the Practice of Law" which lays the groundwork for the Rose Law Firm, the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi River.
• 1821 – Little Rock becomes the capital of the Arkansas Territory formed in 1819.
• 1831 – Little Rock is incorporated as a city.
• 1833 – The Territorial Capitol (now the Old State House) is built. Completed in 1842, it serves as the State Capitol until 1911.
• 1836 – Arkansas becomes the 25th state, and Little Rock became the official capital city.
• 1861 – Arkansas joins the Confederacy.
• 1863 – Union forces occupy Little Rock.
• 1874 – The Brooks-Baxter War takes place in Little Rock.
• 1880 – General Douglas MacArthur born on January 26 in The Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal. The building is now the home of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History and the surrounding is area is called MacArthur Park.
• 1911 – The current State Capitol building is completed. It is the second building constructed to house the state government, after the Old State House.
• 1916 – Pulaski Heights, one of Little Rock's earliest western suburbs, is annexed into the city, setting the stage for further westward expansion.
• 1957 – The Little Rock Nine are enrolled at Little Rock Central High School after public protests and the Arkansas National Guard under the direction of Governor Orval Faubus, prevents their first attempt at enrollment. President Dwight Eisenhower dispatches federal troops to ensure the students' safety and enforce their right to attend school. These events are collectively referred to as the Crisis at Central High.
• 1958 – All three public High Schools in Little Rock are closed for one year by Governor Faubus.
• 1968 – Construction booms downtown, Worthen Bank Building at 375 feet (114 m) and Union National Bank at 330 feet (100 m) are under construction and replace The Tower Building as the city's tallest buildings. Union National Bank subsequently merged into Worthen, which eventually would become part of Bank of America.
• 1974 – First National Bank building is under construction and becomes the city's tallest building at 454 feet (138 m) and 30 stories. The building currently is Arkansas headquarters for Regions Bank.
• 1986 – The Capitol Tower is completed, and at 40 stories and 547 feet (167 m) tall, is currently the tallest building in Arkansas. The skyscraper's name changed to the TCBY Tower later and became the Metropolitan Tower as of October 2004. The Stephens Building is also completed and is 25 stories and 365 feet (111 m) tall when finished. It was first known as the First South building and then the Rogers building.
• 1992 – Bill Clinton is elected President of the United States. He delivers an election night acceptance speech from the front steps of the historic Old State House in downtown Little Rock. He is the first person from the state of Arkansas to be elected President. He is elected to a second term in 1996.
• 1997 – The 40th anniversary of the Crisis at Central High is marked by the opening of a new National Park Service visitor center.
• 2000 – Little Rock's record high temperature of degrees Fahrenheit is recorded by the National Weather Service in August.
• 2003 – First Little Rock Marathon is held. Counting the relays, 1615 runners participate in the 42.195-kilometre (26.219 mi) race, making it one of the top 25 races in the nation for 2003.
• 2003 – Little Rock resident Wesley Kanne Clark, a retired four-star general in the U.S. Army and former Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), announces his intention to run in the presidential primary election for the Democratic Party nomination.
• 2004 – William J. Clinton Presidential Center opens with a host of dignitaries and celebrities, including then-Governor Mike Huckabee, then-President George W. Bush, and former presidents George H. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.
• 2006 – The international charitable organization Heifer International dedicates a $17.5 million world headquarters in downtown Little Rock. The organization announces plans to further develop the 33 acre location into the Heifer International Center campus.
• 2006 – The Pulaski County Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, better known as the Big Dam Bridge, opens to the public. The Big Dam Bridge extends 3,463 feet (1,056 m) across the Arkansas River and is currently the world’s longest bridge specifically built for pedestrians/bicycles.^[2]
• 2006 – The five-year construction boom of mixed-use, high-rise buildings in downtown's historic River Market district began construction on over 60 stories of residential and retail property and 240 additional hotel rooms. Among the major residential projects completed during this period are the Capital Commerce Center (2002), First Security Center (2004), 300 Third Tower (2006), and the River Market Tower (2009).
• 2007 – Dickey-Stephens Park, home to the Arkansas Travelers minor league baseball team, opens. The newly constructed ball park has a capacity of 7,000 and is situated on the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, Arkansas, opposite downtown Little Rock.

Geography

Little Rock is located at (34.736009, -92.331122).^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 116.8 square miles (302.5 km²), of which, 116.2 square miles (301.0 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (0.52%) is water.

Little Rock is located 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 located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Just northwest of the city limits is Pinnacle Mountain and Lake Maumelle, which provides Little Rock's drinking water. The city of North Little Rock is located 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.^[4]

Climate

Little Rock lies in the Humid subtropical climate zone, with hot, humid summers and mild winters.

Meteorological Data for the Little Rock Greater Metropolitan Area

Temperature averages for each month.	Rainfall averages for each month.
Humidity indices for each month.	Wind speeds during the various months.
Snowfall averages for each month.	Average percentage of sun during the day.

Government

The city operated under a city manager form of government until 2007. Voters elected to convert the city to a strong-mayor form of government, making the mayor's position a full-time position with veto power. The city also retains the city manager position. The city employs over 2500 individuals in 14 different departments, including the Police department, the Fire department, Parks and Recreation and the Zoo.

Most Pulaski County government offices are located in the city of Little Rock, including the Quorum, Circuit, District, and Juvenile Courts; and the Assessor, County Judge, County Attorney and Public Defenders 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.

Demographics

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. Blacks or African Americans made up 42.1% of Little Rock's population; of which 42.0% were non-Hispanic blacks. American Indians 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.^{[7] [8]}

As of the 2000 census, there were 183,133 people, 77,352 households, and 46,488 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,576.0 people per square mile (608.5/km²). There were 84,793 housing units at an average density of 729.7/sq mi (281.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.1% White, 40.4% Black, 0.3% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 2.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

There were 77,352 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% 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 2.98.

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.

Metropolitan statistical area

The 2009 U.S. Census population estimate for the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway was 685,488. The MSA includes the following counties: Pulaski, Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, and Saline. The largest cities include Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Jacksonville, Benton, Sherwood, Cabot, Maumelle, and Bryant.

The 2009 U.S. Census population estimate for the Combined Statistical Area (CSA) of Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff was 862,520.

Economy and business

Partial view of Little Rock Skyline in 2005.

Major corporations headquartered in Little Rock include Dillard's Department Stores, Windstream Communications and Acxiom.

Additional large companies headquartered in Little Rock include Metropolitan National Bank, Rose Law Firm, Nuvell Financial Services, Central Flying Service and Stephens Inc.

Large companies headquartered in other cities but with a large presence in Little Rock include Dassault Falcon Jet and Raytheon Aircraft Company near Little Rock National Airport in the eastern part of the city, and Fidelity National Information Services in northwestern Little Rock.

Non-profit organizations include Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Heifer International, Lions World Services for the Blind, William J. Clinton Museum, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Audubon Arkansas, The Nature Conservancy, and Winrock International.

Associations include the American Taekwondo Association, Arkansas Hospital Association, and the Quapaw Quarter Association.

Major employers throughout Little Rock include Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Entergy, Raytheon, Siemens, AT&T Mobility, Kroger, Affiliated Foods Southwest and Timex.

One of the largest public employers in the state with over 9,400 employees, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and its affiliates—Arkansas Children's Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System—have a total economic impact in Arkansas of about $4.1 billion per year. UAMS receives less than 11% of its funding from the state. Its operation 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 in recent years.

Little Rock was named 22nd out of 361 metropolitan areas as best places for business in 2005 by Forbes Magazine.

Moody's Investor Services ranks Little Rock as the second most diverse economy in the nation.

Along with Louisville and Memphis, Little Rock houses one of three branches of the St. Louis Federal Reserve district.

In addition, early in the 20th Century, Little Rock was home to brass era automobile maker Climber.^[9]

The Brookings Institution ranks Little Rock as the 7th best metropolitan economy in the United States in 2009 with the second best overall growth from 2008 to 2009 after Des Moines.

Museums

William J. Clinton Presidential Library Photo of the 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 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 famous campaign promise of "building a bridge to the 21st century. The archives and library contains 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 includes 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 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 also the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur who would go on to be the supreme commander of US forces in the South Pacific during World War II.
• The Arkansas Museum of Discovery features hands-on exhibits in the fields of science, history and technology.
• The Old State House Museum is a former state capitol building now home to a history museum focusing on Arkansas' recent history.
• The Historic Arkansas Museum is a regional history museum focusing primarily on the frontier time period.

Education

Colleges and universities

The city has two major 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 located within Little Rock.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock was founded in 1927 as Little Rock Junior College, under the supervision of the city Board of Education. The first semester open, there were eight instructors and about 100 students. The college is currently accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, a status it has kept since 1929. Housed originally in public school buildings, the college moved in 1949 to its present location between University Ave and Fair Park Blvd, North of Asher Ave, on land donated by Raymond Rebsamen, a Little Rock businessman. The college was also the sole beneficiary of a continuing trust established by former Governor George W. Donaghey at the time. In 1957, the institution began a four-year degree program, became independent and privately supported under a separate board of trustees, and took the name Little Rock University.

In September 1969, The Little Rock University merged into the University of Arkansas System, to create the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The University of Arkansas System merger began a period of steady growth, which saw UALR go from about 3,500 students and 75 full-time faculty members in 1969 to about 10,000 students and over 400 full-time faculty members in the 1998 academic year. The University's expanded offerings now include 54 undergraduate major programs, an extensive schedule of night, weekend, and off-campus classes, and a wide range of community educational services. UALR began offering graduate and professional work in 1975. Besides the juris doctor offered at the William H. Bowen School of Law, UALR now has three doctoral programs and 29 graduate and professional programs, as well as joint programs with other campuses of the University of Arkansas System.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is part of the University of Arkansas System. UAMS has about 2200 students in six academic units: the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Health Related Professions, and Public Health and the Graduate School. UAMS also has more than 660 resident physicians completing their training at UAMS or at one of the seven Area Health Education Centers around the state. UAMS combines the patient care resources of a state-of-the art hospital and outpatient center with the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, and Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neurosciences Institute. Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System are affiliates of UAMS.

The outreach efforts of UAMS include seven Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in Fayetteville, Pine Bluff, El Dorado, Texarkana, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Helena, Arkansas; networks of senior health centers and centers for young children with special health care needs; and interactive video education and medical consultation services to community hospitals around the state. UAMS is the state’s largest basic and applied research institution with internationally renowned programs in multiple myeloma, aging, and other areas.

Located in downtown is the specialized Clinton School of Public Service, a branch of the University of Arkansas System, which offers a master's degree in public service.

The city is also home to two smaller, private historically black colleges, Philander Smith College and Arkansas Baptist College.

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

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

The public schools in Little Rock are operated by the Little Rock School District known by residents as LRSD. Currently, the district includes 64 schools with more schools being built. As of the 2005–2006 school year, the district has enrollment of 26,524. It has 5 high schools, 8 middle schools, 31 elementary schools, 1 early childhood (pre-kndergarten) center, 2 alternative schools, 1 adult education center, 1 accelerated learning center, 1 career-techinal center, and about 3,800 employees.

Public high schools in Little Rock include:

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

Private schools

• Little Rock Catholic High School
• Little Rock Lutheran High School
• Little Rock Christian Academy
• Episcopal Collegiate School
• Mount Saint Mary Academy
• Pulaski Academy
• Arkansas Baptist School System
• St. Edward Catholic School
• Central Arkansas Christian Schools

Public libraries

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

Medical

Hospitals in Little Rock include:

• Arkansas Children's Hospital
• Arkansas Heart Hospital
• Baptist Health Medical Center
• John C. McCellan Veterans Administration Complex
• Arkansas State Hospital - Psychiatric Division
• Pinnacle Pointe Hospital
• St. Vincent Health System
  • St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center
  • St. Vincent Doctors Hospital
• Southwest Regional Medical Center
• University Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Cultural

• Aerospace Education Center – IMAX Theater & EpiSphere Digital Dome Theater. The IMAX Theatre features a variety of science related items. Aviation exhibits on display are an original Sopwith Camel and a replica of the Wright Flyer.
• Arkansas Arboretum – Located at Pinnacle Mountain, it has an interpretive trail with flora and tree plantings.
• Arkansas Arts Center – The state's largest art museum, notable for its drawings, collections and children's theater productions. It features works by Van Gogh and Rembrandt among others. The museum has eight art galleries, a museum school, gift shop and restaurant.
• Arkansas Repertory Theatre – The state's largest professional, not-for-profit theatre company, currently in its 34th season. "The Rep" produces works that range from contemporary comedies and dramas to world premiers and the classics of dramatic literature.
• Arkansas Symphony Orchestra – In its 41st season, the orchestra performs over 30 concerts a year and many special events.
• Ballet Arkansas – The state's only professional ballet company.
• Heifer International – Headquarters of the global hunger and poverty relief organization, located adjacent to the Clinton Presidential Center
• Quapaw Quarter – Turn of the century Little Rock includes three National Register historic districts with over a hundred buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are available showing the many Victorian and Antebellum homes.
• Robinson Center Music Hall – The main performance center of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
• Villa Marre – An 1881 home of Italianate and Second Empire styles refurbished in the 1960s and shown in the opening scenes of the television show "Designing Women."
• Wildwood Park for the Arts – The largest park dedicated to the performing arts in the South. It features year-round performances of opera, cabaret, and jazz, as well as seasonal festivals and cultural events.

Notable places

• Clinton Presidential Library
• Arkansas State Capitol – a neo-classical structure with many restored interior spaces, constructed from 1899-1915.
• River Market District – Little Rock's most prominent entertainment district.
• Little Rock Marathon
• Little Rock Central High School
• Little Rock Zoo – Arkansas' only zoo with over 725 animals and over 200 species.
• Riverfront Park – a park located in downtown, hosts the annual Riverfest music festival, and is home to the La Petite Roche (the little rock).
• Willow Springs Water Park – one the first water theme parks in the U.S. built in 1928.
• Pinnacle Mountain State Park
• Arkansas River Trail
• American Taekwondo Association World Headquarters. The American Taekwondo Association [ATA] is based in Little Rock where it hosts the World Taekwondo Championships each summer. The ATA World Headquarters is also headquarters for all of the Songahm Taekwondo organizations including the American Taekwondo Association, the Songahm Taekwondo Federation and the World Traditional Taekwondo Union. These combined organizations have millions of members in the USA and worldwide.

Shopping/retail

Some notable shopping locations in the city of Little Rock are:

University Avenue/Markham

• Park Plaza Mall
• Midtowne Little Rock

Cantrell Road/Highway 10

• Pleasant Ridge Town Center

Chenal Parkway

• Promenade Chenal

Shackleford Road/Interstate 430

• Shackleford Crossing

Retailers in Little Rock include Dillard's, J. C. Penney, Sears, Belk, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, and Kohl's. Additionally, several smaller and niche retailers can be found throughout the city, with corporations such as Gap Inc., Talbots, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Chico's each operating more than one company store concept in Little Rock.

Sports

Little Rock was home to the Arkansas Travelers. They are the AA professional Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 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. Little Rock is scheduled to be home to the Little Rock Rivercatz of the American Basketball Association for the 2007–2008 season.

Little Rock is also home to the Arkansas Twisters of the Indoor Football League and the Arkansas RimRockers of the NBA Development League. Both of these teams play at the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.

Little Rock is home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans. The majority of the schools athletic teams are housed in the new state-of-the-art Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans play in the Sun Belt conference, where Arkansas State University is their chief rival.

Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium plays host to at least two University of Arkansas Razorback games 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 for fans to tailgate. It is estimated that over 80,000 people are present for the tailgating actitivities on these weekends. 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 located 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.

Hubert "Geese" Ausbie played basketball at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, where he earned All-Conference and All-American honors. He later gained fame as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.

John Kocinski, 250 cc and World Superbike motorcycle racing champion, is from Little Rock.

World Champion Middleweight Boxer Jermain Taylor and NBA players Derek Fisher and Joe Johnson were born and/or have roots in Little Rock.

Transportation

Road

Little Rock's downtown River Rail Streetcar

A number of highways converge near Little Rock. I-40 passes through North Little Rock to the north. 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 Interstate 30 to the southwest. US 167 multiplexes with US 65 and I-530 to the southeast. Other highways include I-430, I-440, I-530, and I-630. I-530 terminates in Little Rock after originating in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Air

Nine airlines serve 18 national/international gateway cities, e.g. St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, etc. from Little Rock National Airport. In 2006 they carried approximately 2.1 million passengers on approximately 150 daily flights to and from Little Rock.

Bus

Greyhound Lines serves Dallas, Memphis, Houston, and St. Louis, 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.

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.

Public transport

Within the city, public bus service is provided by the Central Arkansas Transit Authority (CATA). As of January 2010 CAT operates 21 regular fixed routes, 3 express routes, as well as special events shuttle buses and paratransit service for disabled persons. Of the 21 fixed route services, 14 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, downtown areas of Little Rock and North Little Rock have been additionally served by the River Rail Electric Streetcar system, also operated by CATA.

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.

Daily legal and real estate news is also provided Monday through Friday in the Daily Record. Entertainment and political coverage is provided weekly in Arkansas Times and monthly in the Little Rock Free Press. Business and economics news is published weekly in Arkansas Business

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

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

Television

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

Television stations in the Little Rock area include:

Theatre

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 historic building located in downtown Little Rock. Producing Artistic Director, Robert Hupp leads a resident staff of designers, technicians and administrators in the creation of eight to ten productions for an annual audience in excess of 70,000 for MainStage productions, educational programming and touring. The Rep produces works that range from contemporary comedies and dramas to world premiers and the classics of dramatic literature. For more information, visit The Rep

Radio

AM radio Stations in the Little Rock area include:

FM radio stations in the Little Rock area include:

Notable people

See also: List of people from Little Rock

• Fatima Robinson, Notable dance choreographer, most known for choreographing music videos for American R&B singer, Aaliyah, and recently her work in Dreamgirls.^[10][11]
• Derek Fisher, an American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA.
• Reggie Arnold, running back for the Arkansas State Red Wolves football team
• Lil' JJ American Actor, comedian, rapper, was born in Little rock, AR and now has his own show on Nickelodeon called Just Jordan
• Chris Harris, an American football safety for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.
• Jamaal Anderson – Former high school football star for Little Rock Parkview played his college career at the University of Arkansas at Fayettville and was drafted first round as a Defensive End in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons
• Roswell Beebe (1795–1856) early mayor, alderman, benefactor, and president of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad.
• Danielle Evans (Born in 1986 – Little Rock) 2006 – Dani Evans (also known as Danielle Evans) is an American fashion model and television personality. Evans was the winner of Cycle 6 of America's Next Top Model (ANTM).
• Brooks Robinson was born in Little Rock in 1937 and is generally believed to be the greatest third baseman in Major League Baseball history. He began his career at Little Rock's own Lamar Porter Field before playing for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977.
• Douglas MacArthur GCB (1880–1964) was born in Little Rock and was an American general and Medal of Honor recipient. He was Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. President Harry Truman relieved General MacArthur of his military command in on April 11, 1951.
• John Gould Fletcher (1886–1950) was a Pulitzer Prize winning Imagist poet and author. He was born in Little Rock to a socially prominent family. Fletcher suffered from depression and committed suicide by drowning in a pond near his home in Little Rock. Fletcher is buried at historic Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock. The Fletcher Branch Library of the Central Arkansas Library System is named in his honor.
• Frank Bonner (born 1942) in Little Rock, is an actor and television director best known for playing sales manager Herb Tarlek on the classic TV sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. He has also directed episodes of many TV sitcoms, including Who's the Boss?, Head of the Class, and Evening Shade.
• Gil Gerard (born 1943) in Little Rock, he is most famous for his role as Captain William "Buck" Rogers in the 1979–1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. He was married to Connie Sellecca (1979–1987).
• Wesley Clark born in Chicago, on December 23, 1944 under the name Wesley Kanne. He was a 2004 presidential contender and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Commander. Clark is a graduate of Hall High School in Little Rock.
• Chelsea Clinton born February 27, 1980 in Little Rock, is the only child of President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Chelsea's name was inspired by her parents' fondness for the Judy Collins recording of the Joni Mitchell song "Chelsea Morning".
• Former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton lived in Little Rock when Bill Clinton was Attorney General of Arkansas 1977–1979 and Governor of Arkansas 1979–1981; and also returning as Governor 1983–1993.
• Lynn A. Davis, attorney, lecturer, and head of the state police in 1967, who cleared Hot Springs of illegal gambling, was the U.S. marshal in Little Rock from 1969-1974.
• Jason White, (born 1973) in Little Rock, is most known as a touring guitarist for Green Day.
• Jerry Jones, an owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and actresses Mary Steenburgen and Joey Lauren Adams are sometimes associated with Little Rock. Mary Steenburgen and Joey Lauren Adams are graduates of North Little Rock High School (Ole Main)in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Jim Keet, a former state legislator from Little Rock, is the Republican gubernatorial nominee against incumbent Mike Beebe in the November 2, 2010, general election
• Sidney Moncrief is a former Arkansas Razorback and NBA Milwaukee Bucks basketball great was born in Little Rock.
• Richard Thalheimer Founder, Chairman and CEO of the Sharper Image Corporation was raised in Little Rock.
• Helen Gurley Brown Editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years lived in Little Rock.^[12]
• Daniel Davis Best known as Niles the Butler on the television program The Nanny lived in Little Rock.
• Kevin McReynolds Born in Little Rock. Played Major League Baseball for 12 years.
• Houston Nutt Born in Little Rock. Coach of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1997 to 2007. He is currently the coach of the Ole Miss Rebels.
• E. Fay Jones Noted Architect, designer and an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright. He was born in Pine Bluff and lived in Little Rock for a time.
• Jane Krutz First female office building manager in the state of Arkansas. Founding member of Friends of AETN, and appeared in virtually every telethon the local PBS station has broadcast over the past 35 years. Appeared before Congress on behalf of PBS in order to keep funding for educational television throughout the nation.
• Joe Johnson Born in Little Rock where he played AAU and high school basketball. A graduate of Little Rock Central High School, Johnson played collegiately at the University of Arkansas where he played for two years before becoming a lottery pick by the NBA's Boston Celtics. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he became a starting shooting guard for the Suns. Johnson later signed with the Atlanta Hawks, where has been a three-time All-Star.
• Jermain Taylor By defeating then champion Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor became professional boxing's undisputed Middleweight Champion of the World on December 3, 2005. Jermain Taylor lives in Little Rock and has become one of the city's most visible supporters.
• Connie Hamzy , One of the most prolific groupies of all time.
• Amy Lee (born December 13, 1981) singer and co-founder of Evanescence
• John LeCompt(born March 10, 1973 Little Rock, Arkansas) musician who has been part of the Little Rock music scene with bands like Evanescence.
• John Kocinski, 1990 250cc Motorcycle World Champion & 1997 Superbike Motorcycle World Champion, also won the 1993 United States 500 cc Grand Prix on a Cagiva.
• Alison Rogers, real estate agent and author.
• Torii Hunter (baseball) Pine Bluff native currently playing with the Los Angeles Angeles
• Glen Day (golf) – PGA Tour Professional, winner of 1999 Heritage at Hilton Head, SC
• Hubert "Geese" Ausbie (basketball) – born in 1938, “Geese” Ausbie joined the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team in 1961 following a standout college career at Philander Smith College in Little Rock (Pulaski County). For the next twenty-four years, Ausbie played for the Globetrotters and became known as the "Clown Prince of Basketball” for his entertaining antics on the court.
• Keith Jackson, NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and the Green Bay Packers.
• Catherine Tharp Altvater, artist and first woman to hold office in the American Watercolor Society was born in Little Rock.

Music

• American Princes, whose record, Other People, was named Magnet Magazine's #1 album of 2008, is based out of Little Rock.
• Evanescence and Ho-Hum have their roots in Little Rock.
• Richard B. Boone (February 24, 1930 – February 8, 1999) was an American jazz musician and scat singer.
• Art Porter, Sr., (February 8, 1934 – February 8, 1993) was an American jazz pianist. He was the father of jazz saxophonist Art Porter, Jr.
• Art Porter, Jr., (August 3, 1961 – November 23, 1996), was an American jazz saxophonist. He was the son of jazz musician Art Porter, Sr.
• Living Sacrifice, a Christian death/thrash/metalcore band that formed in 1989 in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.. They are considered one of the most influential bands in the Christian metal scene.
• Green Day's backup guitarist (particularly for the American Idiot tour and the 21st Century Breakdown tour), Jason White is from Little Rock.
• Jason Truby, ex-guitarist for the band P.O.D., is from Little Rock. Truby was also in the band Living Sacrifice, also based in Little Rock.
• Cory Brandan Putman, lead vocalist for Grammy nominated band Norma Jean and ex-guitarist for Living Sacrifice a highly successful metal band based out of Little Rock.
• The sludge metal band Rwake (signed to Relapse Records) was formed in Little Rock.
• After the Tragedy, an alternative rock band based from the Little Rock area, winner of the 2006 Dew Circuit Showcase, and received airplay on MTV2.
• Stevie Wonder's hit song I Was Made To Love Her mentions Little Rock in the first lyric.
• Colin Raye made a song called Little Rock
• Beaker Street, a late night alternative music broadcast on radio station KAAY provided a Little Rock presence throughout the Midwest.
• Jeremy Davis, bassist for Paramore, was born in Little Rock.
• Towncraft is a documentary on the 1990s Little Rock punk rock scene.
• The theme song of the 1953 movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is titled A Little Girl From Little Rock. It is sung at the beginning of the movie by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, in the roles of, respectively, Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw, the two showgirls from Little Rock in the movie.
• In 1998, Lee Ann Womack recorded a song titled "A Little Past Little Rock"
• In 2008, Kevin Barnes of the band of Montreal released a song titled "Little Rock" expressing negative experiences and feelings towards the city.
• Kris Allen, winner of American Idol Season 8 lived in Conway, Arkansas
• Country band Riverbilly is based in Little Rock
• Billy Joel's song We Didn't Start the Fire mentions Little Rock as a reference to the incident starting September 2, 1957 in which then-governor Orval Faubus sent National Guardsmen to prevent 9 black students from entering Little Rock Central High School as a response to the Brown v. Board of Education decision.^[13]

Miscellaneous facts

Citizens of Little Rock are commonly referred to by the appellation, "Little Rockers." The city is referred to as "Rock Town" or simply "The Rock" by its citizens.

Federal Express was founded in 1971 by Frederick W. Smith in Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1973 after Little Rock National Airport officials would not agree to provide facilities for the fledgling airline. The company is now known as FedEx Corporation.

Sister cities

• Kaohsiung, Taiwan 1983
• Hanam City, South Korea 1992
• Changchun, China 1994
• Ragusa, Italy 1997
• Mons, Belgium
• Pachuca de Soto, Mexico
• Samsun, Turkey 2009

Friendship cities

• Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, UK 1999
• La Petite-Pierre, France 1999

See also

References

• Gailiano, Amanda. "Lets Get Historical - Early Arkansas." About.com Cities and Towns 19 April 2006. [1]
• City-Data.com. "Average Climate in Little Rock, Arkansas." [2]

Further reading

• Morgan, James. "Little Rock: The 2005 American Heritage Great American Place" American Heritage, October 2005.
• Greater Little Rock: a contemporary portrait, Letha Mills, 1990
• The Atlas of Arkansas, Richard M. Smith 1989
• Cities in the U.S.; The South, Fourth Edition, Volume 1, Linda Schmittroth, 2001
• Redefining the Color Line: Black Activism in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1940-1970, John A. Kirk, 2002.
• How We Lived: Little Rock as an American City, Frederick Hampton Roy, 1985

External links

Cultural

Other

• Little Rock travel guide from Wikitravel
• Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
• Little Rock Examiner
• History of Little Rock's Jewish community (from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life)
• Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Downtown Little Rock Partnership
• Heart of Arkansas Tourism
• Little Rock Metroplan
• Little Rock Info
• Little Rock Renaissance (from the UCA Honors College)
• Online Little Rock
• Metro Little Rock Alliance
• Downtown Little Rock

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