501 Area Code 🌍☎️

Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of Arkansas, with a population of 202,591 as of the 2020 census and a metropolitan area of approximately 770,000 residents ranking 81st nationally, located on the south bank of the Arkansas River in central Arkansas as the county seat of Pulaski County. Founded in 1821 as the capital of the Arkansas Territory, the city was named after a rock formation on the Arkansas River identified by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in 1722, though efforts to rename it "Arkopolis" failed and Little Rock ultimately prevailed. The city gained international prominence during the 1957 desegregation of Little Rock Central High School when nine African American students enrolled following Brown v. Board of Education, a watershed moment in the Civil Rights movement. Little Rock's economy is anchored by healthcare, banking, transportation, and retail sectors, with major employers including Dillard's department stores, Windstream Holdings telecommunications, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Cultural and recreational attractions include the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Clinton Presidential Center, Quapaw Quarter historic district, Arkansas River Trail, and Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County in Central Arkansas with a population of 64,134 as of the 2020 census, making it the eighth-most populous city in the state. Founded in 1866 by Asa P. Robinson, chief engineer of the Little Rock-Fort Smith Railroad, the city was established as a railroad town and named in honor of a prominent Arkansas family. Conway earned the nickname "The City of Colleges" due to its three post-secondary educational institutions and serves as a regional hub for Faulkner County and surrounding areas. The city's early development was significantly shaped by Father Joseph Strub of the Holy Ghost Fathers, who in 1879 secured 200,000 acres for the St. Joseph Colony and attracted over 100 German immigrant families by 1889, leaving a lasting German cultural influence on the city's street and business names. Located 30 miles east of Little Rock via Interstate 40, Conway experienced a devastating F4 tornado on April 10, 1965, that caused six deaths and 200 injuries. Benton is the county seat of Saline County, Arkansas, and a suburb of Little Rock with a 2020 population of 35,014, making it the 12th most populous city in the state. Founded in 1833 and named after Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, the city was formally chartered in 1836 when Arkansas achieved statehood. Early industry in Benton included a salt works established in 1827, pottery manufacturing from local kaolin deposits beginning around 1900, and logging and furniture production, with a racetrack operating since 1838. The city encompasses 18.4 square miles in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan area and features a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. As of 2020, Benton had 13,737 households with a median age of 36.8 years, with 48.4% of households being married-couple families.