Little Rock Region Home to Over One Million People

The capital of Arkansas and the global brand of a 12-county region, Little Rock is home to over one million people living within a 60-mile radius of downtown.

Little Rock got its name from the famed La Salle Expedition in 1682, when the party landed at “La Petite Roche” on the southern banks of the Arkansas River. It became the seat of Arkansas’ new territorial government in 1821 and was incorporated as a city in 1831. In 1836, Little Rock was named capital of the newly admitted State of Arkansas.

Little Rock is within easy driving distance of major markets in contiguous states, including: Memphis – 139 miles; Jackson – 261 miles; Tulsa – 275 miles; Dallas – 317 miles; Oklahoma City – 340 miles, Nashville – 350 miles; St. Louis – 357 miles; Kansas City – 383 miles; New Orleans – 427 miles; and Houston – 434 miles.

Little Rock has a population of 193,524 in the City, 382,748 in Pulaski County, 699,793 in the MSA, and 1,027,519 in the region. The MSA grew 14.6% over the past decade, and its population has a median age of 35.9 and a median family income of $58,911.

Little Rock’s is the only downtown home to both a state capitol and a Presidential library, and is linked on both sides of the Arkansas River by 24 miles of one of the best trail systems of parks and pedestrian bridges in the country.

Proposed and championed by Create Little Rock, the Chamber’s young professional talent initiative, the Creative Corridor, anchored by cross streets named for two innovative giants of American history – Pershing and Roosevelt, connects 3.9 miles of Little Rock and North Little Rock Main Streets, giving the community a main artery of people, place and purpose and a magnet for talent.

For more information, Amy Longo or Susan Miller, 501.374.2001.