Little Rock History
March 23, 2008
History: Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital city in the state of Arkansas and the seat of Pulaski County. It is situated in the central region of the state on the southern bank of the Arkansas River. There are abundant resources in the region including petroleum, coal, timber and natural gas and Little Rock serves as the manufacturing and distribution home for those resources. The city also is a major producer of communications, aerospace and electronic equipment; lumber products and processed foods. Due to its position along the Arkansas River, the city has always enjoyed sustained growth as an important transportation crossroads for the region.
In 1722, a French explorer named Benard de la Harpe established a small trading post along the Arkansas River near the smaller of two landmarks in the form of rock outcroppings. That’s how the city eventually got its name. It was William Lewis - famous fur trapper - who in 1812 built a permanent home very close to the “little rock”. After that a small community developed and in 1821, this community became the capital of the Arkansas Territory. When Arkansas, the state, was admitted to the Union, Little Rock remained as the capital.
When the Civil War began in 1861, the citizens of Little Rock were in high favor of the Confederacy, but the Union General Frederick Steele overtook the city in September of 1863. In the 1880s, Little Rock became a very important transportation depot for the entire region and its history began as a major manufacturing city. Worldwide attention was gained by Little Rock in 1957 when a group of black students were not permitted to enroll in Central High School even though there was a federal order that banned segregation. Troops were sent into Little Rock by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to control the sporadic rioting that ensued and restore order to the area. The guard stayed on for several months while the citizens came to terms with the integration of black students which was fully in order in the early 1960s.
Urban renewal continued to gain strength through the 1960s and 1970s and the population continued to grow as well. Little Rock became a very important regional port due to a federal navigation project as well. During the last part of the 80s and into the early 90s, Bill Clinton served as the governor of Arkansas and lived in Little Rock. In 1993, Clinton became the 42nd president of the United States. Little continues to thrive today as a economic force and educational and cultural center for the state.
