It may be labeled Little Rock, but the state capital is the largest city in Arkansas. Offering big fun, business and education in its borders, the 116 square mile metropolis is a rock solid city so many love to call home.
Founded in 1722 by French explorer Jean Baptiste de la Harpe, the community has become a celebrated municipality in the mid-west, with almost 200 years of history.
To see if the Arkansas area is for you and your family, read through this guide and find out more about the cost of living, education, employment and recreation available in the region. And if you decide the district is for you, than there is no better time like the present to start making plans to move to the province.
With many types of moving services, you will have to decide which one is best for you. Check out the types of services and other moving information at Movers.com so you can make the best possible trip to the province.
Little Rock Climate
With hot summers and cold winters, temperatures rise and fall in the region, making residents swap out seasonal garb at least twice a year. August is the hottest month of the summer with an average high of 92 degrees and low of 72 degrees, and December is the coldest month of the winter with an average high of 50 degrees and low of 31 degrees.
While the winter season sees essentially no snowfall, there is a significant amount of rainfall in the region, with an average of 49-inches falling annually. Spring and fall fare well, with average temperatures reaching 42 degrees and dropping down to 10 degrees in March and November.
Little Rock Neighborhoods
Dozens of small districts make up Little Rock neighborhoods. From predominantly industrial areas like East Little Rock to more family-friendly sectors like the Heights or Hillcrest, families settle all over the city, making the most out of every mile of the metropolis. River Market District is the most popular place to be, with restaurants, bars and shops lining the streets. Area residents walk right out their front doors to experience annual events like Riverfest and Cruisin'in the Rock, where thousands of other locals join in for a fun.
While the downtown district is more modern, MacArthur Park is a more historic area with 19th century homes and the governor's mansion, Quapaw Quarter, in the neighborhood. Over in Riverdale, apartments and condominiums congregate along the river view streets, giving locals a scenic view. Midtown is where many students are settled since the University of Arkansas Little Rock is located west of downtown. With young and older adults sprawled out all across the city, there is always something interesting happening along Arkansas sidewalks.
Registering Your Car
If you are a new resident form out of state, you will need to go through the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to transfer your license from your previous state to Arkansas on the condition that it is not expired over 31 days.
If your license is expired past 31 days, or you do not have a license to exchange, you will be required to pass both a written and vision examination. If your license is expired over a year, you will be required to pass a written, vision and road examination. Along with providing your old license, you must show two forms of proof of legal residence and your social security card to obtain a permit for a fee of $20.
To obtain a new registration, you must supply the administration office with certain documents, including the vehicle identification number, bill of sale or ownership or copy of signed lien, odometer statement and proof of insurance. The fee for a new registration is $17.
Little Rock Schools
The Little Rock School District has approximately 25,000 students, who are educated in 50 schools throughout the system. With 29 elementary, 7 middle and 5 high schools, students are equally spread throughout the region. The district also has two alternative schools, four pre-kindergarten sites, one adult education center, one accelerated learning school and one career-technical center.
With many private schools in the area, including Little Rock Christian Academy and Little Rock Catholic High School, students can learn in a more specialized and religious environment. As far as four-year schooling is concerned, local students have a choice of two major universities in the area, attending either the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, UALR, or the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, UAMS. While the UALR offers around 54 undergraduate degrees, UAMS offers education in the medical field, with more than 650 resident physicians in the system.
Though college students register and start school in either the fall or spring, younger students are often pulled out of school at the beginning and end of the year when a family moves. That is why it is best to move during the holidays if you have young children in school, so they have a better chance of adjusting to their new environment.
Little Rock Employment
With major corporations like Dillard's Department Stores and Acxiom in the area, many residents work in retail or the marketing technology industry. Other top area employers are Metropolitan National Bank, Rose Law Firm and Stephens Inc. However, one of the largest employers in the state, University of Arkansas Little Rock, staffs more than 10,000 employees.
With a 7.0 percent unemployment rate, down nine points from the national average of 7.9 percent, the economy thrives with few locals out of work. One of the best ways to land a job locally is by checking out the Little Rock classified section of the newspaper. And if you have no luck in the paper, try the several staffing agencies in the area or simply stop by any one of the businesses you are interested in and drop of your resume or ask to fill out an application.
Living Costs in the City
With a median family income of $63,025 and a the median family home price at $150,000, according to CNN Money, the cost of living in Little Rock comes in at 3.8 percent less than the national average and 5.9 percent greater than the Arkansas average. When you add the 7.0 percent unemployment rate, it is seemingly quite affordable to live in the area, especially if you secure employment before settling in the city.
While the cost of a home begins at $150,000, renting an apartment is reasonably fair with one-bedroom units beginning as low as $575 and as high as $900 depending on the landscape and luxury of the residence. Finding utility companies and comparing prices is the best way to begin a sound budget when first settling, as well as conserving use as much as possible.
Little Rock Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Little Rock, whether you’re moving from out of state or from another county in Arkansas. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Little Rock Transportation
Two main interstate freeways, I-40 and I-30, run through Little Rock, making it easy for motorists to get to and from work and school. For locals who choose to use public transportation, the Central Arkansas Transit Authority transports travelers on both buses and the river rail. With dozens of bus stops and 15 river rail stops, locals are never late to where they need to go whether they travel on wheels or train tracks. Named after the former president and his wife, the Clinton National Airport transfers locals from state to state on the local landing strip.
Culture & Contemporary Life
Opera, cabaret or Jazz? With so many choice music venues in Little Rock, locals have no problem changing up the scene at either the Wildwood Park for the Arts or Robinson Center Music Hall. When it comes time to visual arts, locals often frequent the Arkansas Art Museum, the state's largest art institution that features works by Van Gogh and Rembrandt. With eight galleries, a museum school, gift shop and restaurant residents get lost for hours at the facility.
When it is time for outdoor fun, locals look to the Big Dam Bridge, the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in the world, or the Arkansas River Trail, a 17 mile trail, that runs in and alongside the river. If not in the mood for biking or walking, hiking is always an option for residents, who love to traipse Pinnacle Mountain State Park. After all the exercise, dozens of eateries satiate locals, who have branded 1620 Savoy, Addi's Corner, Ali Baba and Alley Oops as some of the best. With so much to do within the Little Rock borders, it is easy to staycation in the city and discover district food and entertainment you never knew existed.
Little Rock Relocation Tips
- City of Little Rock
Browse the city website and become familiar with local legislation and elected officials, who will greatly affect your quality of life if you decide to move to the Arkansas area.
- Before you decide the district is where you would like to call home, visit Little Rock and see for yourself all the area has to offer adults and children alike.
- Relax. The simple word is all you need to do once you have pulled in your driveway for the first time. The bottom-line is that you got your family safely to your new home, so take a deep breath and let go of some of the moving stress you have had since you made the decision to relocate.