Little Rock – A Great City to Call Home
Little Rock, home to the Arkansas State University System Office, offers a mix of urban amenities, Southern charm, and natural beauty.
Little Rock has been recognized as #1 on Kiplinger’s list of “10 Great Places to Live,” #6 on Gallup’s “America’s Happiest Cities,” #2 on Moody’s Investors Services “Most Diverse Economy in the Nation,” #46 in Forbes’s Top 200 “Best Places for Business and Careers,” and #7 on “Best Value City” by Kiplinger’s.
As the state capital, Little Rock (pop. 202,591) is a center for several major employers in a variety of industries including healthcare, aerospace, banking and finance, technology, advanced manufacturing, government, education, and agriculture. Medical facilities in the Little Rock area provide efficient, comprehensive service and include a large number of specialty clinics and outpatient surgery centers that are continuing to expand.
The Bill and Hillary Clinton Little Rock National Airport is less than three miles from downtown. With six airlines and dozens of daily departures, the airport offers nonstop service to 14 destinations and serves 2 million passengers annually.
The Little Rock metro area is home to nearly 750,000 people. Located in the center of the country, 40 percent of the nation’s population and buying power is within a 550-mile radius. Little Rock is where ‘America Comes Together,” located at the crossroad of Interstate 30 and Interstate 40, the most heavily traveled interstate in the nation, with convenient access to other Southern and Midwestern cities.
Little Rock is a destination for good food, high-quality retail shops, and other entertainment. The capital city has a thriving arts and culture scene, featuring the newly renovated $150 million Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Ballet Arkansas. Residents and visitors can take in a Broadway show at Robinson Center or a major concert event at Simmons Bank Arena. The Little Rock Zoo is one of Arkansas’ most cherished destinations, spanning 33 acreas with 400 animals representing over 200 species. The Arkansas Travelers are a AA franchise of Major League Baseball.
Historical facilities include the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum, the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Old Statehouse Museum, and the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.
The Arkansas River Trail traverses downtown Little Rock, with a 15.6-mile riverfront loop trail for cycling and running enthusiasts and a combined 100 miles of bike paths to be explored. Little Rock has 52 parks with more than 5,000 acres, while North Little Rock boasts 12 parks, including the 1,700-acre Burns Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation. There are also many state and national parks within a 60-mile radius of Little Rock that provide recreation, camping facilities, and hiking trails. Pinnacle Mountain State Park, located just outside the city, is ideal for hiking, nature watching, and panoramic views. Lake Maumelle and the nearby Ouachita Mountains are perfect for camping, fishing, and boating.
