US Postage Stamps // Philatelic Project // The Federal States

Capitals of the Federal States

#4278 // June 14, 2008
(self-adhesive coil definitive)
Flags of Our Nation Series

Arkansas State Flag
and wood duck
Flag of the City of Little Rock,
capital of the State of Arkansas

The name of the city derives from a
small rock formation on the south bank
of the Arkansas River.

City, Elevation, Coordinates County, US Region Waters
Little Rock, AR
335 ft [102 m]
34°44'10" N  92°19'52" W
Pulaski County
South
Arkansas River
Land Area
rounded mi2 [km2]
Population
(census 2010)
Population Density
per mi2 [km2] of land area
117 [303] 193,524 1,654 [639]

History Timeline
Central Arkansas was originally inhabited by the
Caddo, Quapaw, Osage, Choctaw, and Cherokee Indian tribes.
1722 French explorer Jean-Baptiste Benard de la Harpe (* 1683, † 1765) landed near a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River, which he named "la Petite Roche". He built a trading post close to the "Little Rock" within the tribal area of the Quapaw Indians. The little rock was used as a landmark by early river navigation and became a popular and well-known river crossing.
1812 Fur trapper William Lewis settled close to the little rock.
1821 Capital of Arkansas Territory
1831 Little Rock was incorporated as a city
1836 State Capital of Arkansas
1957 Nine Afro-American students, present-day known as the Little Rock Nine, attempted to enroll at Little Rock segregated Central High School, which caused massive public protest by the white population. The Arkansas National Guard, directed by Governor Orval Faubus (* 1910, † 1994, in office 1955 - 1967), prevented their first attempt at enrollment. At the time, Arkansas was the third most segregated state in the US (behind Mississippi and Alabama respectively). US President Dwight D. Eisenhower (* 1890, † 1969, in office 1953 - 1961) dispatched federal troops to ensure the students' safety and enforced their right to attend school.
1958 The four Little Rock's High Schools remained closed for one year by order of Governor Orval Faubus. These 1957/58 events are collectively referred to as the Crisis at Central High.