The city has two major universities that are part of the University of Arkansas System. The campuses of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are located within Little Rock.
Preserving the best of its past, Little Rock has moved confidently toward its future as an important Sunbelt city. Nowhere is this more evident than in the adaptive restoration of many landmark structures. Historic Union Station, for example, still serves as a depot for Amtrak rail passenger service, but also houses successful restaurants and a lively game parlor. The Arkansas Territorial Restoration, the first building erected in Little Rock, is still standing and furnished with items reflecting that period. It is available for those who would like to revisit the days of the early 19th century.
Dozens of shopping centers and malls offer anything Little Rock consumers need and want. Craft shows and antique shops are especially plentiful in and around the Little Rock area.
Arkansas is a sportsman's paradise for those interested in camping, hunting (with camera, gun, or bow and arrow), fishing, sailing, water-skiing, scuba diving and many other sports. There are more than half a million acres of lake surfaces within a short drive from Little Rock and trout streams are less than two hours distance by car. A moderate climate permits year-round outdoor activities.
Resort areas and vacation spots are plentiful in Arkansas. Hot Springs, about 50 miles from Little Rock, has three lakes for fishing, swimming and water-skiing, as well as 65 days of thoroughbred horse racing each year at Oaklawn Park. Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro attracts diamond hunters from all over the country. Blanchard Springs Caverns, near Mountain Home, is considered to be one of the cave finds of the century. Underground tours lead past stalagmites and stalactites, giant columns and an underground river. Eureka Springs is a charming Victorian town in the Ozark Mountains and is the home of the world famous Passion Play and Christ of the Ozarks statue. These are just a few of the many outstanding recreational and vacation spots in Arkansas.
Arkansas is truly a natural state. It is full of varied scenery and landscapes, from the rich bottomland of the delta on the east to the scenic overlook of mountains on the western border.
Housing Cost
In Little Rock, the average home price is $140,000 while prices range from $75,000 to $750,000. Apartments in the area range from efficiency to luxury and from garden style to high-rise, with a varied price range.
Demographics
Estimated population in July 2005: 184,564. Little Rock covers 44.8. It sits at an elevation of 267 feet above sea level.
Climate
Little Rock, AR climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 40's.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 91.10 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 27.40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 23 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 23 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Little Rock is 47.67 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is November with an average rainfall of 5.33 Inches.
