Little Rock, Arkansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Little Rock
State capital city
Downtown Little Rock Clinton Presidential Center Arkansas State Capitol War Memorial Stadium Central High School River Market
Flag Seal Logo
Nicknames:  The Rock, Rock Town, LR
Little Rock Location in Arkansas Show map of Arkansas Little Rock Location in the United States Show map of the United States Little Rock Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Pulaski
Founded	June 1, 1821
Incorporated (town)	November 7, 1831
Incorporated (city)	November 2, 1835
Named for	The Little Rock
Government
• Type	Council–manager
• Body	Little Rock Board of Directors
Area
• State capital city	123.00 sq mi (318.58 km2)
• Land	120.05 sq mi (310.92 km2)
• Water	2.96 sq mi (7.66 km2)
• Metro	4,090.34 sq mi (10,593.94 km2)
Elevation	279 ft (85 m)
Population  (2020)
• State capital city	202,591
• Rank	US: 118th
• Density	1,687.60/sq mi (651.58/km2)
• Urban	461,864 (US: 87th)
• Urban density	1,724.6/sq mi (665.9/km2)
• Metro	748,031 (US: 81st)
Demonym(s)	Little Rocker
Time zone	UTC−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 code(s)	501
FIPS code	05-41000
GNIS feature ID	2404939

Little Rock is the capital and largest city in Arkansas. In 2020, about 202,591 people lived there. The larger area around Little Rock, which includes six counties, is home to over 748,031 people. This makes it the 81st largest metropolitan area in the United States.

The city was officially started on November 7, 1831. It sits on the south bank of the Arkansas River. The city gets its name from a small rock formation on the riverbank. A French explorer, Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe, named it "the Little Rock" in 1722. In 1821, Little Rock became the capital of the Arkansas Territory.

Little Rock is an important place for culture, business, and government in Arkansas and the southern United States. You can find many cultural spots here. These include the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. There are also many places for hiking and boating. Little Rock's history is shown in its museums and historic areas. Some famous places are Little Rock Central High School and the Quapaw Quarter. Many big companies and organizations have their main offices in Little Rock.

History

Early Days and Naming Little Rock

A map of Little Rock from 1887.

Long ago, Native American tribes lived in the area where Little Rock is now. They lived there for thousands of years. Some of these tribes were the Caddo, Quapaw, Osage, Choctaw, and Cherokee.

The city is named after a special rock along the Arkansas River. This rock was a landmark for early travelers. It marked where the flat lands of the Mississippi Delta changed to the hills of the Ouachita Mountains. A French explorer, Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe, named it "the Little Rock" in 1722.

The capital of Arkansas was first in a place called Arkansas Post. But that area often flooded. So, in 1821, the capital was moved to Little Rock. It has been the capital ever since.

Desegregation of Schools

Downtown Little Rock in 1958.

In 1957, nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, made history. They were the first Black students to attend Little Rock Central High School. This happened after the school board decided to end segregation in schools. Segregation meant keeping Black and white students separate.

On September 4, 1957, a group of white protesters tried to stop the nine students from entering the school. The governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, even used the state's National Guard to support the protesters. But a judge ordered him to remove the Guard.

When the students finally entered, angry crowds caused trouble. To keep the students safe, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent soldiers from the U.S. Army to Little Rock. These soldiers protected the students as they went to school.

Little Rock's public high schools were closed for a year in 1958. They reopened later, and schools became fully integrated by 1972. This event in Little Rock showed the world the challenges African Americans faced in the United States.

Geography

Little Rock is located on the south bank of the Arkansas River. It is in the middle of Arkansas. Two creeks, Fourche Creek and Rock Creek, flow through the city and into the river. The western part of the city is in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.

Just northwest of the city, you'll find Pinnacle Mountain and Lake Maumelle. Lake Maumelle is where Little Rock gets its drinking water.

North Little Rock is a separate city right across the river. It used to be part of Little Rock. But in 1904, it became its own city.

Neighborhoods

Little Rock has many different neighborhoods. Each one has its own unique feel. Some well-known neighborhoods include:

Climate

Little Rock has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. Winters are cool, but usually don't get much snow. The temperature has been as low as -12°F and as high as 114°F.

Demographics

Little Rock's population was 202,591 people in 2020. There were about 80,063 households. The city is made up of people from many different backgrounds.

Economy

Downtown Little Rock.

Many important companies and organizations have their main offices in Little Rock. These include Dillard's Department Stores, Windstream Communications, and Simmons Bank.

Large non-profit groups like Winrock International and Heifer International are also based here. The Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Presidential Center are also in Little Rock.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is one of the biggest employers in the state. It has over 10,552 employees. UAMS and its partners, like Arkansas Children's Hospital, have a big impact on Arkansas's economy.

Little Rock has a river port that helps with trade. It's a place where goods can be moved between ships and trucks or trains.

Arts and Culture

The Clinton Presidential Center in downtown Little Rock opened in 2004.

Little Rock has many places where you can enjoy art and culture:

• The Quapaw Quarter is a historic area. It has many old buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Museums

• The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is the state's largest cultural place. It has art and hosts many visual and performing arts events.
• The Museum of Discovery has hands-on exhibits. You can learn about science, history, and technology there.
• The William J. Clinton Presidential Center includes the library of former President Bill Clinton. It also has offices for the Clinton Foundation. The library has millions of photos, documents, and items from Clinton's time as president.
• The Historic Arkansas Museum teaches about the state's frontier history.
• The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History is in one of the oldest buildings in central Arkansas. It was the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur, a famous World War II leader.
• The Old State House Museum used to be the state capitol building. Now it's a museum about Arkansas's recent history.
• The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center focuses on African American history and culture in Arkansas.
• The ESSE Purse Museum tells stories of American women's lives. It uses their handbags and the items they carried.
• Little Rock Central High School is still a school. But it also has a museum and visitor center on its grounds.

Music and Theater

• The Arkansas Repertory Theatre is the state's largest professional theater company. It puts on many plays each year, including new ones.
• The Community Theatre of Little Rock is the oldest performing arts group in the area. It started in 1956.
• The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra performs over 30 concerts every year. They often play at the Robinson Center Music Hall.
• The Wildwood Park for the Arts is a large park for performing arts. It hosts festivals and cultural events.

Restaurants

Lassis Inn is a historic restaurant. It was a meeting place for civil rights leaders in the 1950s and 1960s. They planned important events there, like the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School. In 2020, it was named an "America's Classic" by the James Beard Foundation.

Sports

Dickey–Stephens Park.

Little Rock is home to the Arkansas Travelers. They are a professional baseball team. They play in the Texas League. Their home games are now played at Dickey–Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

The Little Rock Rangers are a soccer club. They play their home games at War Memorial Stadium.

The Little Rock Trojans are the sports teams for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Most of their teams play at the Jack Stephens Center.

War Memorial Stadium also hosts at least one University of Arkansas Razorback football game each year. The stadium is unique because it's in the middle of a golf course. On game days, the golf course closes for tailgating parties.

Little Rock also hosted parts of the 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

The Grande Maumelle Sailing Club is in Little Rock. It hosts sailing races on Lake Maumelle and the Arkansas River.

The Little Rock Marathon is held every March. It's famous for giving the world's largest medal to people who finish the marathon!

Parks and Recreation

Pinnacle Mountain.

Little Rock has 48 parks for people to enjoy.

The biggest park in the area is Pinnacle Mountain State Park. It's a 2,000-acre park around Pinnacle Mountain. The park has an arboretum with plants and trees from Arkansas's different regions.

The Arkansas River Trail is a 17-mile path. It runs along both sides of the Arkansas River. Part of it goes over the Big Dam Bridge. This bridge is the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America.

The Little Rock Zoo started in 1926. It has over 725 animals from more than 200 different species.

Education

Primary and Secondary Schools

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

The Little Rock School District (LRSD) runs the public schools in the city. As of 2012, the district has 64 schools. It includes 5 high schools, 8 middle schools, and 31 elementary schools. Some of the public high schools are Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock Southwest High School, and Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School.

The Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) also serves parts of Little Rock.

Little Rock is home to special state-run schools. These include the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf. There are also charter schools like eStem Public Charter High School.

Many private schools are in Little Rock too. Some examples are Episcopal Collegiate School and Little Rock Christian Academy.

Higher Education

Little Rock has two universities that are part of the University of Arkansas System. These are the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). UAMS has many colleges and research centers.

There are also two smaller colleges in Little Rock. They are Arkansas Baptist College and Philander Smith College. The Clinton School of Public Service is downtown. It offers master's degrees in public service.

Libraries

The Central Arkansas Library System has a main building downtown. It also has many branches throughout the city and nearby towns.

Infrastructure

Transportation

The Metro Streetcar system.

Little Rock is served by major highways. Interstate 40 (I-40) passes north of the city. Interstate 30 (I-30) comes from the south and connects to I-40. Other interstates, like I-430 and I-440, help traffic move around the city. I-630 runs through the city from east to west.

A map of the Little Rock Railway and Electric Company from around 1907.

Rock Region Metro provides public bus service in Little Rock. They have many bus routes that run daily. Since 2004, the Metro Streetcar system has also been running. It's a streetcar system that connects downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock. The streetcar line has fourteen stops.

For longer trips, Greyhound Lines and Jefferson Lines offer bus services to other cities.

Amtrak train service is available twice a day. You can travel north to Chicago or south to San Antonio.

Clinton National Airport serves Little Rock. Six airlines fly from here to 16 different cities across the country. In 2006, about 2.1 million passengers used the airport.

Healthcare

Little Rock has several hospitals that provide medical care:

Emergency Services

Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) provides ambulance services for Little Rock. It is a non-profit service that started in 1984.

Notable People

Many interesting people are from Little Rock. You can find a list of them at List of people from Little Rock, Arkansas.

Sister Cities

Little Rock has several sister cities around the world. These partnerships help promote cultural understanding.

• 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

In Spanish: Little Rock (Arkansas) para niños