North Little Rock sits on the north bank of the Arkansas River, straight across from downtown Little Rock. It pairs the restored Argenta district with older hillside neighborhoods, one of the largest city parks in the country, and its own electric utility.
The feel
North Little Rock started as Argenta, a railroad town platted in 1866 and named for the Latin word for silver. It took the North Little Rock name in 1901, switched back to Argenta in 1906, and settled on North Little Rock for good in 1917. That rail and river past still shows. Downtown has brick storefronts, a ballpark and an arena within a short walk of the Arkansas River. Climb north and the streets turn to wooded hills, lakes and mid-century neighborhoods. The city had about 64,600 residents at the 2020 Census.
The homes
Housing here covers a lot of ground. Argenta has early twentieth century houses, restored commercial buildings and newer lofts and townhomes near Main Street. Park Hill, which Justin Matthews began building in 1922, has period cottages and bungalows on rolling streets. Lakewood, built around six lakes Matthews finished in 1932, filled in mostly during the 1950s and 1960s with brick ranches and larger custom homes. Farther north and east you will find newer subdivisions. Lot sizes, age and condition vary a lot from one pocket to the next, so the street matters as much as the neighborhood name.
Schools
Most of the city is served by the North Little Rock School District, which runs North Little Rock High School. Some addresses near the city limits fall in the Pulaski County Special School District instead. Attendance zones are set by address and can change, so check any specific home with the district before you buy. Charter and private options also operate in and around the city. The Arkansas Department of Education's My School Info site lists public school data for every campus.
Getting around
Few places in Central Arkansas have better highway access. Interstate 40 runs across the north side, Interstate 30 begins here and crosses the river into Little Rock, and US 67/167 heads northeast toward Sherwood, Jacksonville and Cabot. US 65 also passes through. Downtown Little Rock is roughly two miles away over the river bridges. The Arkansas River Trail loops both banks, and the Junction Bridge and Big Dam Bridge carry walkers and cyclists between the two cities.
Life here
Burns Park is the big one. The city bought about 870 acres from the federal government in 1949 and roughly 700 more in 1955, and today it holds golf, ball fields, trails and river frontage. Downtown, Dickey-Stephens Park is home to the Arkansas Travelers, and Simmons Bank Arena hosts concerts and events. The submarine USS Razorback sits on the river at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum. In Lakewood, The Old Mill at T. R. Pugh Memorial Park, a 1930s replica mill, appears in the opening credits of Gone with the Wind.
Owning here
North Little Rock runs its own electric utility. The North Little Rock Electric Department is a city department that has served customers for more than 100 years, so many homeowners pay the city for power instead of an investor-owned company. Some areas are served by other providers, so confirm by address. Property taxes are set through Pulaski County and vary by school district and city millage. Homes near the Arkansas River or low-lying creeks may sit in mapped flood zones; check the FEMA flood map and ask about insurance early.
