Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock is the capital city of Arkansas, as well as the largest city in the state by population. It is located in Pulaski County in the center of the state. The population is approximately 190,000.

History[edit]

In 1722, French explorer Jean-Baptiste Benard de la Harpe landed on a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River and names it la Petite Roche (the little rock). He built a trading post there. With the advent of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Little Rock (along with the rest of Arkansas) became United States territory, and in 1819 Little Rock became the capital of the Arkansas territory. Little Rock grew until it was incorporated as a city in 1831. In 1836, Arkansas became a state, and Little Rock has always served as its capital since then. During the Civil War, Little Rock saw relatively action until 1863, when the soldiers at Bayou Fourche put up a heavy resistance before the Union took the city.^[1]

Demographics[edit]

Whites make up 49.4% of Little Rock's population; Hispanics, 4.4%; African Americans, 42.0%; American Indians; 0.4%;Asians and Pacific Islanders, 2.2%. Individuals from some other race made up 1.2% of the city's population; of which 0.2% were non-Hispanic.^{[2] [3]}

As of the 2000 census, there were 183,133 people with a population density of 1,576.0 people per square mile (608.5/km²). 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age is 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 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 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.

See also[edit]

• Dale Alford
• Wayne Babbitt
• Kelly Bryant
• Bill Clinton
• Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Osro Cobb
• Sterling Cockrill
• Ken Coon
• Orval E. Faubus
• L. Brooks Hays
• J. Frank Holt
• Douglas House
• Walter E. Hussman, Jr.
• Johnny Key
• Pratt Remmel
• Winthrop Rockefeller
• Wallace Townsend
• W. O. Vaught

References[edit]

Links[edit]

• Little Rock Info
• Little Rock Chamber of Commerce