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B−History
History · North Little Rock

North Little Rock dates to 1871, and 58 of its places are on the National Register

More historic than 54% of U.S. towns · #40 of 123 in Arkansas. What drives it

Most of North Little Rock was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1975. 58 places in town are on the National Register, among them five historic districts with 624 buildings between them. Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1935 on, and the census since 1910.

1871founded
58on the National Register
4%homes built before 1940
2old photos & papers
18famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From North Little Rock’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How North Little Rock began

When was North Little Rock founded?

1871

North Little Rock dates its founding to 1871 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1910.

First census: 11,138 in 19102020 census: 64,591155 years

How historic is North Little Rock?

B−

More historic than 54% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1871.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives North Little Rock’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, North Little Rock is more historic than 54% of U.S. towns, #40 of 123 in Arkansas. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.

B−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of North Little Rock’s overall grade.
Founding era1871, from Wikidata: founded 1850–1899, an older era than 37% of U.S. townsC+Homes built before 19404.3% of homes (±0.7) · typical AR town 3.1% · U.S. 8.4%CNational Register58 listings, 682 historic buildings, 106 per 10,000 residents · typical AR town 20.5 · U.S. 2.4A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 54%
NewerOlder
Arkansas towns of 2,500+ (123)Ahead of 68%

Arkansas towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Arkansas town has 20.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so North Little Rock’s 106 sits above most of its state (86% of Arkansas towns have fewer) while its 682 historic buildings outnumber those of 98% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1871.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to B+. The pre-1940 share (±0.7 points) is firm at this size.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about North Little Rock’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A historic districtThe Argenta Historic District takes in 303 historic buildings.Landmarks on the Register58 places on the National Register.Lost villages8 post offices opened and closed inside today’s North Little Rock, and 21 old place names are still on the map.A history waiting to be writtenOnly 2 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

58 listings protect 682 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.

places listed
58
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
682
each building in a district counts
first listed
1974
Fort Logan H. Roots Military Post
Fort Logan H. Roots Military Post, built 1894E. O. Manees HouseNorth Little Rock City HallSt. Joseph's HomeOld Central Fire StationHowell-Garner-Monfee HouseJames Peter Faucette HouseBaker HouseFaucette BuildingNorth Little Rock Post Office, built 1931Matthews HouseBarth-Hempfling HouseRock Island-Argenta DepotPruniski HouseEdgemere Street BridgeLake No. 1 BridgeLakeshore Drive BridgeEngelberger HouseWaterside Street BridgeJustin Matthews Jr. HouseCherry HouseJeffries HouseJoseph E. Jr. England HouseKleiber HouseMatthews-Bradshaw HouseMatthews-Bryan HouseMatthews-Dillon HouseMatthews-Godt HouseMatthews-MacFadyen HouseOwings HouseCherry-Luter EstateNorth Little Rock High School, built 1928Argenta Historic DistrictFirst Presbyterian Church ManseHodge-Cook HousePark Hill Fire Station and Water Company ComplexRapillard HousePark Hill Historic DistrictBailey Allinder HouseHuie, George D.D., Grocery Store BuildingUSS Razorback (SS-394)Fred and Lucy Alexander Schaer HouseEast End Methodist Episcopal ChurchBailey, Carl, Company BuildingDuffy HouseBarney L. Elias HouseARKANSAS II (riverboat)Lloyd England HallNorth Little Rock Veterans Administration Hospital Historic DistrictDr. Charles H. Kennedy HouseDaniel, Irvin and Elizabeth HouseLocust Street OverpassRobert and Marion Millett House No. 1Walter Vestal HouseK. C. Baking Powder BuildingAlton and Ruby Mae Kerby HouseBurns Park Golf CenterLaman Plaza Gazebo
BuildingsDistrictsStructures
Fort Logan H. Roots Military PostBuilt 1894
E. O. Manees HouseBuilding
North Little Rock City HallBuilding
St. Joseph's HomeBuilding
Old Central Fire StationBuilding
Howell-Garner-Monfee HouseBuilding
James Peter Faucette HouseBuilding
Baker HouseBuilding
All 58 listings
Faucette BuildingBuilding · listed 1978North Little Rock Post OfficeBuilding · listed 1982Matthews HouseBuilding · listed 1983Barth-Hempfling HouseBuilding · listed 1986Rock Island-Argenta DepotBuilding · listed 1989Pruniski HouseBuilding · listed 1990Edgemere Street BridgeStructure · listed 1990Lake No. 1 BridgeStructure · listed 1990Lakeshore Drive BridgeStructure · listed 1990Engelberger HouseBuilding · listed 1990Waterside Street BridgeStructure · listed 1990Justin Matthews Jr. HouseBuilding · listed 1990Cherry HouseBuilding · listed 1992Jeffries HouseBuilding · listed 1992Joseph E. Jr. England HouseBuilding · listed 1992Kleiber HouseBuilding · listed 1992Matthews-Bradshaw HouseBuilding · listed 1992Matthews-Bryan HouseBuilding · listed 1992Matthews-Dillon HouseBuilding · listed 1992Matthews-Godt HouseBuilding · listed 1992Matthews-MacFadyen HouseBuilding · listed 1992Owings HouseBuilding · listed 1992Cherry-Luter EstateBuilding · listed 1992North Little Rock High SchoolBuilding · listed 1993Argenta Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1993First Presbyterian Church ManseBuilding · listed 1993Hodge-Cook HouseBuilding · listed 1993Park Hill Fire Station and Water Company ComplexDistrict · listed 1993Rapillard HouseBuilding · listed 1993Park Hill Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2000Bailey Allinder HouseBuilding · listed 2002Huie, George D.D., Grocery Store BuildingBuilding · listed 2005USS Razorback (SS-394)Structure · listed 2005Fred and Lucy Alexander Schaer HouseBuilding · listed 2007East End Methodist Episcopal ChurchBuilding · listed 2008Bailey, Carl, Company BuildingBuilding · listed 2009Duffy HouseBuilding · listed 2014Barney L. Elias HouseBuilding · listed 2015ARKANSAS II (riverboat)Structure · listed 1990Lloyd England HallBuilding · listed 1997North Little Rock Veterans Administration Hospital Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2013Dr. Charles H. Kennedy HouseBuilding · listed 2017Daniel, Irvin and Elizabeth HouseBuilding · listed 2021Locust Street OverpassStructure · listed 2021Robert and Marion Millett House No. 1Building · listed 2021Walter Vestal HouseBuilding · listed 2021K. C. Baking Powder BuildingBuilding · listed 2021Alton and Ruby Mae Kerby HouseBuilding · listed 2021Burns Park Golf CenterBuilding · listed 2022Laman Plaza GazeboStructure · listed 2024

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

North Little Rock’s post office has been open since 1933. Eight other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.

Argenta
1871–1901
Galloway
1871–1903
Bearing Cross
1878–1878
Willowdale
1881–1894
Niemeyer
1883–1885
Bancum
1894–1903
Baringcross
1896–1902
Levy
1901–1947
North Little Rock
1933–today
18701950today
Hamlets and corners on the map
AmboyArrowhead ManorBaucumCharityDixieFairmanFoxboroGallowayLakewoodLansbrookLevyMelanie ParkNiemeyerNorth OaksPark HillPecan GroveProtho JunctionRose CityTanglewoodTimber CreekWillowdale
Gone or out of use
Fort Logan H RootsmilitaryMontessori SchoolschoolOak Grove Schoolschool
7cemeteries and burying grounds inside North Little Rock
AaronArkansas State VeteransBaucumCornerstoneEdgewoodHeilmanSwinton

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

The story

How North Little Rock came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of North Little Rock.

Read it all →

Originally named Argenta, Arkansas, the community was founded on April 18, 1871. In 1890, the city of Little Rock annexed Argenta as part of its eighth ward, preempting a competing petition to incorporate.

As part of a plan to reclaim its independence, Argenta was incorporated on July 17, 1901, as the town of "North Little Rock". By 1904, the state's supreme court allowed North Little Rock to annex what was left of the ward. It readopted the name Argenta in 1906, only to revert to North Little Rock in October 1917. Evidence of the old town can still be found in the North Little Rock City Hall (built in 1914) which contains plaques referring to Argenta, and incorporates "C of A" (i.e. City of Argenta) ornamental features.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

North Little Rock, 1871 to 2004

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1871
    FoundingNorth Little Rock is established
  3. 1871Post officeThe Argenta post office opens
  4. 1871Post officeThe Galloway post office opens
  5. 1878Post officeThe Bearing Cross post office opens
  6. 1878Post officeThe Bearing Cross post office closes
  7. 1894BuiltFort Logan H. Roots Military Post is built
  8. 20th century
  9. 1901Post officeThe Argenta post office closes
  10. 1903Post officeThe Galloway post office closes
  11. 1926In the archiveArkansas River
  12. 1928BuiltNorth Little Rock High School is built
  13. 1931BuiltNorth Little Rock Post Office is built
  14. 1933In the archiveLittle Rock, Ark
  15. 1935On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  16. 1960Born hereJay Russell is born here
  17. 1973Born hereJason White is born here
  18. 1977Born hereA. J. Burnett is born here
  19. 21st century
  20. 2004Born hereKel'el Ware is born here
By decade

North Little Rock, decade by decade

2 decades in the archive, from the 1920s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1920s–1930s2 items
Arkansas River1926Arkansas RiverLittle Rock, Ark1933Little Rock, Ark
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today1 recent
The River Trail Park in2003The River Trail Park in
On the map

North Little Rock on the map, 1935 to 1996

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of North Little Rock. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

North Little Rock on the 1935 USGS mapNorth Little Rock on the 1954 USGS mapNorth Little Rock on the 1961 USGS mapNorth Little Rock on the 1970 USGS mapNorth Little Rock on the 1986 USGS mapNorth Little Rock on the 1996 USGS map1935North Little Rock sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of North Little Rock.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Arkansas River
Retake this viewArkansas River, 1926

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on North Little Rock’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

North Little Rock, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,00050,00055,00060,00065,00070,00019201940196019802000202064,591

Grew from 11,138 people in 1910 to 64,591 in 2020, 5 times over.

12 censuses, 1910–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on North Little Rock’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

18 famous people were born in North Little Rock

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Jason WhiteAmerican guitarist · b. 1973
A. J. BurnettBaseball player from the United States · b. 1977
J
Jay RussellAmerican film director · b. 1960
K
Kel'el WareAmerican basketball player · b. 2004
Eddie MilesAmerican basketball player · b. 1940
Terry TiffeeBaseball player · b. 1979
Help out

Start North Little Rock’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how North Little Rock’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewArkansas River: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Sherwood2 historic placesDMaumelle2 historic placesDMcAlmontIts storyC−Scott5 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townGibson1 historic placeDLittle Rock279 historic placesA−

Questions about North Little Rock’s history

What year was North Little Rock founded?

In 1871, according to Wikidata. North Little Rock’s post office opened in 1871, and the census of 1910 counted 11,138 people here.

How does North Little Rock rank for history?

North Little Rock is more historic than 54% of U.S. towns, #40 of 123 in Arkansas. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in North Little Rock?

58 listings: 45 buildings, 5 historic districts with 624 contributing buildings, and 8 structures. 682 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in North Little Rock?

4% of North Little Rock’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 3.1% for an Arkansas town; the median home was built in 1975.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (3), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (58), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.