NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR

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's history dates back to burial mound people. It was originally named "Argenta", a name currently applied 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

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (4.58%) is water.

Neighborhoods

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.

North Little Rock has a humid subtropical climate with long, hot, and sunny summers and mild, wet winters with little snow. January on average is the coldest month, while July is typically the warmest, but occasionally August can claim the title. The overall yearly average temperature is 62.5 degrees. Precipitation averages 45.79 inches a year, with winter and spring tending to be wetter than summer and autumn. Severe thunderstorms can occur, especially during the Spring, on April 25, 2011, a possible tornado struck the air force base in the city.

Demographics

2020 census

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/km). There were 27,567 housing units at an average density of 615.2 per square mile (237.5/km). 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.

Arts and culture

Points of interest

Former attractions

Sports

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

Parks and recreation

Government

The City of North Little Rock elected officials are a mayor, city council of city council members (eight total, with two from each of the four wards), city clerk/treasurer, city attorney, and two judges. This is supplemented by a number of boards and commissions composed of city officials and residents.

Intergovernmental Relations

North Little Rock is home to the headquarters of the Arkansas Municipal League (AML), the state’s only municipal representation organization. AML prides itself on providing leadership to each city or town before the state and federal governments. It is also a place for discussion and sharing of mutual concerns.

Education

Public primary and secondary schools

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

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:

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

Private primary and secondary schools

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

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

Post-secondary education

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.

Police

The North Little Rock Police Department operates unmanned aerial vehicles), and has been working with a small pilotless helicopter since 2008.

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

Sister cities

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