Central Arkansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Central Arkansas
Metropolitan area
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA
Downtown Little Rock
Central Arkansas      Pine Bluff MSA      Searcy μSA
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Principal cities	Little Rock North Little Rock Conway
Area
• Urban	258.3 sq mi (669 km2)
• MSA	4,085.18 sq mi (10,580.6 km2)
• CSA	7,150.31 sq mi (18,519.2 km2)
Population  (2016)
• Urban	431,388 (US: 89th)
• MSA	734,622 (US: 76th)
• CSA	905,847 (US: 60th)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	501 & 870

Central Arkansas, also known as the Little Rock metro, designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget as the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Arkansas. With an estimated 2016 population of 734,622, it is the most populated area in Arkansas. Located at the convergence of Arkansas's other geographic regions, the region's central location make Central Arkansas an important population, economic, education, and political center in Arkansas and the South. Little Rock is the state's capital, and the city is also home to two Fortune 500 companies, Arkansas Children's Hospital, and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

Geography

Definition

Components of Central Arkansas.      Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway MSA      Pine Bluff MSA      Searcy μSA

Central Arkansas includes both the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway MSA and the broader Little Rock CSA. The MSA is defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget as Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski and Saline counties. The CSA definition adds the Pine Bluff metropolitan area adding Cleveland, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties, and the Searcy Micropolitan Area, which adds White County.

Prior to 2002, the area consisted of four core counties: Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline and Lonoke. The area was later expanded to include adjoining Perry County to the west, and Grant County to the south. The city of Conway was designated as a third principal city for the MSA by 2007.

Communities

Communities are categorized based on their populations in the 2000 U.S. Census.

Places with more than 100,000 inhabitants

• Little Rock (principal city)

Places with 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants

• Conway (principal city)
• North Little Rock (principal city)

Places with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants

• Benton
• Bryant
• Cabot
• Jacksonville
• Maumelle
• Sherwood

Places with 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants

Places with 500 to 1,000 inhabitants

Places with fewer than 500 inhabitants

Population trends

Demographics

Central Arkansas includes both the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway MSA, though the broader Little Rock CSA is also considered Central Arkansas. The MSA is defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget as Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski and Saline counties. The CSA definition adds the Pine Bluff metropolitan area adding Cleveland, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties, and the Searcy Micropolitan Area, which adds White County.

It is the core of the broader Little Rock-North Little Rock Combined Statistical Area (CSA). Its economic, cultural, and demographic center is Little Rock, Arkansas's capital and largest city. The Little Rock Combined Statistical area spans ten counties and had an estimated population of 905,847 in 2016.

Prior to 2002, the area consisted of four core counties: Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline and Lonoke. The area was later expanded to include adjoining Perry County to the west, and Grant County to the south. The city of Conway was designated as a third principal city for the MSA by 2007.

Economy

The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, the oldest association in Arkansas, has produced the following list of largest employers in Central Arkansas.

Source: Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce

Professional sports

Dickey–Stephens Park

The city of Little Rock is home to the Arkansas Travelers. The Travelers are the AA Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They compete in the Texas League and play their home games at Dickey–Stephens Park.

Higher education

Notable colleges and universities

School	Enrollment	Location	Type	Nickname	Athletic Affiliation (Conference)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	11,848	Little Rock	Public State University	Trojans	NCAA Division I (Sun Belt) Non-Football
University of Central Arkansas	11,487	Conway	Public State University	Bears and Sugar Bears	NCAA Division I FCS (Southland)
Hendrix College	1,348	Conway	Private liberal arts college	Warriors	NCAA Division III (SAA)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Major highways

Rock Region Metro streetcar near the River Market District in Little Rock, AR

US 167 in Sheridan

"Big Dam Bridge" as seen from North Little Rock, AR

• Interstate 30
  • Interstate 430
  • Interstate 530
  • Interstate 630
• Interstate 40
  • Interstate 440
• U.S. Highway 64
• U.S. Highway 65
• U.S. Highway 67
• U.S. Highway 70
• U.S. Highway 165
• U.S. Highway 167
• U.S. Highway 270

Aviation

Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, AR

The Clinton National Airport in Little Rock is the largest commercial airport in the state, with more than 100 flights arriving or departing each day and nonstop jet service to eighteen cities. North Little Rock Municipal Airport, located across the Arkansas River, is designated as a general aviation reliever airport for Clinton National by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Central Arkansas also has several smaller municipally owned general aviation airports: Conway Airport at Cantrell Field in Conway, Saline County Regional in Benton, Grider Field in Pine Bluff.

Images for kids

• 

  Pinnacle Mountain State Park 13 Miles NW of Little Rock, AR

See also

In Spanish: Área metropolitana de Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway para niños