Central Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Central Arkansas
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Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA | |
Downtown Little Rock
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Central Arkansas
Pine Bluff MSA Searcy μSA |
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Country | United States |
State | Arkansas |
Principal cities | Little Rock North Little Rock Conway |
Area | |
• Urban | 258.3 sq mi (669 km2) |
• MSA | 4,085.18 sq mi (10,580.6 km2) |
• CSA | 7,150.31 sq mi (18,519.2 km2) |
Population
(2016)
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• Urban | 431,388 (US: 89th) |
• MSA | 734,622 (US: 76th) |
• CSA | 905,847 (US: 60th) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Area code(s) | 501 & 870 |
Central Arkansas, also known as the Little Rock metro, designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget as the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Arkansas. With an estimated 2016 population of 734,622, it is the most populated area in Arkansas. Located at the convergence of Arkansas's other geographic regions, the region's central location make Central Arkansas an important population, economic, education, and political center in Arkansas and the South. Little Rock is the state's capital, and the city is also home to two Fortune 500 companies, Arkansas Children's Hospital, and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
Contents
Geography
Definition
Central Arkansas includes both the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway MSA and the broader Little Rock CSA. The MSA is defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget as Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski and Saline counties. The CSA definition adds the Pine Bluff metropolitan area adding Cleveland, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties, and the Searcy Micropolitan Area, which adds White County.
Prior to 2002, the area consisted of four core counties: Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline and Lonoke. The area was later expanded to include adjoining Perry County to the west, and Grant County to the south. The city of Conway was designated as a third principal city for the MSA by 2007.
Communities
Communities are categorized based on their populations in the 2000 U.S. Census.
Places with more than 100,000 inhabitants
- Little Rock (principal city)
Places with 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants
- Conway (principal city)
- North Little Rock (principal city)
Places with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants
Places with 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants
Places with 500 to 1,000 inhabitants
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Places with fewer than 500 inhabitants
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Population trends
Year | Metropolitan Statistical Area |
Combined Statistical Area |
---|---|---|
2014 est. | 729,135 | 902,443 |
2005 est. | 645,706 | 820,846 |
2000 Census | 610,518 | 785,024 |
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1840 | 7,411 | — | |
1850 | 10,538 | 42.2% | |
1860 | 20,804 | 97.4% | |
1870 | 42,605 | 104.8% | |
1880 | 76,558 | 79.7% | |
1890 | 109,569 | 43.1% | |
1900 | 134,590 | 22.8% | |
1910 | 173,926 | 29.2% | |
1920 | 207,941 | 19.6% | |
1930 | 233,056 | 12.1% | |
1940 | 249,799 | 7.2% | |
1950 | 288,070 | 15.3% | |
1960 | 334,011 | 15.9% | |
1970 | 396,462 | 18.7% | |
1980 | 494,758 | 24.8% | |
1990 | 535,034 | 8.1% | |
2000 | 610,518 | 14.1% | |
2010 | 699,757 | 14.6% | |
2020 | 748,031 | 6.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 |
Central Arkansas includes both the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway MSA, though the broader Little Rock CSA is also considered Central Arkansas. The MSA is defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget as Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski and Saline counties. The CSA definition adds the Pine Bluff metropolitan area adding Cleveland, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties, and the Searcy Micropolitan Area, which adds White County.
It is the core of the broader Little Rock-North Little Rock Combined Statistical Area (CSA). Its economic, cultural, and demographic center is Little Rock, Arkansas's capital and largest city. The Little Rock Combined Statistical area spans ten counties and had an estimated population of 905,847 in 2016.
Prior to 2002, the area consisted of four core counties: Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline and Lonoke. The area was later expanded to include adjoining Perry County to the west, and Grant County to the south. The city of Conway was designated as a third principal city for the MSA by 2007.
County Ref. |
Population | Land mi2 |
Land km2 |
Pop. /mi2 |
Pop. /km2 |
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Pulaski County | 393,250 | 759.76 | 1,967.77 | 503.8 | 194.52 |
Faulkner County | 122,227 | 647.88 | 1,678.00 | 174.8 | 67.49 |
Saline County | 118,703 | 723.60 | 1,874.12 | 148.0 | 57.14 |
Lonoke County | 72,228 | 770.73 | 1,996.18 | 88.7 | 34.25 |
Grant County | 18,082 | 631.81 | 1,636.38 | 28.3 | 10.93 |
Perry County | 10,132 | 551.40 | 1,428.12 | 18.9 | 7.30 |
Central Arkansas | 734,622 | 4,085.18 | 10,580.57 | 179.8 | 69.42 |
Jefferson County | 70,016 | 870.75 | 2,255.23 | 88.9 | 34.32 |
Lincoln County | 13,705 | 561.52 | 1,454.33 | 25.2 | 9.73 |
Cleveland County | 8,241 | 597.78 | 1,548.24 | 14.5 | 5.60 |
Pine Bluff MSA | 91,962 | 2,030.05 | 5,257.81 | 45.3 | 17.49 |
Searcy μSA | 79,263 | 1,035.08 | 2,680.84 | 74.5 | 28.76 |
CSA | 905,847 | 7,150.31 | 18,519.22 | 126.7 | 48.92 |
Arkansas | 2,988,248 | 52,035.48 | 134,771.27 | 56.0 | 21.62 |
Economy
The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, the oldest association in Arkansas, has produced the following list of largest employers in Central Arkansas.
Employer | Number of employees |
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State of Arkansas | 32,200 |
Local government | 28,800 |
Federal government | 9,200 |
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | 8,500 |
Baptist Health | 7,000 |
Little Rock Air Force Base | 4,500 |
Acxiom | 4,380 |
Little Rock School District | 3,500 |
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System | 3,500 |
Entergy Arkansas | 2,740 |
Pulaski County Special School District | 2,700 |
AT&T | 2,600 |
CHI St. Vincent Health System | 2,600 |
Arkansas Children’s Hospital | 2,470 |
Dillard's | 2,400 |
Verizon Wireless | 2,000 |
Union Pacific Railroad | 2,000 |
Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1,800 |
Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. | 2,000 |
CenterPoint Energy | 1,800 |
Source: Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
Professional sports
The city of Little Rock is home to the Arkansas Travelers. The Travelers are the AA Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They compete in the Texas League and play their home games at Dickey–Stephens Park.
Higher education
Notable colleges and universities
School | Enrollment | Location | Type | Nickname | Athletic Affiliation (Conference) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Arkansas at Little Rock |
11,848 | Little Rock | Public State University |
Trojans | NCAA Division I (Sun Belt) Non-Football |
University of Central Arkansas |
11,487 | Conway | Public State University |
Bears and Sugar Bears | NCAA Division I FCS (Southland) |
Hendrix College |
1,348 | Conway | Private liberal arts college |
Warriors | NCAA Division III (SAA) |
Infrastructure
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 30
- Interstate 40
- U.S. Highway 64
- U.S. Highway 65
- U.S. Highway 67
- U.S. Highway 70
- U.S. Highway 165
- U.S. Highway 167
- U.S. Highway 270
Aviation
The Clinton National Airport in Little Rock is the largest commercial airport in the state, with more than 100 flights arriving or departing each day and nonstop jet service to eighteen cities. North Little Rock Municipal Airport, located across the Arkansas River, is designated as a general aviation reliever airport for Clinton National by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Central Arkansas also has several smaller municipally owned general aviation airports: Conway Airport at Cantrell Field in Conway, Saline County Regional in Benton, Grider Field in Pine Bluff.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Área metropolitana de Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway para niños