Little Rock, Arkansas
- There is also a Littlerock, California.
Little Rock is a city located in Pulaski County, Arkansas. It is the capital of the U.S. state of Arkansas and the county seat. Little Rock is named after a boulder located on the bank of the Arkansas River called la petite roche. La petite roche was used by early river traffic as a landmark, the "little rock" is used to distinguish the area from shear rock cliffs that flank the river further upstream from Little Rock.
Geography
Little Rock is located at 34°44'10" North, 92°19'52" West (34.736009, -92.331122)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 302.5 km² (116.8 mi²). 301.0 km² (116.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.52% water. Little Rock is situated on the Arkansas River.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there are 183,133 people, 77,352 households, and 46,488 families residing in the city. The population density is 608.5/km² (1,576.0/mi²). There are 84,793 housing units at an average density of 281.7/km² (729.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 55.07% White, 40.41% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 2.67% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 77,352 households out of which 28.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% are married couples living together, 16.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% are non-families. 33.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,572, and the median income for a family is $47,446. Males have a median income of $35,689 versus $26,802 for females. The per capita income for the city is $23,209. 14.3% of the population and 11.1% of families are 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 are living below the poverty line.
History
In 1821 the capital the Arkansas Territory was moved from Arkansas Post, a town on the Mississippi River, to Little Rock. Little Rock historically was involved with the American Civil Rights Movement, when Little Rock Central High School was racially integrated in September 1957.
Tourist Attractions
- Arkansas Arts Center - the state's largest art museum.
- Arkansas State Capital Building
- Heifer International - a new learning center will be opening soon.
- Historic Arkansas Museum - a regional history museum focusing primarily on the frontier time period.
- Little Rock Zoo
- MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History - a military museum dedicated to interpreting arkansas' role in military history.
- Museum of Discovery - a science museum primarily aimed at children.
- Old Statehouse Museum - a history museum focusing on Arkansas recent history.
- Pinnacle Mountain - a nearby state park.
- The Rep - a repertory Theatre
- Riverfront Park - a park located in downtown, hosts the annual Riverfest music festival.
- The Rivermarket - an old-fashioned bazaar style market, during the summer months it host a farmer's market.
- William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library - a library and museum detailing the two terms of Clinton's presidency.
Also see Little Rock restaurants.
Facts
- Little Rock is the home of the Arkansas Travelers Minor League Baseball team. They are in the Texas League.
- The now defunct Arkansas RiverBlades and Arkansas GlacierCats, minor-league hockey teams, were both located in Little Rock.
- The Robinson Music Center Auditorium, located in Little Rock, is the main performance place of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
- The Arkansas State Capitol Building is a smaller-scale replica of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
- The Arkansas River runs past Little Rock. The city of North Little Rock is located just across the river from Little Rock.
- Interstate 30 terminates in Little Rock from Texarkana, Arkansas after originating in Fort Worth, Texas
- Little Rock is the corporate headquarters of Alltel, Dillard's and TCBY.
- The city is served by Little Rock National Airport.
- The band Evanescence has its roots here. Its lead singer Amy Lee attended Pulaski Academy, a well known private school in West Little Rock.
- Stephens, Inc., an investment company often noted by its association with Wesley Clark and SHAC (a radical Animal Rights group), is headquartered in Little Rock.
- The former 2004 presidential contender Wesley Clark lived in Little Rock.
Little Rock, Arkansas should not be confused with Littlerock, California.
External links
- City of Little Rock (http://www.littlerock.org/)
- Access Little Rock (http://www.accesslittlerock.org/)
