Little Rock Arkansas Directory
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Little Rock is the capital and the most populous city of the State of Arkansas. It is also the county seat of Pulaski County and had a city population of 204,370 in the 2006 census estimates. It and North Little Rock, Arkansas are co-principal cities of the six-county Little Rock-North Little Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area, an area with a population of 652,834 people, according to 2006 census estimates. The MSA is in turn included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff Combined Statistical Area, which had a population of 829,032 in the 2006 census estimates.
Located near the geographic center of Arkansas, Little Rock derives its name from a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River called La Petite Roche (the "little rock"). The "little rock" was used by early river traffic as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing.
Many artifacts have been found that suggest Native Americans inhabited Central Arkansas thousands of years before European settlers arrived. These original inhabitants may have included the Folsom people, Bluff Dwellers, Mound Builders, Caddo, Quapaw, Osage, Choctaw and Cherokee. Arkansas was left untouched by European hands until 1541 when Hernando de Soto of Spain traveled through the area.
Little Rock was actually named for a little rock. Early travelers used a stone outcropping on the bank of the Arkansas River as a landmark. "La Petite Roche" marked the transition from the flat Mississippi Delta region to the Ouachita Mountain foothills. Travelers would refer to the area as "the little rock" and the name stuck.
Citizens of Little Rock are sometimes referred to by the appellation, "Little Rockers." The so-called popularity of this nickname is up for debate.
The city of North Little Rock was once the 8th ward of Little Rock. An Arkansas Supreme Court decision on February 6, 1904, allowed the ward to merge with the neighboring town of North Little Rock. The merged town quickly renamed itself Argenta (the local name for the former 8th Ward), but returned to its original name in October 1917.
Federal Express was founded in 1971 by Frederick W. Smith in Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1973 after Little Rock National Airport officials would not agree to provide facilities for the fledgling airline. The company is now known as FedEx Corporation.
Security tips
Making your home a less attractive target is the goal. Security stickers and yard signs are a great way to make burglars look for an easier opportunity, but there are many things you can do to make your home more secure.
Home security - Doors, windows and locks
- Exterior doors should be metal or solid-core or 1 3/4" hardwood. Hollow doors should only be used for interior applications.
- Make sure each door fits snug in its frame with no more than 1/8" clearance. When locked, the door should close tightly with no wiggle room. If there is a gap between the door and the stop, the door is much easier to force open.
- Make sure all doors to the outside have good locks. Every door that leads to the out side should have locks including: screen and storm doors, garage doors, basement doors and sliding doors. Where applicable use deadbolts with a minimum of 1 1/2" bolts
- Lock up every time you go out, even if you will only be gone a short time. Almost 50 percent of burglars enter homes or property through unlocked doors or windows.
- Never hide keys outside in a secret location. Burglars know where to look! Leave a spare key with a trusted neighbor instead.
- Secure sliding glass doors with bars or locks, or put a wooden dowel or broom handle in the door track.
- Make sure all windows, but especially those on the first floor, have good locks and make sure you use them.
Landscaping and lighting
- Make sure all entryways are well lit; Use 60 watt bulbs or brighter where possible. A well lit house is a less attractive target.
- Keep shrubs trimmed below windows to reduce cover. A burglar would rather enter through a window that is hidden from view than one where he is exposed.
- Exterior lighting equipped with motion detectors are available at most home improvement stores. Use them to scare off would be burglars.
Vacations and other tips
- Turn the ringer on the telephone down low. If a burglar is around, he won't be alerted to your absence by a ringing phone
- Window air conditioning units should be bolted to the wall to prevent them from being easily removed from the outside.
- If you purchase televisions, computers, stereo equipment or similar items, dispose of the boxes in a discrete manner. Putting the empty carton on the curb, is like advertising your valuables to burglars.
- Use automatic timers to turn on lights and televisions at different times of the day. Leaving one or two lights on constantly is a sure sign that no one is home.
- Have neighbors, friends or family pick up your mail, mow your lawn, use your garbage cans, and park in your driveway when you are away. Even if a burglar knows you are away, the activity around your home will act as a deterrent.