Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock is the capital and largest city in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It is located in central Arkansas and is the county seat of Pulaski County. Little Rock derives its name from a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River called La Petite Roche (the "little rock"). The "little rock" was used by early river traffic as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing.

History

1722 - French explorer, Bernard de la Harpe, landed near a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River which he reputedly named La Petite Roche (the little rock). La Harpe built a trading post near the little rock. The Quapaw Indians resided nearby.
1812 - William Lewis, a fur trapper, built a home near the little rock.
1820 - Little Rock is surveyed.
1821 - Little Rock became the capital of the Arkansas Territory formed in 1819.
1831 - Little Rock is incorporated as a city.
1833 - The Terrritorial Capitol is built. Completed in 1842, it would also serve as the State Capitol until 1911.
1836 - Arkansas became the 25th state, and Little Rock became the capital.
1861 - Arkansas joins the Confederacy.
1863 - Union forces occupy Little Rock.
1874 - The Brooks-Baxter War takes place in Little Rock.
1880 - General Douglas MacArthur was born on January 26 at the Little Rock Barracks. The birthplace is now the home of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.
1881 - The Arkansas legislature adopts "arkansaw" as the official pronunciation.
1911 - The current State Capitol building is completed. It is the second building constructed to house the state government, after the Old State House.
1916 - Pulaski Heights, one of Little Rock's earliest western suburbs, is annexed into the city, setting the stage for further westward expansion.
1957 - The "Little Rock Nine" are enrolled at Little Rock's Central High School, after riots and the National Guard hindered their first attempt at enrollment. Eisenhower federalized the dispatched troops to ensure their safety and enforce their right to attend school.
1958 - All three public High Schools in Little Rock are closed for one year by Governor Orval Faubus.
1978 - Bill Clinton, youngest Governor to be elected in Arkansas at the age of 32. Little Rock is also known as President Clinton’s first capital city.
1992 - Bill Clinton, the first person from Arkansas to be elected President of the United States gives his acceptance speech from in front of the Old State House in downtown Little Rock.
1993 - Little Rock is featured in the HBO documentary,"Gang War: Bangin' In Little Rock." The show won a CableACE Award for best documentary.
1997 - The 40th anniversary of the Central High crisis is marked by the opening of a new National Park Service visitor center.
1999 - American Airlines Flight 1420 was a flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Little Rock National Airport. On June 1, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 overran the runway upon landing in Little Rock and crashed. The pilot died in the crash, along with 10 passengers.
2000 - The record high temperature of 111 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded by the National Weather Service for Little Rock in August.
2001 - Bill Clinton finishes his 2nd term as President of the United States and his wife Hilary Clinton becomes a US Senator for New York. They are now residents of New York state.
2004 - Clinton Library opens in Downtown Little Rock on a cold and rainy November 18, with a host of dignitaries and celebrities, including President George W. Bush, and former presidents George H. W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter.
2006 - Little Rock is currently experiencing a record for murders committed so far in 2006, currently 35 as of July 9th. The news of the murder rate is now known internationaly, as demonstrated by an article in The Sunday Times (UK). Governor Mike Huckabee has requested an increase in State Police presence in the city.
2007 - The 50th anniversary of the Central High crisis. A larger visitor center is planned.

Early origins and miscellaneous facts

Many artifacts have been found that suggest Native Americans inhabited Central Arkansas thousands of years before European settlers arrived. These original inhabitants may have included the Folsom people, Bluff Dwellers, Mound Builders, Caddo, Quapaws, Osage, Choctaw and Cherokee. Arkansas was left untouched by European hands until 1541 when Hernado de Soto of Spain traveled through the area.

Little Rock was actually named for a little rock. Early travelers used a stone outcropping on the bank of the Arkansas River as a landmark. "La Petite Roche" marked the transition from the flat Mississippi Delta region to the Ouachita Mountain foothills. Travelers would refer to the area as "the little rock" and the name stuck.

The city of North Little Rock was once the 8th ward of Little Rock. An Arkansas Supreme Court decision on February 6, 1904, allowed the ward to merge with the neighboring town of North Little Rock. The merged town quickly renamed itself Argenta (the local name for the former 8th Ward), but returned to its original name in October 1917.

Federal Express was created in 1971 by Frederick W. Smith in Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1973 after Little Rock National Airport officials would not agree to provide facilities for the fledgling airline. The company is now known as FedEx Corporation.

Geography

Little Rock is located at (34.736009, -92.331122).

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 (0.52%) is water.

Little Rock is located on the south bank of the Arkansas River in Central Arkansas. Fourche Creek and Rock Creek run through the city and flow into the river. The western part of the city is located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Just northwest of the city limits is Pinnacle Mountain and Lake Maumelle, which provides Little Rock's drinking water. The city of North Little Rock is located just across the river from Little Rock.

Climate data

**Meteorological Data for the Little Rock Greater Metropolitan Area**

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 183,133 people, 77,352 households, and 46,488 families residing in the city. The population density was 608.5/km² (1,576.0/mi²). There were 84,793 housing units at an average density of 281.7/km² (729.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 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 is 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% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. There are 2,997 (3.8% of all households) unmarried partner households: 2,504 (3.2% of all households) heterosexual, 193 (0.25%) same-sex male, and 300 (0.39%) same-sex female households. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,572, and the median income for a family was $47,446. Males had a median income of $35,689 versus $26,802 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,209. 14.3% of the population is 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 were living below the poverty line.

Metropolitan statistical area

As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA population was 610,518 including the following counties: Pulaski, Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, and Saline. The largest cities include North Little Rock, Conway, Jacksonville, Benton, Sherwood, Cabot, Maumelle, and Bryant.The 2004 census estimate for the area was 636,636 people.

The Combined Statistical Area of Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff had a population of 785,024 as of the 2000 census. The Combined area had a population of 813,160 as of 2004 from the census bureau estimates.

Economy

Little Rock is headquarters of major corporations Alltel, Acxiom, and Dillard's. Other companies include Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Metropolitan National Bank, Rose Law Firm, privately owned Stephens Inc. — one of the largest investment firms off Wall Street and Nuvell Financial Services - a wholly-owned subsidiary of GMAC. Little Rock was the former headquarters of FedEx, Jacuzzi and TCBY.

Non-profit organizations include Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Heifer International, Lions World Services for the Blind, William J. Clinton Foundation, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, and Winrock International.

Associations include the American Taekwondo Association, Arkansas Hospital Association, and the Quapaw Quarter Association.

Major employers in Little Rock include Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Entergy, Raytheon, The Sharper Image, Siemens, and Timex.

One of the largest public employers in the state with almost 9,000 employees, UAMS and its affiliates, Arkansas Children's Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System have a total economic impact in Arkansas of about $4.1 billion per year. UAMS receives less than 11% of its funding from the state. Its operation is funded by payments for clinical services (64%), grants and contracts (18%), philanthropy and other (5%), and tuition and fees (2%).

Libraries and museums

The William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park includes the Clinton presidential library and the offices of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton School of Public Service, established by Bill Clinton. The facility, designed by architect James Polshek, cantilevers over the Arkansas River, echoing Clinton's famous campaign promise of "building a bridge to the 21st century."

The archives and library at the William J. Clinton Library and Museum contains 2 million photographs, 80 million pages of documents, 21 million e-mail messages, and nearly 80,000 artifacts from the Clinton presidency. The museum within the site showcases artifacts from Clinton's term and includes a full-scale replica of the Clinton-era Oval Office; other occupants of the Center include the Clinton School of Public Service, and the offices of the Clinton Foundation.

Opened on November 18, 2004, the Clinton Presidential Center cost $165 million to construct and covers 150,000 square feet (14,000 m²) within a 28 acre (113,000 m²) park.

The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History opened in 2001, the last remaining structure of the original Little Rock Arsenal and one of the oldest buildings in central Arkansas, it was also the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur who would go on to be the supreme commander of US forces in the South Pacific during World War II.

Education

The city has two major universities that are part of the University of Arkansas System. The campuses of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are located within Little Rock.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock was founded in 1927 as Little Rock Junior College under the supervision of the city Board of Education. That first semester there were eight instructors and about 100 students. By 1929, the college was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, a status it has kept through changes in size and status. Housed at first in public school buildings, the college moved in 1949 to its present location in southwest Little Rock on a beautifully wooded site donated by Raymond Rebsamen, a Little Rock businessman. The college was also the sole beneficiary of a continuing trust established by former Governor George W. Donaghey at the time. In 1957, the institution began a four-year degree program, became independent and privately supported under a separate board of trustees, and took the name Little Rock University. After several years of discussion and study, Little Rock University in September 1969 merged into the University of Arkansas System to create the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The University of Arkansas System merger began a period of rapid growth, which saw UALR go from about 3,500 students and 75 full-time faculty members in 1969 to about 10,000 students and over 400 full-time faculty members in the 1998 academic year. The University's expanded offerings now include 54 undergraduate major programs, an extensive schedule of night, weekend, and off-campus classes, and a wide range of community educational services. UALR began offering graduate and professional work in 1975. Besides the juris doctor offered at the William H. Bowen School of Law, UALR now has three doctoral programs and 29 graduate and professional programs, as well as joint programs with other campuses of the University of Arkansas System.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is part of the University of Arkansas System. UAMS has about 2200 students in six academic units: the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Health Related Professions, and Public Health and the Graduate School. UAMS also has more than 660 resident physicians completing their training at UAMS or at one of the seven Area Health Education Centers around the state. UAMS combines the patient care resources of a state-of-the art hospital and outpatient center with the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, and Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neurosciences Institute. Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System are affiliates of UAMS.

The outreach efforts of UAMS include seven Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in Fayetteville, Pine Bluff, El Dorado, Texarkana, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Helena, Arkansas.; networks of senior health centers and centers for young children with special health care needs; and interactive video education and medical consultation services to community hospitals around the state. UAMS is the state’s largest basic and applied research institution, with more than $107 million in annual research funding, grants and contracts and internationally renowned programs in multiple myeloma, aging, and other areas.

Located in downtown is the unique Clinton School of Public Service, a branch of the University of Arkansas System that offers a Masters degree in Public Service.

The public schools in Little Rock are operated by the Little Rock School District. Currently, the district includes 64 schools with more school being built. As of the 2005-2006 school year, the district has enrollment of 26,524. It has 5 high schools, 8 middle schools, 31 elementary schools, 1 early childhood (pre-kndergarten) center, 2 alternative schools, 1 adult education center, 1 accelerated learning center, 1 career-techinal center, and about 3,800 employees.

Sites of interest

Aerospace Education Center - IMAX Theater & EpiSphere Digital Dome Theater
Arkansas Arboretum
Arkansas Arts Center - the state's largest art museum, notable for its drawings collections and children's theater productions
Arkansas Museum of Discovery - Arkansas Museum of Science & History
Arkansas Repertory Theatre - The Rep
Arkansas River Trail
Arkansas State Capitol - a smaller-scale replica of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., completed in 1911
William J. Clinton Presidential Center - a library and museum detailing the two terms of Clinton's presidency
Heifer International - headquarters of the global hunger and poverty relief organization, located adjacent to the Clinton Presidential Center
Historic Arkansas Museum - a regional history museum focusing primarily on the frontier time period
Little Rock Central High School
Little Rock Marathon
Little Rock Zoo
MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History - a military museum dedicated to interpreting Arkansas' role in military history
Old State House Museum - a former state capitol building now home to a history museum focusing on Arkansas' recent history
Pinnacle Mountain State Park - a state park near northwest Little Rock
Riverfront Park - a park located in downtown, hosts the annual Riverfest music festival, and home to La Petite Roche (the little rock).
River Market District - a refurbished former warehouse district and subset of downtown including an old-fashioned bazaar-style market hall, a farmers' market from April to late October each year; and various shops, bars, restaurants and galleries
Robinson Center Music Hall - The main performance center of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

Sports

Little Rock is home to the Arkansas Travelers. They are the AA Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play at Ray Winder Field and are in the Texas League. The team is scheduled to move into Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock in April 2007.

Little Rock is home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans. The majority of the schools athletic teams are housed in the new state-of-the-art Jack Stephens Center.

The Little Rock area is also home to the Arkansas Twisters of the af2 arena football league and the Arkansas RimRockers of the NBA Development League as well. Both of these teams play at the Alltel Arena in North Little Rock.

Many central Arkansans enjoy the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks play football twice yearly at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock and the UA men's basketball team plays once yearly at Alltel Arena.

Little Rock will be a host of the First and Second Rounds of the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. It has also been a host of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament.

The now defunct Arkansas RiverBlades and Arkansas GlacierCats, both minor-league hockey teams, were located in the Little Rock area. The GlacierCats of the now defunct WPHL played in Little Rock at Barton Coliseum while the RiverBlades of the ECHL played at the Alltel Arena.

Hubert "Geese" Ausbie played basketball at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, where he earned All-Conference and All-American honors. He later gained fame as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.

World Champion Middleweight Boxer Jermain Taylor, NBA players Derek Fisher, and Joe Johnson were born in Little Rock

Transportation

A number of highways converge near Little Rock. I-40 passes through North Little Rock to the north. US 67 and US 167 share the same route from the northeast before splitting, with US 67 multiplexing with Interstate 30 to the southwest and US 167 multiplexing with US 65 and I-530 to the southeast. US 65 shares the same route as I-30 from the east. Other highways include I-430, I-440, I-530, and I-630. I-530 terminates in Little Rock after originating in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Air service is provided by Little Rock National Airport, offering nine major airlines with non-stop service to 18 major airports. Amtrak also serves the city twice daily via its Texas Eagle line, with connections to Chicago and Dallas. Greyhound Bus Lines is located across the river in North Little Rock and provides regional and interstate travel service.

Within the city, public bus service is provided by the Central Arkansas Transit Authority (CATA), with 16 regular daily routes and two express routes throughout the Little Rock area. Additional service includes four connecting routes originating in Little Rock serving North Little Rock daily excluding Sundays; morning and early evening Monday-Friday express routes to Maumelle and Jacksonville/Sherwood; special events shuttle buses; and paratransit service for disabled persons.

Since November 2004, downtown areas of Little Rock and North Little Rock have been additionally served by the River Rail Electric Streetcarsystem, also operated by CATA. At present, few middle-class commuters of Central Arkansas depend on public transit. As a result, the current riders of CATA are predominantly poor, elderly, and/or disabled. Panhandling is common at bus stops. Most visitors to the city rely on car rental or taxicab for their transportation needs.

Taxicab service is readily available with Black & White Cabs, Yellow Cab, and Veterans Cab. Limo service is also available with River City Limousine Service and Professional Limousine of Arkansas.

Notable people

Douglas MacArthur GCB (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964) was born in Little Rock and was an American general and medal of honor recipient. He was Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. President Harry Truman relieved General MacArthur of his military command in on April 11, 1951.

John Gould Fletcher (January 3, 1886 – May 20, 1950) was a Pulitzer Prize winning Imagist poet and author. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas to a socially prominent family. Fletcher suffered from depression and committed suicide by drowning in a pond near his home in Little Rock. Fletcher is buried at historic Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock. A Hall High area branch of the Central Arkansas Library System is named in his honor.

Frank Bonner (born February 28, 1942) in Little Rock, is an actor and television director best known for playing sales manager Herb Tarlek on the classic TV sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. He has also directed episodes of many TV sitcoms, including Who's the Boss?, Head of the Class, and Evening Shade.

Gil Gerard (born January 23, 1943) in Little Rock, he is most famous for his role as Captain William "Buck" Rogers in the 1979-1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. He was married to Connie Sellecca (1979 - 1987). He also appeared in television commercials, including a stint as spokesman for the Ford Motor Company.

Connie Hamzy (AKA Sweet Sweet Connie) is a groupie from Little Rock, and possibly one of the most notorious groupies of all time. She is mentioned in Grand Funk Railroad's song We're an American Band.

Wesley Clark born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 23, 1944 under the name Wesley Kanne. He was a former 2004 presidential contender and NATO Commander. Clark is a graduate of Hall High School in Little Rock.

Kerry Kennedy, born in England, Arkansas and lived in Little Rock, was an award winning playwright and screenwriter, having authored the films: "Hope," directed by Goldie Hawn and starring Christine Lahti, and "Baby," starring Farrah Fawcett.

Richard Thalheimer born in 1948, is founder, CEO and chairman of the Sharper Image Corporation. Thalheimer is a graduate of Hall High School in Little Rock.

Chelsea Clinton born February 27, 1980 in Little Rock, is the only child of President Bill Clinton and US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Chelsea's name was inspired by her parents' fondness for the Judy Collins recording of the Joni Mitchell song "Chelsea Morning". Chelsea has not lived in Little Rock since moving to the White House with her parents in 1993.

Former President Bill Clinton and US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton lived in Little Rock when Bill Clinton was Attorney General of Arkansas 1977-1979 and Governor of Arkansas 1979-1981; and also returning as Governor 1983-1993.

Jerry Jones, an owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and actresses Mary Steenburgen and Joey Lauren Adams are sometimes associated with Little Rock. All three went to North Little Rock High School (Ole Main) in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Music

Richard B. Boone (February 24, 1930 – February 8, 1999) was an American jazz musician and scat singer.

Art Porter, Sr., (February 8, 1934 - February 8, 1993) was an American jazz pianist. He was the father of jazz saxophonist Art Porter, Jr.

Art Porter, Jr., (August 3, 1961 - November 23, 1996), was an American jazz saxophonist. He was the son of legendary jazz musician Art Porter, Sr.

Green Day's close friend and backup guitarist (particularly for the American Idiot tour), *Jason White is from Little Rock.

Evanescence and Ho-Hum have their roots in Little Rock.

References

1. Galiano, Amanda. "Let's Get Historical-Early Arkansas." About.com Cities & Towns. 19 April 2006. ^*.
2.City-data.com. "Average Climate in Little Rock, Arkansas. Based on data reported by over 4000 weather stations." 19 April 2006. ^*.

External links

Little Rock, Arkansas | 1821 establishments

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