Little Rock

Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As the county seat of Pulaski County, the city was incorporated on November 7, 1831, on the south bank of the Arkansas River close to the state's geographic center. The city derived its name from a rock formation along the river, named the "Little Rock" (French: Le Petit Rocher) by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in 1722. The six-county Little RockNorth Little RockConway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is ranked 81st in terms of population in the United States with 748,031 residents. Two major Interstate highways, Interstate 30 and Interstate 40, meet in Little Rock, with the Port of Little Rock serving as a shipping hub. The state government is a large employer, with many offices downtown. Other corporations, such as Amazon, Dassault Falcon Jet, LM Wind Power, Simmons Bank, Euronet Worldwide, AT&T, and Entergy have large operations in the city. Little Rock is located at 34°4410N 92°1952W (34.736009, 92.331122). The city has a total area of 116.8 square miles (303 km²), of which 116.2 square miles. (301 km²) is land and 0.6 sq miles (1.6km²) (0.52%) is water.

Etymology

Little Rock is the primary city name, but also Cammack Village, Cammack Vlg are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Little Rock. Little Rock derives its name from a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River called the "Little Rock" (French: La Petite Roche) The Little Rock was used by early river traffic as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing. It is across the river from The Big Rock, a large bluff at the edge of the river, which was once used as a rock quarry. The Arkansas River is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the U.S., with more than one million visitors a year. It was once the busiest river crossing in the United States, with over 100,000 people crossing the Arkansas every day in the early 20th century. The city's name is derived from the French word for "little" or "rock" and the word "rocker" for the same reason: to refer to a small formation of rock on the river's south bank. The name Little Rock is also used in the name of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, which is located on the other side of theArkansas River and was once known as the Little Rock. The town's name means "little rock" in French, which means "rock or rock formation" and "rocky" in English. The river's name comes from the same French word, "l'Rock", which means 'little' or 'rocky' and refers to a rock formation that was once a quarry in the area. The word "Rock" means 'rock' in English, and "Rock' means'small' or "small' in French.

History

Little Rock was named for a stone outcropping on the bank of the Arkansas River used by early travelers as a landmark. It was named in 1722 by French explorer and trader Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe. Historical tribes of the area are the Caddo, Quapaw, Osage, Choctaw, and Cherokee. The name Little Rock is eventually what stuck after the city's founding in 1820. It is located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, which were once part of the Mississippi River valley. The area was once home to the Folsom people, Bluff Dwellers, and Mississippian culture peoples who built earthwork mounds recorded in 1541 by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. The Arkansas River runs through the center of the city, which was once known as "Little Rock" and was once called "Arkansas City" by the locals. The city is now known as Little Rock, Arkansas, and is located on the banks of the Little Rock River, which is a tributary to the Mississippi. The town's name comes from the name of the river, which means "little river" or "little stream" in Spanish. It has been called Little Rock since the early 1800s, when it was first known as the "Little River" and later "Little Springs" by locals. It became known as Arkansas City in the mid-19th century, and was named after the town of the same name.

Geography

Little Rock is located on the south bank of the Arkansas River in Central Arkansas. The city of North Little Rock is just across the river from Little Rock, but it is a separate city. Little Rock lies in the humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa), with hot, humid summers and cool winters with usually little snow. It has experienced temperatures as low as 12 °F (24 °C), which was recorded on February 12, 1899. The 2020 U.S. Census estimate for the Little Rock-NorthLittle Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area was 748,031. The MSA covers the following counties: Pulaski, Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, and Saline. The largest cities in the MSA are Little Rock and NorthLittle Rock. The western part of the city is in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Pinnacle Mountain and Lake Maumelle, which provides Little Rock's drinking water, are just northwest of the town limits. It is located at 34°4410W (34.736009, 92.331122).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 116.8 square miles (303 km²), of which 116.2 square miles is land and 0.6 km² (1.52%) is water. It 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 NorthLittleRock.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, there were 193,524 people, 82,018 households, and 47,799 families residing in the city. White Americans made up 52.7% of Little Rock's population; of which 49.4% were non-Hispanic Whites, down from 74.1% in 1970. In addition, Hispanics and Latinos made up 4.7%, making up 6.8% of the city's population. Blacks or African American made up 42.1%, with 42.0% being non- Hispanic blacks. Native Americans made down 0.4%, while Asian Americans make up 2.1%. Pacific Islander Americans made less than 0.1%; individuals from some other race made up 1.2%. In the city, the median income for a household in theCity was $37,572, and the median Income for a family was $47,446. 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. The per capita income for the city was $23,209. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males, and for every 100. females age 18 and over there were 85 males. The city has a population density of 1,576.0 inhabitants per square mile (608.5/km²). There were 91,288 housing units.

Crime

In the late 1980s, Little Rock experienced a 51% increase in murder arrests of children under 17, and a 40% increase among 18- to 24-year-olds. In July 2017, a shootout occurred at the Power Ultra Lounge nightclub in downtown Little Rock; although there were no deaths, 28 people were injured and one hospitalized. In 2021, little Rock saw a decrease in most violent crime, but a 24% increase of homicides from 2020. Little Rock was ranked fifth in Money Magazine's 1994 list of most dangerous cities. It was one of the highest per-capita homicide rates in the country, placing Little Rock fifth on the list of top 10 cities in the U.S. to live in. The city was ranked No. 1 on CNN.com's list of the world's most livable cities, with a list of cities with the highest crime rates. The list was compiled by CNN's crime and violence unit, Crime Stoppers of the United States, based on a survey of more than 1,000 people in cities across the country. The number of homicides in Little Rock reached a record of 61 in 1992. In 1993, it surpassed it with 76, placing the city fifth on CNN's top 10 list of dangerous cities, and No. 3 on the CNN list of livable city cities. In 2011, the number of murders in the city was at an all-time high of 76. In 2012, it reached a new high of 61, and in 2013, it hit a new record of 74.

Economy

Dillard's Department Stores, Windstream Communications and Acxiom, Simmons Bank, Bank of the Ozarks, Rose Law Firm, Central Flying Service, and large brokerage Stephens Inc. are headquartered in Little Rock. Dassault Falcon Jet (near Little Rock National Airport in the eastern part of the city), Fidelity National Information Services (in northwestern Little Rock), and Welspun Corp (in Southeast Little Rock) Little Rock is home to headquarters for large nonprofit organizations, such as Winrock International, Heifer International, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Clinton Foundation, Lions World Services for the Blind, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, FamilyLife, Audubon Arkansas, and The Nature Conservancy. The Little Rock port is an intermodal river port with a large industrial business complex. It is designated as Foreign Trade Zone 14. International corporations such as Danish manufacturer LM Glasfiber have established new facilities adjacent to the port. Along with Louisville and Memphis, Little Rock has a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis. One of the state's largest public employers, with over 10,552 employees, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and its healthcare partnersArkansas Children's Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Systemhave a total annual economic impact in Arkansas of about $5 billion. UAMS receives less than 11% of its funding from the state; it is funded by payments for clinical services (64%), grants and contracts (18%), philanthropy and other (5%), and tuition and fees (2%).

Arts and culture

Cultural sites in Little Rock include the Arkansas Arts Center, the state's largest cultural institution. The William J. Clinton Presidential Center includes the Clinton presidential library and the offices of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton School of Public Service. The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra performs over 30 concerts a year and many events. Wildwood Park for the Arts is the largest park dedicated to the performing arts in the South. The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is a nationally accredited, state-funded museum and cultural center focusing on African American history and culture in Arkansas. The Community Theatre of Little Rock, founded in 1956, is the area's oldest performance art company. The Robinson Center Music Hall is the main performance center of the Arkansas Symphony orchestra. The Little Rock Museum of Art is a museum of art and an active center for the visual and performing arts. The Museum of Discovery features hands-on exhibits in the fields of science, history and technology. The ESSE Purse Museum illustrates the stories of American women's lives during the 1900s through their handbags and the day-to-day items carried in them. The Old State House Museum is a former state capitol building now home to a history museum focusing on Arkansas's recent history. 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 the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur who went on to be the supreme commander of US forces in theSouth Pacific during World War II.

Parks and recreation

Outside magazine named Little Rock one of its 2019 Best Places to Live. Little Rock has 48 parks, as well as other recreational sites. The Arkansas Arboretum at Pinnacle Mountain has a trail with flora and tree plantings. Willow Springs Water Park was one of the first water theme parks in the U.S., built in 1928. The Little Rock Zoo consists of at least 725 animals and over 200 species. The River Market District is a downtown entertainment district consisting of historic buildings along President Clinton Avenue. It is also home to the Arkansas River Trail, which runs through the heart of the city. The city has a population of 1.2 million, according to the city's 2010 census. The state's population is 1.3 million, and the state's economy is the second-largest in the United States, after Texas. The town's economy has grown by 2.7 percent since the start of the year, and is expected to grow by 3 percent in the next year. The economy is projected to grow at a rate of 0.8 percent in 2019, and 0.9 percent in 2020. The unemployment rate is currently at 4.2 percent, and it is projected that it will rise to 4.4 percent by the end of the decade. The area's economy will grow by 0.7 per cent in the year 2020, and 1.8 per cent by the year 2030. It has an unemployment rate of 3.9 per cent, and a population growth rate of 2.1 per cent for the same period.

Government

The city has operated under the city manager form of government since November 1957. The current mayor, elected in November 2018, is Frank Scott Jr., a former assistant bank executive, pastor and state highway commissioner. The city employs over 2,500 people in 14 different departments, including the police department, the fire department, parks and recreation, and the zoo. Most Pulaski County government offices are in Little Rock. Both the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit have judicial facilities in the city. The Little Rock Police Department is the largest police force in the state, with more than 2,000 officers. The mayor's position is a full-time position with veto power, while a vice mayor is selected by and among members of the city board. The longest-serving city manager is Bruce T. Moore, the longest- serving city manager in LittleRock history. The City Manager's Office is located in the Little Rock Civic Center. The Mayor's Office has its own office in downtown Little Rock, which is home to the city's public library, which has more than 1,000 circulation books. It is also home to Little Rock City Hall, which was established in 1881. The Police Department has its headquarters in the downtown LittleRock Civic Center, which opened in 1883. The Fire Department has a fire department that was founded in 1884. The Zoo has a zoo that opened in 1971. The zoo has a reptile park that was built in the 1950s.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas = 14.8. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 89. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 17. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Little Rock = 4.8 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 202,591 individuals with a median age of 37 age the population grows by 2.87% in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,687.60 residents per square mile of area (651.58/km²). There are average 2.28 people per household in the 80,460 households with an average household income of $44,283 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 6.10% of the available work force and has dropped -1.70% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 30.50%. The number of physicians in Little Rock per 100,000 population = 467.1.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Little Rock = 51.5 inches and the annual snowfall = 1 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 96. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 217. 92 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 32.4 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 31, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas which are owned by the occupant = 51.84%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 34 years with median home cost = $152,360 and home appreciation of -2.09%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $9.26 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,350 per student. There are 14.7 students for each teacher in the school, 415 students for each Librarian and 351 students for each Counselor. 4.41% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 22.55% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 13.68% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).