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Population: 184,510 Located in Pulaski County
As Arkansas' capital and largest city, Little Rock is a natural focal point for much the state has to offer - from the pleasures and opportunities of a metropolitan city, to the unspoiled scenic grandeur and outdoor recreational pursuits - Little Rock is truly a place unique in all the world. Little Rock is the largest city in the state with a population of nearly 200,000. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census the median age is 32.7 years. Forbes Magazine recently listed Little Rock as being among the top 25 housing markets in the country. Older houses line the city's traditional neighborhoods and newer houses adorn the most recent developments, including a new solar-energy neighborhood. Apartments in the area range from efficiency to luxury and from garden style to high-rise, with a varied price range from as low as $50,000 to over $1,000,000 in the more posh and prestigious areas. The Arkansas sales tax is 6.25 percent of gross receipts from the sales of tangible personal property and certain selected services. Resident individuals estates and trusts, and nonresident individuals, estates and trusts deriving income from within the state are subject to a tax on their net income. Little Rock is also headquarters for the state's financial industry-banks, investment firms and insurance companies. In addition, 28 Fortune 500 companies operate in the Little Rock/North Little Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area. During these turbulent economic times, new employers continue to come to Little Rock each year, resulting in considerable job gains, especially in the city¹s growing wind energy industry. There are approximately 80 arriving and departing flights from Little Rock National Airport daily, and about 90 percent of these flights are jet service.
The Little Rock medical corridor is easily accessible by city street, interstate and public transit. Area health care is state of the art offering over 20 hospitals with 5300 beds and 43 nursing homes. The metropolitan area has more than 15,000 licensed health professionals.
Educational facilities in Little Rock range from pre-kindergarten to graduate institutions. The Little Rock School District consistently produces first-rate scholars who attended colleges across the nation. Little Rock is also home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Philander Smith College and Arkansas Baptist College. Public libraries in central Arkansas have combined collections of over 1,750,000 books, 11,700 periodicals and a variety of CD-Rom and on-line databases. The Arkansas Arts Center offers outstanding exhibitions and traveling exhibits. The performing arts community is extensive. More than 250,000 people annually attend Riverfest, a concert series that also offers many cultural and culinary attractions. The Arkansas State Fair is one of the area's largest attractions and the Little Rock Marathon recently had about 5,000 finishers. The City of Little Rock has a strong commitment to sustainability, and it has one of the finest trails systems in the country, offering citizens a great place to exercise. The Big Dam Bridge is the longest bridge ever built in America exclusively for pedestrian use. Little Rock¹s parks system is linked by a 14-mile River Trail by the Arkansas River. The Big Dam Bridge 100 bicycle race attracts thousands to the area each year. The City of Little Rock has seen significant reductions in crime in the past year. The best avenues for community involvement and activism in Little Rock is the city's 175 neighborhood associations. These groups share vital community information, helping to strengthen the bonds that hold great neighborhoods together.
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