Central Arkansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Central Arkansas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area
From top to bottom: Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway
Components of the Little Rock– North Little Rock, AR CSA      Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway, AR      Pine Bluff, AR MSA      Searcy, AR μSA
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Principal cities	Little Rock North Little Rock Conway
Area
• Urban	669 km2 (258.3 sq mi)
• MSA	10,580.6 km2 (4,085.18 sq mi)
• CSA	18,519.2 km2 (7,150.31 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• Urban	461,864 (US: 89th)
• MSA	748,031 (US: 81st)
• CSA	912,604 (US: 62nd)
GDP
• MSA	$47.322 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	501 & 870

Central Arkansas is also known as the Little Rock metro area. It is the most populated area in the state of Arkansas. In 2020, about 748,031 people lived here. This region is very important for Arkansas. It is a center for people, business, education, and government. Little Rock is the state's capital and largest city. It is also home to big companies and important hospitals like Arkansas Children's Hospital.

History of Central Arkansas

The area known as "little rock" was found by an explorer named Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in 1722. Before this, the capital of Arkansas was in Arkansas Post. But that place often flooded, so it was not good for a city.

For many years, the "little rock" area was just a stopping point along the Arkansas River. No one settled there. Then, in 1820, a land owner from St. Louis, Missouri wanted the capital moved to Little Rock. At first, lawmakers could not decide between Little Rock and Cadron (which is now Conway).

Later that year, many important people bought land around Little Rock. So, the lawmakers decided to move the capital there. Little Rock has been the capital of Arkansas ever since.

Geography of Central Arkansas

Central Arkansas is located in the Southern United States. It is a place where five other regions of Arkansas meet. These regions are the Ozarks to the north, the Arkansas River Valley and the Ouachita Mountains to the west, the Arkansas Delta to the east, and Piney Woods to the southwest.

Pinnacle Mountain State Park 13 Miles NW of Little Rock, AR

The Arkansas River flows through the region. It separates the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock. The river is very important for the area. It allows large boats to travel to the Port of Little Rock.

People and Population

Central Arkansas includes the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). It also includes the larger Little Rock Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The MSA includes six counties: Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, and Saline.

The CSA is even bigger. It adds the Pine Bluff metropolitan area and the Searcy Micropolitan Area. This means it includes more counties like Cleveland, Jefferson, Lincoln, and White County.

The main city in this area is Little Rock. It is the capital and largest city in Arkansas. In 2016, the Little Rock Combined Statistical Area had about 905,847 people.

Over the years, Central Arkansas has grown a lot.

Communities in Central Arkansas

Here are some of the towns and cities in Central Arkansas, grouped by how many people live there:

Cities with Over 100,000 People

• Little Rock (202,591 people)

Cities with 50,000 to 100,000 People

• North Little Rock (64,591 people)
• Conway (64,134 people)

Towns with 10,000 to 50,000 People

• Pine Bluff (41,253)
• Benton (35,014)
• Sherwood (32,731)
• Jacksonville (28,364)
• Cabot (23,776)
• Searcy (23,098)
• Maumelle (19,251)
• Bryant (16,688)
• Hot Springs Village (partial) (15,861)

Towns with 1,000 to 10,000 People

• Beebe (7,315)
• East End (6,998)
• Ward (6,052)
• Greenbrier (5,707)
• Sheridan (4,603)
• Vilonia (4,288)
• Lonoke (4,245)
• Haskell (3,990)
• Landmark (3,585)
• Austin (3,568)
• Gibson (3,543)
• Gravel Ridge (3,232)
• Shannon Hills (3,143)
• England (2,825)
• Salem (2,544)
• Mayflower (2,234)
• Carlisle (2,214)
• McAlmont (1,873)
• Wrightsville (1,542)
• Perryville (1,460)

Economy and Jobs

The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce lists the biggest employers in Central Arkansas. These are places where many people work.

Higher Education

Central Arkansas has several colleges and universities where students can continue their education after high school.

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)

Arts and Culture

Central Arkansas offers many places to enjoy art, history, and performances.

Museums to Explore

William J. Clinton Presidential Library, in downtown Little Rock

• The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is the state's largest art museum. It also hosts visual and performing arts events.
• The Museum of Discovery has hands-on exhibits about science, history, and technology.
• The William J. Clinton Presidential Center includes the library of former President Clinton. It has millions of documents, photos, and items from his time as president. You can even see a copy of the Oval Office!
• The Historic Arkansas Museum teaches about the frontier history of the region.
• 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 through their handbags and what they carried.
• Little Rock Central High School is still a school. But it also has a museum and visitor center about its important role in history.
• The Arkansas National Guard Museum
• The Simmons Bank Arena also has the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Museum.
• The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum has old Navy ships, including one that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• The Faulkner County Museum shows the history and culture of Faulkner County.
• The Plantation Agriculture Museum in Scott shows how farming was done in Arkansas, especially cotton.
• Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park is a site where Native Americans lived almost 1,000 years ago. You can see ancient mounds there.
• The Scott Plantation Settlement has old buildings moved there to show what plantation life was like.

Music and Theater

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

Parks and Recreation

Central Arkansas has many great places to enjoy the outdoors and have fun.

• The River Market Artspace and Park
• Burns Park
• T. R. Pugh Memorial Park, where you can find the Old Mill from the movie Gone With The Wind.
• Arkansas Arboretum at Pinnacle Mountain has a trail with different plants and trees.
• Arkansas River Trail is great for walking and biking.
• Little Rock Zoo is home to over 725 animals from more than 200 different kinds.
• Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a popular spot for hiking.
• Willow Springs Water Park was one of the first water parks in the U.S., built in 1928.

Transportation and Roads

Getting around Central Arkansas is easy with many major roads and an airport.

Major Highways

Rock Region Metro streetcar near the River Market District in Little Rock, AR

US 167 in Sheridan

"Big Dam Bridge" as seen from North Little Rock, AR

• Interstate 30
  • Interstate 430
  • Interstate 530
  • Interstate 630
• Interstate 40
  • Interstate 440
• 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

Airports

Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, AR

The Clinton National Airport in Little Rock is the biggest airport in Arkansas. It has many flights every day to different cities. There are also smaller airports for private planes, like North Little Rock Municipal Airport.

Professional Sports

Central Arkansas is home to a professional baseball team.

• The Arkansas Travelers are a minor league baseball team. They are part of the Seattle Mariners team. They play their games at Dickey–Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

Dickey–Stephens Park

Images for kids

• Mountain View, Arkansas

See also

In Spanish: Área metropolitana de Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway para niños