North Little Rock, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Little Rock, Arkansas
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North Little Rock from across the Arkansas River
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| Motto(s):
“Up for Something!”
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 North Little Rock, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Arkansas |
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| County | Pulaski | ||
| Township | Hill | ||
| Founded | April 18, 1871 | ||
| Incorporated | July 17, 1901 | ||
| Named for | Little Rock, Arkansas | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor–Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 56.20 sq mi (145.55 km2) | ||
| • Land | 53.04 sq mi (137.38 km2) | ||
| • Water | 3.15 sq mi (8.16 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 64,591 | ||
| • Estimate
(2024)
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65,214  |
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| • Rank | US: 524th | ||
| • Density | 1,217.69/sq mi (470.15/km2) | ||
| • Urban | 431,388 (US: 88th) | ||
| • Metro | 729,135 (US: 75th) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP codes |
72114-119, 721124, 72190, 72199
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| Area code(s) | 501 | ||
| FIPS code | 05-50450 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2404393 | ||
North Little Rock (often called "NLR") is a lively city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States. It sits on the north side of the Arkansas River, right across from its "twin city," Little Rock. The city has grown a lot and is now the seventh-most populous city in Arkansas, with 64,591 people counted in the 2020 census.
North Little Rock has worked hard to make its city beautiful and welcoming. Many young families and professionals are choosing to live here. The Argenta Historic District in Downtown is a popular spot, full of fun places like theaters, nice restaurants, cafes, and unique shops.
The city is also home to exciting attractions. You can catch a baseball game at Dickey-Stephens Park, where the Arkansas Travelers minor league team plays. For big concerts and shows, there's Simmons Bank Arena. If you love the outdoors, Burns Park is one of the biggest city parks in the entire United States, offering tons of activities.
Contents
- A Look Back at North Little Rock's History
- Exploring North Little Rock's Geography
- Who Lives in North Little Rock?
- Fun Things to See and Do in North Little Rock
- Sports in North Little Rock
- Parks and Outdoor Fun
- How North Little Rock is Governed
- Learning in North Little Rock
- Getting Around and City Services
- Famous People from North Little Rock
- Sister City
- See also
A Look Back at North Little Rock's History
North Little Rock started as a community called Argenta on April 18, 1871. For a while, in 1890, the city of Little Rock included Argenta as part of its own area.
But the people of Argenta wanted their independence back! So, on July 17, 1901, they officially became the town of "North Little Rock." By 1904, the state's highest court allowed North Little Rock to grow even more. The city briefly changed its name back to Argenta in 1906, but then officially became North Little Rock again in October 1917. You can still see hints of the old "City of Argenta" (C of A) in the designs on the North Little Rock City Hall, which was built in 1914.
Exploring North Little Rock's Geography
North Little Rock covers a total area of about 56.20 square miles (145.55 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small portion made up of water.
City Neighborhoods
North Little Rock has many different neighborhoods, each with its own unique feel. Some of these include:
- Amboy
- Argenta Historic District
- Arrowhead Manor
- Baring Cross
- Chimney Rock
- Crystal Hill
- Dark Hollow
- Dixie
- Indian Hills
- Lakewood
- Levy
- Mid-City
- Overbrook
- Park Hill (Home to the Park Hill Historic District)
- Pike View
- Rose City
- Windsor Valley
North Little Rock's Climate
The weather in North Little Rock is known for its hot and humid summers, and generally mild to cool winters. It has what scientists call a humid subtropical climate. This means you can expect long, sunny summers and mild, wet winters with very little snow. July is usually the warmest month, and January is the coldest. On average, the yearly temperature is about 62.5 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius). The city gets about 45.79 inches (116 cm) of rain each year, with more rain in winter and spring. Sometimes, strong thunderstorms can happen, especially in the spring.
| Climate data for Little Rock (Little Rock Nat'l Airport), 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1875−present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
97 (36) |
86 (30) |
80 (27) |
114 (46) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 50.5 (10.3) |
55.1 (12.8) |
64.0 (17.8) |
73.1 (22.8) |
81.1 (27.3) |
88.9 (31.6) |
92.5 (33.6) |
92.6 (33.7) |
85.6 (29.8) |
74.8 (23.8) |
63.0 (17.2) |
52.3 (11.3) |
72.8 (22.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 40.8 (4.9) |
44.8 (7.1) |
53.4 (11.9) |
62.1 (16.7) |
71.1 (21.7) |
79.1 (26.2) |
82.8 (28.2) |
82.5 (28.1) |
75.0 (23.9) |
63.7 (17.6) |
52.6 (11.4) |
43.0 (6.1) |
62.6 (17.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 31.2 (−0.4) |
34.5 (1.4) |
42.7 (5.9) |
51.0 (10.6) |
61.1 (16.2) |
69.4 (20.8) |
73.2 (22.9) |
72.4 (22.4) |
64.5 (18.1) |
52.6 (11.4) |
42.2 (5.7) |
33.7 (0.9) |
52.4 (11.3) |
| 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) | 3.55 (90) |
3.66 (93) |
4.68 (119) |
5.14 (131) |
4.87 (124) |
3.65 (93) |
3.27 (83) |
2.59 (66) |
3.18 (81) |
4.91 (125) |
5.28 (134) |
4.97 (126) |
49.75 (1,264) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.6 (4.1) |
1.3 (3.3) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
trace | 0.2 (0.51) |
3.5 (8.9) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.9 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 9.4 | 11.1 | 8.7 | 8.2 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 8.2 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 105.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.7 |
| 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), The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in North Little Rock?
North Little Rock has seen its population grow over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 11,138 | — | |
| 1920 | 14,048 | 26.1% | |
| 1930 | 19,418 | 38.2% | |
| 1940 | 21,137 | 8.9% | |
| 1950 | 44,097 | 108.6% | |
| 1960 | 58,032 | 31.6% | |
| 1970 | 60,040 | 3.5% | |
| 1980 | 64,388 | 7.2% | |
| 1990 | 61,741 | −4.1% | |
| 2000 | 60,433 | −2.1% | |
| 2010 | 62,304 | 3.1% | |
| 2020 | 64,591 | 3.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 65,214 | |
4.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 United States census, 64,591 people lived in the city. About 23.6% of the population was under 18 years old, and 6.9% were under 5 years old. People aged 65 and older made up 16.2% of the population. The city's population was made up of 51.9% females and 48.1% males.
Fun Things to See and Do in North Little Rock
North Little Rock offers many interesting places to visit and learn about!
Popular Places to Explore
- Argenta Historic District: A vibrant area with shops, restaurants, and entertainment.
- Argenta Plaza: A public space for events and relaxation.
- Arkansas National Guard Museum: Learn about the history of the state's military forces.
- Burns Park: One of the largest city parks in the U.S., offering many outdoor activities.
- Simmons Bank Arena: A major venue for concerts, sports, and other big events. It also houses the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Museum.
- McCain Mall: A popular shopping destination.
- Lakewood Village: Another area for shopping and dining.
- Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum: See historic ships, including the Navy tug Hoga (YT-146), which survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the USS Razorback (SS-394), a submarine present at the end of World War II.
_Little_Rock%27s_Ceremonial_Color_Guard_parades_the_colors_to_officially_open_a_ceremony.jpg)
Sports in North Little Rock
If you love baseball, you can cheer on the Arkansas Travelers minor league team at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
North Little Rock is home to many wonderful parks and recreational areas perfect for outdoor adventures!
- Arkansas River Trail: A scenic path for walking, running, and biking along the river.
- Big Rock Quarry Park: Features a special Bike Park and Pump Track for cyclists.
- Burns Park: This huge park is one of the largest city-owned parks in the United States. It has baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, a campground, two golf courses, hiking trails, an amusement park, and tennis courts.
- Campbell Lake Park
- Conley Park
- Crestview Park
- Emerald Park
- Fearneyhough Park
- Idlewild Park
- North Little Rock Riverfront Park: A lovely park along the river.
- Riverview Park: Includes a skate park with street elements and a bowl for skateboarding.
- T. R. Pugh Memorial Park: Famous for the Old Mill, which appeared in the classic movie Gone With The Wind.
- Vestal Park
- W.C. Faucette Memorial Park
- Witkowski Park
How North Little Rock is Governed
The city of North Little Rock is led by elected officials. These include a mayor, a city council with eight members (two from each of the four city areas called wards), a city clerk/treasurer, a city attorney, and two judges. Many other boards and commissions, made up of city officials and residents, also help run the city.
Working with Other Cities
North Little Rock is where the Arkansas Municipal League (AML) has its main office. The AML helps cities and towns across Arkansas work together and speak up for their needs to the state and federal governments. It's a place where cities can share ideas and solve problems together.
Learning in North Little Rock
North Little Rock offers many great schools for students of all ages.
Public Schools
Most students attend schools in the North Little Rock School District. This district includes:
- One high school:
- North Little Rock High School (for grades 9-12)
- One middle school:
- North Little Rock Middle School (divided into a 6th-grade campus and a 7th-8th grade campus)
- Nine elementary schools:
- Amboy Elementary
- Boone Park Elementary
- Crestwood Elementary
- Glenview Elementary
- Indian Hills Elementary
- Lakewood Elementary
- Meadow Park Elementary
- Ridge Road Elementary (formerly Ridge Road Middle School)
- Seventh Street Elementary
- One early childhood center:
- Pike View Early Childhood Center
The West Campus building of North Little Rock High School is special because of its unique art-deco style architecture, and it's recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Pulaski County Special School District also runs several schools in the North Little Rock area, including:
- One middle school
- Three elementary schools and one special elementary magnet school
Historically, Scipio Jones High School served African American students from 1909 until 1970.
Private Schools
North Little Rock also has several private schools:
- Calvary Academy (for students from PreK3 through 12th grade)
- Central Arkansas Christian Schools (for students from PreK3 through 12th grade)
- Immaculate Conception (for grades K-8)
- North Little Rock Montessori
- North Little Rock Catholic Academy (for students from PreK3 through 8th grade)
- This academy was formed in 2007 when St. Mary School and St. Patrick School joined together.
Another historical note: St. Augustine School was a Catholic grade school for African American students in North Little Rock that closed in 1976.
Colleges and Universities
For students continuing their education after high school, North Little Rock has:
- University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College
- Shorter College (Arkansas)
Public Libraries
The North Little Rock Public Library System has two branches: the Argenta Branch Library and the William F. Laman branch, named after a former mayor.
Getting Around and City Services
North Little Rock has important transportation routes and essential city services.
Transportation
Major Roads
Several important highways pass through North Little Rock, making it easy to travel to and from the city. These include Interstate 30, Interstate 40, US 65, US 67, and US 167. Interstate 57 also begins its Arkansas journey here.
Bus and Streetcar Services
North Little Rock is home to the main office of Rock Region Metro, which is Arkansas's largest public transportation agency. Since 2015, all of their buses have been made more energy-efficient. Rock Region Metro also operates the Metro Rail streetcars, which are classic black and yellow streetcars you can see in Little Rock’s River Market and North Little Rock’s Argenta.
Air Travel
In the northern part of the city, you'll find the North Little Rock Municipal Airport. It's a smaller airport often used by people flying biplanes and helps reduce traffic at the larger Clinton National Airport.
The city is also home to the National Weather Service North Little Rock, Arkansas. This important office helps inform people across Arkansas about weather patterns and forecasts.
Police Department
The North Little Rock Police Department uses modern technology, including small pilotless helicopters (unmanned aerial vehicles), to help keep the community safe.
Fire Department
The North Little Rock Fire Department (NLRFD) does more than just fight fires. They also respond to medical emergencies, special operations, hazardous material incidents, and water rescues on the Arkansas River.
Hospitals
For healthcare needs, North Little Rock has several hospitals:
- Baptist Health Medical Center - North Little Rock
- Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center
- Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Famous People from North Little Rock
Many talented and well-known individuals have come from North Little Rock:
- Joey Lauren Adams, an actress and director
- Ben M. Bogard, who founded the American Baptist Association
- Maxine Brown, a country singer famous for being part of The Browns
- A. J. Burnett, a former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB)
- John Burkhalter, a businessman and politician
- Donnie Copeland, a pastor and former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- Jeremy Davis, the bassist for the pop-punk band Paramore
- Pat Hays, a former mayor of North Little Rock
- Cliff Hoofman, a Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court
- Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys football team
- Darren McFadden, a former running back for the Dallas Cowboys
- Glenn Myatt, a Major League Baseball catcher
- Tommy Norman, a North Little Rock Police Officer known for his positive community policing efforts
- Charles Robinson, who served as Arkansas State Treasurer
- Tommy F. Robinson, a former North Little Rock Police Officer, Pulaski County Sheriff, and U.S. Representative
- Pharoah Sanders, a famous jazz saxophonist
- Mary Steenburgen, an actress
- Jason White, a guitarist for the band Green Day
Sister City
North Little Rock has a special connection with:
Uiwang, South Korea
See also
In Spanish: North Little Rock para niños
