Little Rock, Arkansas
Being the capital of the state of Arkansas, Little Rock is a part of the Metropolitan Statistical Area. Geographically, the city is located at the center of the state. Named after a rock formed on the banks of the Arkansas river, Little Rock was like a traffic signal for river-ways in pre-roadway times.
Located on the south of the Arkansas river, the city has two other small rivers running through it. They are Fourche Creek and Rock Creek. Both of these small inlets of water flow into the Arkansas river eventually. To the west of Little Rock is Quachita Mountain and to the north is Pinnacle Mountain. Around the Pinnacle Mountain is Lake Maumelle, which is where the city derives its drinking water.
The city has a subtropical temperature. The summers are hot and winters are cold. The humidity is generally high in the summers. Home to 36 different neighborhoods, Little Rock is a diversely bestowed city. All of these neighborhoods have a distinct sense of identity by themselves. A notable neighborhood among them is the Capitol View Station.
Welcome to the city of Little Rock, where you will be able to make just about anything happen. The city also has a bustling nightlife, various places to eat, places to see and can also offer you a great shopping experience. People of any age or any profession will surely find the city exciting and vivacious to their own liking.
Little Rock History
For thousands of years, central Arkansas was inhabited by Native Americans and strong archaeological evidence proves this fact. Little Rock has had a rich history and since its discovery, a lot has happened here. Some notable incidents are the presidential elections, civil war, and the civil rights movements.
The modern day city still retains buildings of heritage. The old Victorian buildings and antebellum structures combine well with glass-caped modern structural elements.
A large part of the city is preserved for its architectural heritage. It's like a big open air museum stretching across miles of land. This revival and restoration process has been happening since the 1940s.
Little Rock was discovered by La Harpe. He was one of the many expeditors who visited Arkansas. Upon discovering the area, he named it French Rock based on a rock which was situated on the north bank of the Arkansas River.
By 1769, settlements started appearing in the areas beside 'French Rock'. In that time, only a handful of families were living there. They were of either French, Indian or mixed origin. Quapas was on the north side of the river, and Osage to the south. These two were indigenous tribes in that area.
In 1803, France was looking to sell Louisiana to the U.S, because Arkansas was heavily settled with the French. Arkansas was included in the sale agreement. Shortly in 1808, the United States struck a deal with the Osage people and took some land from them just north of the Arkansas River. Over here, Americans started building their settlements.
In 1812, Louisiana was incorporated as a state. Arkansas became a part of this. By 1818, the Quapaws ceded their land south of the river, and the territory of Arkansas was created by 1819. To the south bank of Little Rock, a lot of settlements began to emerge. Little Rock was chosen in 1821 to become the capital of the territory.
Little Rock was in a good location because it was in the center of the territory. The river connected Little Rock to other places because it was easily navigable. It became a river-port for boats and ferries travelling from Louisiana and Texas. Growth was steady rather than steep because Little Rock was still a remote inland place.
Little Rock was initially known for its rustic people. The highly frontier society gradually gave way to an educated and civilized one. The city continues to grow in size, population and economic activity.
About Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is near Hot Springs, which is a famous spa township. Little Rock is a fun place where things move at a good pace. Featuring many attributes of a large city, it has plenty of re-furbished river fronts and a bustling downtown.
Housing many historic buildings, Little Rock upholds its strong heritage. The charm of the city is captured in the River Market District, where visitors get to see Little Rocks' civic life in a no-holds-barred manner.
Tourism is an important economic activity in Little Rock. Many local businesses operate in this space. On East Capitol Avenue, the Visitors Center is the place to visit for touristic information. More city information is available from Rock Street's public library where there are catalogs and brochures on touristic attractions of Little Rock.
Tourists can accommodate themselves in a variety of price ranges. All along the River Market area, hotels, stay-inns and short-term residencies are located. Inexpensive options are available without the need for compromising on quality.
The Arkansas State Capitol sees a lot of visitors. The building looks like the White House, and houses a lot of historical artifacts and cultural items. Robinson Center is another place where a lot of activities happen. Meetings, events, exhibitions, sporting activities and musical concerts are held here.
The largest presidential library in the country, the William John Clinton Presidential Center and Park is in this city. It has the largest collection of political science books and is a good place to uncover historical facts and figures about Little Rock.
For hikers, the Arkansas Arboretum and Pinnacle Mountain State Park is an ideal place. Located nearby the city, the place has more than forty miles of trails and hiking areas. Surrounded by diverse flora and fauna, the place is good for an exhilarating round of trekking.
History is captured in an aesthetic essence and manner at the Old State House Museum. This was one of the capitol buildings and is now a museum. It has legislative chambers and has a large collection of paintings, antique collections, and historical book excerpts.
Science and discovery is fashionable at the Arkansas Museum of Discovery. This place has a lot of hands-on demonstrations of the wonders of science. Perfect for science lovers and wide-eyed science-struck children, the place has fascinating information rarely seen elsewhere.
The Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and Museum is where, on September 23, 1957, nine African-American teenagers stood up to an angry crowd protesting integration in front of Little Rock's Central High as they entered the school for the first time. This was the first important test of the US Supreme Court's historic Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision.
About Pulaski County, Arkansas
Little Rock is the county seat for Pulaski County. It is the county with the largest population in Arkansas and is the central constituent of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Named after Count Casimir Pulaski, the man who saved George Washington from death, Pulaski is bounded by five counties. To the north are Faulkner and Perry Counties. To the south is Jefferson County. To the west is Saline County, and to the east is Lonoke County.
The main cities in Pulaski County are Cammack Village, Jacksonville, Little Rock, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Sherwood and Wrightsville. Alexander is the main town of the county, and some other census designated places here are College Station, Gibson, Gravel Ridge, Hensley, McAlmont, Landmark, Sweet Home, and Wo.
Pulaski County hosts a lot of summer camps. Summer camps are good for bonding together with family, and playing games to become fit. Summer camps are further divided into teen camps, boys' camps, girls' camps and others for children.
In Pulaski County, apple picking orchards is a place to find the best apple variety in Arkansas. In these apple farms people can enter and pick apples. It might be a great activity for friends and family to get into one of the many pristine apple farms and select apples. Some well known apple farms are Cox Berry Farm & Nursery, Collins Round Mountain Orchard, Drewry Farm Orchards, Battles Cadron Crest Orchard, Caubble Orchards, Hall's Orchard, and Roberson Orchards.
The county is also a good place for bird-watching with some of the top birding watching locations in Arkansas. Photographically brilliant, bird watching areas are equipped with the right natural infrastructure and is a great way to blend with nature and capture nature's finest species on camera. More information can be found from the State Ornithological Society, which has details on all bird-watching areas.