Little Rock, the capital city of Arkansas, holds the distinction of being the most populous city in the state, with a population of 202,591 according to the 2020 census. The larger Little Rock metropolitan area, which includes six counties, is ranked as the 81st-most populous in the United States, with a total population of 748,031 as per the same census data.

Established as the county seat of Pulaski County, Little Rock was incorporated on November 7, 1831. It is strategically located on the south bank of the Arkansas River, near Arkansas’s geographic center in the Central Arkansas region. The city’s name, “Little Rock,” derives from a small rock formation along the river’s edge, famously named by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in 1722. This small rock served as a landmark for early navigation along the Arkansas River. In a significant historical move, the capital of the Arkansas Territory was transferred to Little Rock from Arkansas Post in 1821, cementing its status as a central administrative hub.

The city’s rich history is reflected in its diverse architectural styles, ranging from Victorian and antebellum to modern skyscrapers. The historic Quapaw Quarter is an area especially known for its beautifully restored mid-19th century homes that mirror the city’s past. Little Rock’s historical significance is also marked by the Central High School National Historic Site, which played a pivotal role in the desegregation of public schools in the United States during the Little Rock Nine crisis of 1957.