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North Little Rock, Arkansas
North Little Rock across the Arkansas River
North Little Rock across the Arkansas River
Location of North Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas
Location of North Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas
North Little Rock, Arkansas is located in the United States
North Little Rock, Arkansas
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Arkansas
County Pulaski
Founded 1866 - Argenta established
Incorporated (town) 1901 - Town of NLR incorporated
Incorporated (city) 1904 (official founding) - Town of NLR annexed Argenta from Little Rock
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
Area
 • City 56.20 sq mi (145.55 km2)
 • Land 53.04 sq mi (137.38 km2)
 • Water 3.15 sq mi (8.16 km2)
Elevation
266 ft (81 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 64,591
 • Rank US: 524th
 • Density 1,217.69/sq mi (470.15/km2)
 • Urban
431,388 (US: 88th)
 • Metro
729,135 (US: 75th)
Time zone UTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
72114-119, 721124, 72190, 72199
Area code(s) 501
FIPS code 05-50450
GNIS feature ID 0077862

North Little Rock is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States, across the Arkansas River from Little Rock in the central part of the state. The population was 64,591 at the 2020 census. In 2019 the estimated population was 65,903, making it the seventh-most populous city in the state. North Little Rock, along with Little Rock and Conway, anchors the six-county Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area (2014 population 729,135), which is further included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock Combined Statistical Area with 902,443 residents.

The city's downtown is anchored in the Argenta Historic District, the location of Dickey-Stephens Park, the current home of the Arkansas Travelers minor league baseball team, and Simmons Bank Arena, the metropolitan area's main entertainment venue. Farther west is Burns Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.

History

North Little Rock has a long history, dating back to the Burial Mound People. It was once known as Argenta, a name currently applied specifically to downtown North Little Rock. In 1890, Little Rock annexed the unincorporated Argenta community as its Eighth Ward, preempting a competing petition to incorporate Argenta. A neighboring area was incorporated as the Town of North Little Rock in 1901 as part of a plan to reclaim the Eighth Ward from Little Rock. By 1904, the Arkansas Supreme Court allowed the town to annex the Eighth Ward; the modern City of North Little Rock considers this its founding date. The combined city adopted the Argenta name by 1906, but reverted to North Little Rock in October 1917. A remnant of the city's earliest years can be found in North Little Rock City Hall (constructed in 1914), which still contains plaques referring to "Argenta", and contains "C of A" (City of Argenta) ornamental designs.

Geography

North Little Rock is located at 34°46′51″N 92°15′25″W / 34.78083°N 92.25694°W / 34.78083; -92.25694 (34.780791, -92.256881).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 47.0 square miles (122 km2), of which 44.8 square miles (116 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (4.58%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 11,138
1920 14,048 26.1%
1930 19,418 38.2%
1940 21,137 8.9%
1950 44,097 108.6%
1960 58,032 31.6%
1970 60,040 3.5%
1980 64,388 7.2%
1990 61,741 −4.1%
2000 60,433 −2.1%
2010 62,304 3.1%
2020 64,591 3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

North Little Rock Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White 28,430 44.02%
Black or African American 27,465 42.52%
Native American 222 0.34%
Asian 726 1.12%
Pacific Islander 30 0.05%
Other/Mixed 3,126 4.84%
Hispanic or Latino 4,592 7.11%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 64,591 people, 27,903 households, and 14,720 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 62,304 people, 25,542 households, and 16,117 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,348.6 people per square mile (520.7/km2). There were 27,567 housing units at an average density of 615.2 per square mile (237.5/km2). The city was 54.02% White, 39.73% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.71% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 5.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,542 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,578, and the median income for a family was $43,595. Males had a median income of $31,420 versus $24,987 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,662. About 12.4% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

Sister cities

North Little Rock has two sister cities according to Sister Cities International:

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, North Little Rock has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.


Sports

Dickey-Stephens Park is the location of the Arkansas Travelers baseball team.

Education

Public primary and secondary schools

Most students attend public schools in the North Little Rock School District which includes:

  • One High School
    • North Little Rock High School grades 9-12
  • One Middle School
    • North Little Rock Middle School, which is subdivided into a 6th grade campus and a 7-8th grade campus.
  • Nine Elementary Schools
    • Amboy Elementary
    • Boone Park Elementary
    • Crestwood Elementary
    • Glenview Elementary
    • Indian Hills Elementary
    • Lakewood Elementary
    • Meadow Park Elementary
    • Ridge Road Elementary (Formerly Ridge Road Middle School)
    • Seventh Street Elementary
  • One Early Childhood Center
    • Pike View Early Childhood Center

The North Little Rock High School West Campus facility is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its art-deco architecture style.

In addition, the Pulaski County Special School District administers several other North Little Rock area schools, including:

  • one middle school, and
  • three elementary schools and one elementary magnet school.

Scipio Jones High School, the segregated public school for black children, was established in 1909 and disestablished in 1970.

ChrisLitherlandArgenta
Downtown North Little Rock, known as Argenta, in September 2011

Private primary and secondary schools

In North Little Rock there are a number of private schools:

  • Central Arkansas Christian Schools (PreK3-12)
  • Immaculate Conception (K-8)
  • North Little Rock Montessori
  • North Little Rock Catholic Academy (PreK3-8)
    • Formed in 2007 by the merger of St. Mary School and St. Patrick School.

North Little Rock previously had a Catholic grade school for black people, St. Augustine School. It closed in 1976.

Post-secondary education

  • University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College
  • Shorter College (Arkansas)
  • Arkansas College of Barbering and Hair Design
  • New Tyler Barber College
  • Diesel Driving Academy
  • Lee's School of Cosmetology
  • The Salon Professional Academy
  • National Real Estate School
  • U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs Police Law Enforcement Training Center

Public libraries

The North Little Rock Public Library System has two branches: the Argenta Branch Library and the William F. Laman branch, which was named after a former mayor.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways

North Little Rock is also the eastern terminus of Interstate 30 and southern terminus of the Arkansas-designated portion of Interstate 57. Interstate 40, US 65, US 67, and US 167 all run through the city.

Bus

North Little Rock is home to the headquarters of Rock Region Metro, Arkansas’s largest transit agency. Before 2015, it was known as CATA (Central Arkansas Transit Authority). That same year, all of CATA’s former buses were retrofitted to be energy-efficient. Rock Region’s main bus terminal is located in Little Rock nearby the city’s River Market. Rock Region also has the Metro Rail streetcars, which are a group of classic black and yellow streetcars that can be seen in Little Rock’s River Market and North Little Rock’s Argenta.

Air

In the city’s northern part is the North Little Rock Municipal Airport. It has several hangars and is frequented by people who fly biplanes. It is a reliever airport for Clinton National Airport. It is also home to the National Weather Service North Little Rock, Arkansas. This is a major weather service authority in the region and frequently works with major media platforms to inform Arkansans of weather patterns in the state.

Fire department

In addition to fire and EMS calls, the North Little Rock Fire Department (NLRFD) responds to calls for their Special Operations Response Team, Haz Mat Response Team and Water Rescue for the Arkansas River.

Hospitals

Notable people

  • Joey Lauren Adams, actress and director
  • Ben M. Bogard, American Baptist Association founder, clergyman in North Little Rock from 1903 to 1909
  • Maxine Brown, country singer (of The Browns fame)
  • John Burkhalter, businessman and politician
  • A. J. Burnett, former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher
  • Donnie Copeland, Pentecostal pastor and member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 38
  • Jeremy Davis, bassist for pop-punk band Paramore
  • Pat Hays, former mayor of North Little Rock
  • Cliff Hoofman, Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court
  • Douglas House, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 40 (Pulaski and Faulkner counties) since 2013
  • Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys
  • Glenn Myatt, Major League Baseball catcher
  • Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys running back
  • Tommy Norman, North Little Rock Police Officer, known for positive community policing
  • Frank Page, radio broadcaster, attended school in North Little Rock
  • Charles Robinson, Arkansas State Treasurer
  • Mary Steenburgen, actress
  • Jason White, guitarist for Green Day
  • Pharoah Sanders, jazz saxophonist

Images for kids

See also

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