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Content derived from Wikipedia article on Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Little Rock, Arkansas

Flag Seal

Nickname: "Rocktown, The Rock, Capital City"

Coordinates: 34°44′10″N, 92°19′52″W

Country United States

State Arkansas

County Pulaski

Founded 1821

Incorporated 1831

Mayor Jim Dailey

Mayor-Elect: Mark Stodola [1]

Area

- City 302.55 km² (116.81 sq mi)

- Land 300.97 km² (116.20 sq mi)

- Water 1.58 km² (0.61 sq mi)

- Urban 676.78 km² (261.31 sq mi)

- Metro 10,593.94 km² (4,090.34 sq mi)

Population

- City (2005) 184,564

- Density 608.49/km² (1,575.97/sq mi)

- Urban 360,331

- Metro 643,272

Time zone CST (UTC-6)

- Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)

Website: http://www.littlerock.org

Little Rock is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. It is the county seat of Pulaski County and had a city population of 184,564 in the 2005 census estimates. It and North Little Rock, Arkansas are co-principal cities of the six-county Little Rock-North Little Rock, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area, an area with a population of 643,272 people, according to 2005 census estimates. The MSA is in turn included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area, which had a population of 819,469 in the 2005 census estimates.

Located near the geographic center of Arkansas, 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.

Contents

1 History

2 Early origins and miscellaneous facts

3 Geography

4 Government

5 Climate data

6 Demographics

7 Metropolitan statistical area

8 Economy/Business

9 Tallest Buildings

10 Libraries and museums

11 Education

12 Medical

13 Cultural

14 Shopping/Retail

15 Sports

15.1 Teams

16 Transportation

17 Media

18 Notable people

19 Music

20 Further reading

21 References

22 Sister Cities

23 See also-Articles in Wikipedia

24 External links

History

1722 - French explorer, Bernard de la Harpe, lands near a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River which he reputedly names La Petite Roche (the little rock). La Harpe builds a trading post near the little rock. The Quapaw Indians reside nearby.

1812 - William Lewis, a fur trapper, builds a home near the little rock.

1820 - Little Rock is surveyed.

1820 - Robert Crittenden, born 1797, and Chester Ashley, born 1791, enter into an agreement for a "Partnership in the Practice of Law" which lays the groundwork for the Rose Law Firm, the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi River.

1821 - Little Rock becomes the capital of the Arkansas Territory formed in 1819.

1831 - Little Rock is incorporated as a city.

1833 - The Territorial Capitol (now the Old State House) is built. Completed in 1842, it serves as the State Capitol until 1911.

1836 - Arkansas becomes the 25th state, and Little Rock became the official capital city.

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 born on January 26 at the Little Rock Barracks. The birthplace is now the home of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.

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 public protests and the Arkansas National Guard, under the direction of Governor Orval Faubus, prevents their first attempt at enrollment. President Eisenhower federalizes the dispatched troops to ensure the students' safety and enforce their right to attend school. These events are collectively referred to as the Crisis at Central High.

1958 - All three public High Schools in Little Rock are closed for one year by Governor Faubus.

1968 - Construction booms downtown, Worthen Bank Building at 375 feet and Union National Bank at 330 feet are under construction and replace the Tower Building as the city's tallest buildings. Both banks have been renamed.

1972 - A new air terminal opens at the Little Rock airport.

1974 - First National Bank building is under construction and becomes the city's tallest building at 454 feet and 30 stories. The building currently is headquarters for Regions Bank.

1978 - William Jefferson Clinton is elected Governor of Arkansas. At age 32, he is the youngest person to be elected Governor in the state's history.

1986 - The Capitol Tower is completed, and at 40 stories and 547 feet tall, is currently the tallest building in Arkansas. The skyscraper name changed to the TCBY Tower later and became the Metropolitan National Bank as of October 2004. The Stephens Building is also completed and is 25 stories and 365 feet tall when finished. It's first known as the First South building and then the Rogers building.

1992 - Bill Clinton is elected President of the United States. He delivers an election night acceptance speech from the front steps of the historic Old State House in downtown Little Rock. He is the first person from the state of Arkansas to be elected President. He is elected to a second term in 1996.

1997 - The 40th anniversary of the Crisis at Central High is marked by the opening of a new National Park Service visitor center.

2000 - Little Rock's record high temperature of 111 degrees Fahrenheit is recorded by the National Weather Service in August.

2001 - Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former First Lady of Arkansas and former partner of Little Rock's Rose Law Firm, is elected United States Senator for the state of New York.

2003 - First Little Rock Marathon is held. 1,372 runners participate in the 5k race making it one of the top 25 largest races in the nation for 2003.

2003 - Little Rock resident Wesley Kanne Clark, a retired four-star general in the U.S. Army and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, announces his intention to run in the presidential primary election for the Democratic Party nomination.

2004 - William J. Clinton Presidential Center opens with a host of dignitaries and celebrities, including President George W. Bush, and former presidents George H. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.

2006 - The international charitable organization Heifer International dedicates a $17.5 million world headquarters in downtown Little Rock. The organization announces plans to further develop the 33-acre location into the Heifer International Center campus.

2006 - The Pulaski County Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, better known as the Big Dam Bridge, opens to the public. The Big Dam Bridge extends 3,463 feet across the Arkansas River and is currently the world’s longest specifically pedestrian and bicycle bridge.

2006 - The five-year construction boom of mixed-use, high-rise buildings in downtown's historic River Market district will produce 58 stories of residential and retail property and 240 additional hotel rooms by the end of 2009. Among the major residential projects completed or planned are the Capital Commerce Center (2002), First Security Center (2004), 300 Third Tower (2006), and the River Market Tower (2009).

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, Quapaw, Osage, Choctaw and Cherokee. Arkansas was left untouched by European hands until 1541 when Hernando 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°44′10″N, 92°19′52″W (34.736009, -92.331122)GR1.

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, commonly referred to as the "Northside" by locals, is located just across the river from Little Rock, which most do not distiguish apart from its southern neighbor.

Government

The city operates under a city manager form of government. The city employs over 2500 individuals in 14 different departments including the Police department, the Fire department, Parks and Recreation and the Zoo.

Climate data

Meteorological Data for the Little Rock Greater Metropolitan Area

Temperature averages for each month.

Rainfall averages for each month.

Humidity indices for each month.

Wind speeds during the various months.

Snowfall averages for each month.

Average percentage of sun during the day.

Average percentage of cloudiness during the day.

Demographics

Old State House MuseumAs 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% Black (U.S. Census), 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 2005 census estimate for the area was 643,272 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 819.469 as of 2005 from the census bureau estimates.

Economy/Business

Little Rock is headquarters for major corporations Alltel, 251st largest 2006 Fortune 500 company, Dillard's Department Stores, 294th largest 2006 Fortune 500 company, Windstream Communications and Acxiom. Other large companies based in Little Rock include Metropolitan National Bank, Dassualt, Rose Law Firm, Nuvell Financial Services, and Stephens Inc.- one of the largest investment firms off Wall Street.

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%).

The Little Rock Port is an intermodal river port with a large industrial business complex. It is designated as Foreign Trade Zone 14.

Little Rock was named 22nd out of 361 metropolitan areas as Best places for Business in 2005 by Forbes magazine.

Moody's Investor Services ranks Little Rock as the second most diverse economy in the nation.

Little Rock along with Louisville and Memphis are branches of the St.Louis Federal Reserve district.

Tallest Buildings

Building Height in feet Stories

Metropolitan Bank Tower 547 feet 40

Regions Bank Building 454 feet 30

Bank of America Building - Little Rock 375 feet 24

Stephens Building 365 feet 25

One Union National Plaza 332 feet 21

Tower Building 300 feet 18

300 3rd Tower 218 feet 18

Peabody Hotel - Little Rock 217 feet 19

River Market Tower-Proposed 200 plus 19

Summit House 150 plus 14

Fred W. Parris Towers 150 plus 14

Donaghey Bldg. 195 feet 14

First Security Center 190 feet 14

Doubletree Hotel - Little Rock 180 feet 14

Baptist Medical Center 175 feet 14

Stephen's Spine Institute 170 feet 13

Quapaw Tower 140 feet 13

Alltel Building Five 175 feet 12

Arkansas Cancer Research Center 130 plus 12

Clarion Hotel 130 plus 12

Union Life Building 120 plus 12

Arkansas Blue Cross 140 plus 12

Plaza West 140 plus 12

Libraries and museums

William J. Clinton Presidential Center Photo of the library in downtown Little RockThe 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 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.

The Central Arkansas Library System includes the main building downtown and numerous branches throughout the city as well as branches in Sherwood, Maumelle and Jacksonville.

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. The first semester open, there were eight instructors and about 100 students. The college is currently accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, a status it has kept since 1929. Housed originally in public school buildings, the college moved in 1949 to its present location between University Ave and Fair Park Blvd, North of Asher Ave, on land 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.

Dickinson Hall at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock

President Bill Clinton led celebrations of the 40th anniversary of desegregation at Little Rock Central High School.In September 1969, The Little Rock University 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 steady 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 internationally renowned programs in multiple myeloma, aging, and other areas.

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

The public schools in Little Rock are operated by the Little Rock School District known by residents as LRSD. 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. High schools in Little Rock include:

Public

Little Rock Central High School

J. A. Fair Science and Technology Systems Magnet High School

Hall High School

McClellan Magnet High School

Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School

Private

Little Rock Catholic High School

Little Rock Lutheran High School

Little Rock Christian Academy

Episcopal Collegiate School

Mount Saint Mary Academy

Little Rock Pulaski Academy

Arkansas Baptist School System

Lions World Services for the Blind is the most comprehensive rehabilitation center in the world for the blind and visually impaired. Founded in 1947, the goal of the center is to enable the individual to become independent in society.

Medical

Hospitals in Little Rock include:

Arkansas Childrens Hospital

Arkansas Heart Hospital

Baptist Health Medical Center

John C. McCellan Veterans Administration Complex

University Hospital-Little Rock

Arkansas State Hospital-Psychiatric Division

Pinnacle Pointe Hospital

St. Vincents Hospital

Southwest Regional Hospital

University of Arkansas Medical Center

Doctors Hospital was bought by St. Vincents.

Cultural

The Arkansas state capitol building in downtown Little RockAerospace Education Center - IMAX Theater & EpiSphere Digital Dome Theater. The IMAX Theatre features a variety of science related items. Aviation exhibits on display are an original Sopwith Camel and a replica of the Wright Flyer.

Arkansas Arboretum - Located at Pinnacle Mountain, it has an interpretive trail with flora and tree plantings.

Arkansas Arts Center - the state's largest art museum, notable for its drawings, collections and children's theater productions. It features works by Van Gogh and Rembrandt among others. The museum has eight art galleries, a museum school, gift shop and restuarant.

Arkansas Museum of Discovery - Arkansas Museum of Science & History features hands-on exhibits in the fields of science, history and technology.

Arkansas Repertory Theatre - The Rep is the state's only professional non profit theatre.

Arkansas River Trail

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra - In its 41st season, the orchestra performs over 30 concerts a year and many special events.

Arkansas State Capitol - a smaller-scale replica of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., completed in 1911.

Arkansas State Fair

Ballet Arkansas - The state's only professional ballet company.

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 - Arkansas' only zoo with over 725 animals and over 200 species.

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

Quapaw Quarter - Turn of the century Little Rock includes three National Register historic districts with over a hundred buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are available showing the many Victorian and Antebellum homes.

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.

Ville Marie - An 1881 home of Itilianate and Second Empire styles refurbished in the 1960's and shown in the opening scenes of the television show "Desinging Women."

Wildwood Center for the Performing Arts - The largest park dedicated to the performing arts in the South. It features year round performances of opera, cabaret, and jazz. Wildwood Festival in June features chamber music, film series, art exhibits, jazz and lecture series among others. It is home to the Young Artist Tour. The park also offers a summer music camp for children.

Shopping/Retail

Some notable shopping locations in the city of Little Rock are:

University Avenue/Markham

Park Plaza Mall

University Mall

Midtown Little Rock

Cantrell Road

Pavilion in the Park

Pleasant Ridge town center

Pleasant Ridge West Plaza

The Centre to Ten Shoppes

Dogwood Crossing

Rodney Parham Blvd

Trellis Square

Breckenridge Village

Ashley Square

Chenal Parkway

The Village at Ralhing Road

Phomenade - Proposed

Chenal Place

Shackelford /I-430

Shackelford Crossing - Under construction

Markham/Bowman

Colonnade center

Bowman Curve center

Bowman Curve II

Rock Creek Plaza

Bowman Heights

Kanis/Bowman

Creekwood Plaza

Bowman Station

Otter Creek

Gateway towne center - Proposed

Market/Merrill Dr

Market and Merrill center

Green Mountain Plaza

Shackelford/Markham

Westchase Plaza

Markham Plaza

Retailers in Little Rock include JC Penney, Sears, Kmart, Dillards, Walmart, Target, Kohls, and Family Dollar.

Sports

Teams

Club League Venue Established Championships

Arkansas Travelers Texas League Ray Winder Field 1895 9

Arkansas Twisters Af2 Alltel Arena 2000 0

Arkansas RimRockers ABA Alltel Arena 2004 0

Arkansas RimRockers NBA Development League Alltel Arena 2005 1 (ABA)

Arkansas RiverBlades East Coast Hockey League Alltel Arena 1998 0

Arkansas GlacierCats Western Professional Hockey League Barton Coliseum 1998 0

Arkansas Little Rock Trojans NCAA-Sun Belt Conference Jack Stephens Center - 0

Arkansas Little Rock Trojans NCAA-Sun Belt Conference Gary Hogan Field - 0

Arkansas Razorbacks NCAA-Southeastern Conference War Memorial Stadium 1894 1

Arkansas Rhinos North American Football League Mills High School N/A 0

Little Rock is home to the Arkansas Travelers. They are the AA Professional Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the Texas League. The Travelers played their last game in Little Rock at Ray Winder Field on September 3, 2006, and are scheduled to move into Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock in April 2007. Little Rock will be home to the Little Rock Rivercatz of the American Basketball Association.

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.

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 Trojans play in the Sun Belt conference, where Arkansas State is their chief rival.

Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium plays host to at least two Arkansas Razorback games each year. In 1999, when the expansion plans were announced for Razorback Stadium on the campus of the University of Arkansas, fans across the state battled in the "Great Stadium Debate". As a result, one game was moved from Little Rock to Fayetteville, though the Razorbacks continue to play two games a year at War Memorial Stadium. The stadium is known for being in the middle of a golf course. Each fall, the city closes the golf course on football weekends for fans to tailgate, making the stadium one of America's top tailgating venues. War Memorial also hosts the Arkansas High School football state championships, and in the fall of 2006 will also host one game apiece for the University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas State University, and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

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.

John Kocinski, 250cc and World Superbike motorcycle racing champion, is from Little Rock

World Champion Middleweight Boxer Jermain Taylor and NBA players Derek Fisher and Joe Johnson were born and/or have roots in Little Rock.

Transportation

Little Rock's downtown River Rail Streetcar track.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 with over 2,500,000 passengers a year.

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 Little Rock Limousine Service, Central Limousine Service and over a dozen others.

Media

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette circulation is over a 275,000. It is the oldest newspaper west of the Mississippi.

The Little Rock area has the three television networks, numerous independent stations and cable by Comcast within the city proper. The suburbs have Comcast,Charter or other cable companies.

Television stations in the Little Rock area are:

Call letters Number Network

KETS 2 PBS

KARK 4 NBC

KATV 7 ABC

KTHV 11 CBS

KLRT 16 FOX

KKYK 20 RTN

KVTN 25 VTN

KASN 38 CW

KKAP 36 DTN

KWBF 42 MNT

KYPX 49 RTN

AM Radio Stations in the Little Rock area include:

Call letters Frequency Format

KEWI 690 Variety

KMTL 760 Gospel

KGHT 880 Gospel

KARN 920 Talk

KJBN 1050 Religious

KAAY 1090 Christian

KCON 1230 Adult Contemporary

KPZK 1250 Gospel

KZTD 1350 Spanish

KDXE 1380 Total Sports

KTUV 1440 Gospel

FM Radio stations in the Little Rock area include:

Call letters Frequency Format

KABF 88.3 Community radio

KUAR 89.1 News and info

KLRE 90.5 Classical

KANX 91.1 Religious

KUCA 91.3 Classical

KKZR 93.3 Top 40

KKPT 94.1 Classic Rock

KHLR 94.9 Urban Gospel

KSSN 95.7 Country

KHTE 96.5 Top 40

KWLR 96.9 Religious

KURB 98.5 Adult Contemporary

KDIS 99.5 Childrens

KDJE 100.3 Active Rock

KWBF 101.1 Easy Listening

KOKY 102.1 Adult R&B

KVLO 102.5 Gospel

KARN 102.9 News and Talk

KABZ 103.7 Talk

KMJX 105.1 Classic Rock

KOLL 106.3 Oldies

KHKN 106.7 Classic Country

KLAL 107.7 Top 40

Notable people

See also: List of people from Little Rock

Brooks Robinson was born in Little Rock in 1937 and is generally believed to be the greatest third baseman in major league history. He played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977.

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 (1886–1950) 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. The Fletcher Branch Library of the Central Arkansas Library System is named in his honor.

Frank Bonner (born 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 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.

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".

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.

Sidney Moncrief is a former Arkansas Razorback and NBA Milwaukee Buck basketball great was born in Little Rock.

Richard Thalheimer Founder, Chairman and CEO of the Sharper Image Corporation was raised in Little Rock.

Helen Gurley Brown Editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years was raised in Little Rock.

Daniel Davis Best known as Niles the Butler on the television program "The Nanny" lived in Little Rock.

Kevin McReynolds Born in Little Rock. Played major league baseball for 12 years.

Houston Nutt Born in Little Rock. Coach of the University of Arkansas Razorback football team.

E. Fay Jones Noted Architect, desinger and an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright. He was born in Pine Bluff and lived in Little Rock for a time.

Thomas Marchand Famous for his song writing and great guitar playing

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 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.

Jason Truby, guitarist for the band P.O.D., is from Little Rock. Truby was also in the band Living Sacrifice, also based in Little Rock.

Lil Rok Playaz is a hip hop group based out of Little Rock with hit singles "Mrs. Jones" and "Off Top". The group recently signed with Universal Records.