The capital and largest city of Arkansas, Little Rock is located in the middle of Pulaski County, which in turn is literally located smack in the middle of Arkansas. Geographically speaking, it is closely equidistant to Arkansas' borders on all sides.



The name of Little Rock is derived from the name of a rock formation along the Arkansas River known as "La Petite Roche" which, if you are up on your French, you know to mean "the little rock." The name was given by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Benard de la Harpe in 1722.

Early explorers used the formation as a landmark, and the area quickly came to be known as "the little rock," the name of which stuck. Jean Baptiste Benard went on to build a trading post in the area.

It is believed, based on ancient artifacts that have been found, that Native Americans inhabited the land thousands of years ago. But by the time the first Europeans came through in 1541, no tribes were found to be living there. However, at the time that Jean-Baptiste Benard built his trading post, the Quapaw Indians were living nearby.

The Arkansas Territory was formed in 1819, and Little Rock was made its capital a couple years later. It would be 1836 before Arkansas was admitted to the Union as a state. Twenty five years after obtaining statehood, Arkansas would secede to join the Confederacy. After the Civil War Arkansas, just as other states of the Confederacy, was readmitted to the Union.

Famous Little Rock Residents

- In 1880 Douglas McArthur, famed U.S. Army general, was born in Little Rock. The building of his birth is now site of McArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. The surrounding area is known as McArthur Park.

- Though born in Hope, Arkansas, Bill Clinton moved with his family to nearby Hot Springs in 1950 and would later live in Little Rock where he joined the Little Rock Rugby Club. Clinton's wife, Hillary, joined him in Little Rock as well.

- Joe Bob Briggs (pseudonym of film critic and actor John Irving Bloom) was raised in Little Rock.

- Baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson was born and lived in the city as well.

Other Reasons to Become a "Little Rocker"

Little Rock is home to the Arkansas State Fair, the state's only zoo which houses over 700 animals from 200 different species, Riverfront Park (host of the annual Riverfest music festival), the River Market District which is a bazaar-style shopping area, the Willow Springs Water Park -- one of the nation's first water them parks built in 1928, and the American Taekwondo Association world headquarters.

So some Little Rock, Arkansas real estate might just be a good thing to have after all.