North Little Rock at a Glance

Central Arkansas has the largest concentration of limited access highways and one of the most diverse economies within the entire state; the area is a banking and business center and major manufacturing firms call Central Arkansas home. The growth in per capita income in the central area has remained at a rate close to or exceeding the rate of per capita income growth for the remainder of the state.

With the state capitol located in Little Rock, serving as headquarters for almost every state agency, the state is one of the largest employers in the area. In addition, Little Rock Air Force Base is located 15 miles north of North Little Rock. The base is responsible for providing employment for many Arkansas residents, and many other major employers are located throughout the area.

North Little Rock and Little Rock are the central cities by definition in a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the 90th largest in the United States. Outlying counties are included in the MSA if at least 50% of the employed workers residing in the country commute to the central county (Pulaski) and the population density of the outlying county is at least 20 persons per square mile. Saline, Lonoke, Faulkner, and Pulaski are combined in a regional MSA. The area is the social, governmental, cultural, financial, and retail hub for the state of Arkansas.