“The geographical, political and financial center of Arkansas, Little Rock is at the meeting point of its two major regions, the northwestern hills and the eastern Delta,”is the way Yahoo! Travel describes the capital city of Arkansas. Little Rock derives its name from a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River called la Petite Roche, which French for "the little rock." The "little rock" was used by early river traffic as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing. Little Rock became the capital of the state of Arkansas in 1836.

Little Rock is situated on the south bank of the Arkansas River in Central Arkansas. Fourche Creek and Rock Creek run through the city and flow into the river. The western part of the city is located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.