Little Rock Growth

[Architect]

2006 GDP of Southeastern U.S. cities:

1. Houston, TX.................$344,516

2. Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX.......$338,493

3. Atlanta, GA...................$257,032

4. Miami, FL.......................$248,029

5. Charlotte, NC.................$114,147

6. Tampa/St. Pete...............$108,520

7. Orlando, FL.....................$97,384

8. Nashville, TN...................$73,658

9. San Antonio, TX...............$72,738

10, Austin, TX......................$71,176

11. New Orleans, LA...............$66,450

12. Memphis, TN....................$60,564

13. Jacksonville, FL................$58,163

14. Birmingham, AL.................$51,535

15. Oklahoma City, OK.............$50,409

16. Raleigh, NC......................$47,851

17. Tulsa, OK........................$41,119

18. Baton Rouge, LA................$36,848

19. Greensboro, NC.................$31,830

20. Little Rock, AR...................$28,585

21. Columbia, SC.....................$28,401

22. Durham, NC.......................$27,874

23. Knoxville, TN......................$27,622

24. Brandenton, FL...................$24,772

25. Charleston, SC...................$24,056

26. Greenville, SC.....................$22,939

27. Winston-Salem, NC..............$22,063

28. Cape Coral/Ft. Myers, FL......$21,838

29. Jackson, MS......................$21,423

30. Shreveport, LA....................$19,827

31. Chattanooga, TN.................$19,103

32. Huntsville, AL.......................$17,115

33. Melbourne, FL.......................$16,912

34. Augusta, GA.........................$16,448

35. Fayetteville, AR....................$16,038

36. Lafayette, LA......................$15,385

37. Lakeland, FL........................$15,433

38. Naples, FL...........................$14,572

39. Corpus Christi, TX.................$14,352

40. Mobile, AL...........................$13,892

41. Montgomery, AL...................$13,859

42. Lake Charles, LA....................$13,802

43. Beaumont, TX.......................$13,476

44. Pensacola, FL........................$13,040

45. Asheville, NC........................$12,740

46. Wilmington, NC......................$12,682

47. Killeen, TX.............................$12,286

48. Savannah, GA........................$12,196

49. Tallahassee, FL......................$12,152

50. McAllen, TX...........................$12,026

51. Daytona, FL...........................$11,919

52. Hickory/Morganton, NC.............$11,732

53. Port St. Lucie, FL....................$11,118

54. Columbus, GA.........................$10,026

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regi..._metro0908.pdf

Of note:

[Aporkalypse]

Interesting unemployment stastistics for Arkansas and for the LR metro.

National unemployment: 6.1%

Arkansas: 4.9%

Pulaski Co: 4.1%

Faulkner Co: 4.0%

Central Arkansas seems to be GAINING jobs and lowering unemployment despite dire national figures. Those unemployment rates are as low as LR has had in a while.

Growth in LR has been picking up the last few years. I think this is a sign we are about to move into a major growth phase.

Just as importantly Arkansas as a whole is doing well. The delta really skews these numbers, NWA and LR are both strong economically right now.

[Mith242]

Interesting unemployment stastistics for Arkansas and for the LR metro.

National unemployment: 6.1%

Arkansas: 4.9%

Pulaski Co: 4.1%

Faulkner Co: 4.0%

Central Arkansas seems to be GAINING jobs and lowering unemployment despite dire national figures. Those unemployment rates are as low as LR has had in a while.

Growth in LR has been picking up the last few years. I think this is a sign we are about to move into a major growth phase.

Just as importantly Arkansas as a whole is doing well. The delta really skews these numbers, NWA and LR are both strong economically right now.

Yeah you hate to say it but The Delta really does bring the rest of the state down.

[skirby]

Yeah you hate to say it but The Delta really does bring the rest of the state down.

Don't tell that to all those farmers living off the government dole in the Delta. The Delta developed from farmers needing an uneducated workforce to work their fields. When manpower was no longer needed nothing was done to improve the lives of the uneducated workers. Some moved away but others stayed. The farmers get richer with the help of the government and the uneducated just get by from government funding.

Farmland pays very little in taxes to support the local schools so education gets very little local support.

[Architect]

Yeah you hate to say it but The Delta really does bring the rest of the state down.

Do you know what the real irony of this is? One of my former business partners went to school at the University of Arkansas in the late 50's/early 60's, and all the rich kids were from the Delta, and predominantly the poor kids were all from northwest Arkansas. What a strange turn of events over the past 50 years.

[Mith242]

Do you know what the real irony of this is? One of my former business partners went to school at the University of Arkansas in the late 50's/early 60's, and all the rich kids were from the Delta, and predominantly the poor kids were all from northwest Arkansas. What a strange turn of events over the past 50 years.

Exactly. There's so much history in the Delta and it wasn't that long ago that it was still perhaps the dominant part of the state. But man how times have changed.

[Aporkalypse]

Do you know what the real irony of this is? One of my former business partners went to school at the University of Arkansas in the late 50's/early 60's, and all the rich kids were from the Delta, and predominantly the poor kids were all from northwest Arkansas. What a strange turn of events over the past 50 years.

I've heard that over and over. I've also heard oddly enough over at Ole Miss there are still a lot of wealthy kids from Delta compared to elsewhere (of course Jackson and the Memphis burbs contribute as well).

Farming was a lot more productive in the delta and the Ozarks were terrible for farming. You don't raise chickens on good farmland and the poultry economy led to one of NWA's big companies being formed and now that's an economic pillar. The other was just luck.

[Sammy00]

Little Rock comes in at #2 on Forbes list of Top 5 Most Affordable Places to Live During an Economic Downturn.

Sights job growth...

http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/12/cheap-cit...thisSpeed=15000

[Aporkalypse]

Little Rock comes in at #2 on Forbes list of Top 5 Most Affordable Places to Live During an Economic Downturn.

Sights job growth...

http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/12/cheap-cit...thisSpeed=15000

Well, that's a good thing. LR has really bucked the trend of what's going on nationally. I just hope that losses at Dillard's and Alltel don't offset it.

[Architect]

Population Growth from July 2007 - July 2008, ranked by percentage increase - from the U.S. Census Bureau (and more specifically, borrowed from this post on Skyscraperpage.com: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=166799):

"Raleigh-Cary, NC"------------------------------------"1,088,765"------"1,043,961"--------"44,804"------4.3

"Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC"----------------"1,701,799"--- --"1,646,431" -------"55,368"------3.4

"Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Cnwy, SC"---------"257,380"--------"249,711"----------"7,669"------3.1

"Durham, NC"--------------------------------------------"489,762"--------"478,003"---------"11,759"-----2.5

"Huntsville, AL"------------------------------------------"395,645"---------"386,322"----------"9,323"-----2.4

"Wilmington, NC"----------------------------------------"347,012"---------"338,780"----------"8,232"-----2.4

"Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA"----------------"5,376,285"------"5,261,296"--------"114,989"-----2.2

"New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA"-------------------"1,134,029"-------1,109,411"---------"24,618"-----2.2

"Charleston-North Charleston-Smmrvlle, SC"-----------"644,506"-------"630,434"----------"14,072"-----2.2

"Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO"----------------"443,976"-------"434,643"-----------"9,333"-----2.1

"Nashville-Davidson--Murfrsbro--Frnkln, TN"----------"1,550,733"-----"1,520,160"---------"30,573"-----2.0

"Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC"--------------------------"624,715"--------"612,567"---------"12,148"-----2.0

"Spartanburg, SC"------------------------------------------"280,738"--------"275,285"----------"5,453"-----2.0

"Columbia, SC"---------------------------------------------"728,063"--------"715,678"---------"12,385"-----1.7

"Ocala, FL"--------------------------------------------------"329,628"--------"324,093"----------"5,535"-----1.7

"Knoxville, TN"----------------------------------------------"691,152"-------"680,652"---------"10,500"-----1.5

"Savannah, GA"---------------------------------------------"334,353"-------"329,307"-----------"5,046"-----1.5

"Greensboro-High Point, NC"-------------------------------"705,684"-------"695,738"-----------"9,946"-----1.4

"Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR"---------------"675,069"--------"665,657"-----------"9,412"----1.4

"Winston-Salem, NC"---------------------------------------"468,124"--------"461,615"-----------"6,509"----1.4

"Orlando-Kissimmee, FL"---------------------------------"2,054,574"------"2,028,669"---------"25,905"----1.3

"Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL"-------------------------------"580,594"--------"572,967"-----------"7,627"----1.3

"Gulfport-Biloxi, MS"----------------------------------------"234,625"--------"231,656"-----------"2,969"----1.3

"Jacksonville, FL"------------------------------------------"1,313,228"------"1,297,813"----------"15,415"---1.2

"Asheville, NC"-----------------------------------------------"408,436"--------"403,528"-----------"4,908"---1.2

"Port St. Lucie, FL"-------------------------------------------"403,768"--------"398,880"-----------"4,888"---1.2

"Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC"------------------------"534,218"--------"528,312"-----------"5,906"---1.1

"Tuscaloosa, AL"----------------------------------------------"206,765"--------"204,498"-----------"2,267"---1.1

"Tallahassee, FL"----------------------------------------------"357,259"--------"353,425"-----------"3,834"---1.1

"Lafayette, LA"------------------------------------------------"259,073"---------"256,273"----------"2,800"---1.1

"Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC"-----------------------------"363,036"---------"359,569"----------"3,467"---1.0

"Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL"----------------------------------"593,136"---------"588,129"----------"5,007"---0.9

"Birmingham-Hoover, AL"----------------------------------"1,117,608"-------"1,108,672"----------"8,936"---0.8

"Chattanooga, TN-GA"-----------------------------------------"518,441"---------"514,209"----------"4,232"---0.8

"Gainesville, FL"------------------------------------------------"258,555"---------"256,417"----------"2,138"---0.8

"Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL"---------------------"2,733,761"------"2,715,273"---------"18,488"---0.7

"Jackson, MS"---------------------------------------------------"537,285"--------"533,794"-----------"3,491"---0.7

"Fort Smith, AR-OK"--------------------------------------------"290,977"--------"288,913"-----------"2,064"---0.7

"Baton Rouge, LA"----------------------------------------------"774,327"---------"769,397"----------"4,930"---0.6

"Memphis, TN-MS-AR"----------------------------------------"1,285,732"------"1,279,120"----------"6,612"---0.5

"Mobile, AL"------------------------------------------------------"406,309"--------"404,097"----------"2,212"---0.5

"Shreveport-Bossier City, LA" ----------------------------------"389,533"--------"387,500"----------"2,033"---0.5

"Naples-Marco Island, FL"---------------------------------------"315,258"--------"313,655"----------"1,603"---0.5

"Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL"-------------------------------"452,992"--------"451,391"----------"1,601"---0.4

"Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL"----------------"5,414,772"------"5,392,118"--------"22,654"---0.4

"Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, FL"-------------------------------"687,823"---------"685,002"---------"2,821"---0.4

"Macon, GA"------------------------------------------------------"230,777"---------"229,831"-----------"946"---0.4

"Columbus, GA-AL"-----------------------------------------------"287,653"---------"286,889"------------764---0.3

"Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA"---------------------------"201,148"----------"201,020"------------128---0.1

"Montgomery, AL"------------------------------------------------"365,924"--------- "365,976"-----------{sodEmoji.|} -52---0.0

A couple of interesting things to note:

• NWA ranked #9 on the list at 2.1%, adding 9,333

• LRC ranked #19 on the list at 1.4%, adding 9,412

• Both NWA and LRC EACH added more people than did many, many other sizable cities such as Shreveport, Mobile, Jackson, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Memphis, etc...some by a substantial margin (growth in Jackson, Shreveport, Birmingham and Memphis is dismal).

• Percentage growth in NC/SC is quite phenomenal

•

[skirby]

The July 1, 2008 estimated population of the Little Rock Combined Statistical Area is 850,561. This is an increase of just under 10,000 from the 2007 estimate.

[Sammy00]

Little Rock ranks #22 in the nation in Forbes Magazine's new "Best Places for Business and Careers":

http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/20/bizplaces...thisSpeed=30000

Fayetteville/NWA came in 4th.

I believe this is the first time I have seen Little Rock ranked highly in one of these surveys. Maybe people are beginning to realize how well things are going in Little Rock compared to other places around the country.

[diatom]

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/01/cities-city-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-livable-cities_slide_2.html?partner=yahoore

Forbes has ranked Little Rock as the 15th most livable city.

Edited April 7, 2009 by diatom

[Architect]

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/01/cities-city-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-livable-cities_slide_2.html?partner=yahoore

Forbes has ranked Little Rock as the 15th most livable city.

Very nice...other rankings of interest:

#6 OKC

#5 Tulsa

#3 Des Moines

[bchris02]

Nice to see LR getting recognized for something good for a change. Little Rock desperately needs positive publicity.

[Architect]

Nice to see LR getting recognized for something good for a change. Little Rock desperately needs positive publicity.

You infer that it's been bad lately? I guess the Alltel buyout (and maybe the lunatic LRSD Board), but otherwise, I think Little Rock has been getting a lot of good news lately, and its reputation is on the rise...lot's of economic development, income growth, housing market stability (exceptional), population growth, downtown development, etc.

I truly believe that Little Rock is leaving our sister cities behind (Jackson, Shreveport, etc.) and moving to the next tier on multiple fronts...

p.s. The Alltel deal is a real drag though....

[bchris02]

While we are on Little Rock and Jackson comparisons, I think if Jackson had Little Rock's downtown it would be the superior city. Right now I consider them pretty much identical twins, with Jackson having better upscale shopping and Little Rock having a more active downtown. However, to say Little Rock is better than Jackson even just a little bit isn't really saying much. Both Little Rock and Jackson are among the most undesirable places to live in the entire country, and the economy here really suffers because of it. A guy I know who works for HP says they are having a difficult time filling positions because nobody wants to move to Little Rock. I guess I am one who sees this town for what it really is and no through rose colored glasses. Yes, Little Rock's (and Jackson's) negative stereotypes are somewhat exaggerated but there is much truth to them.

[Architect]

While we are on Little Rock and Jackson comparisons, I think if Jackson had Little Rock's downtown it would be the superior city. Right now I consider them pretty much identical twins, with Jackson having better upscale shopping and Little Rock having a more active downtown. However, to say Little Rock is better than Jackson even just a little bit isn't really saying much. Both Little Rock and Jackson are among the most undesirable places to live in the entire country, and the economy here really suffers because of it. A guy I know who works for HP says they are having a difficult time filling positions because nobody wants to move to Little Rock. I guess I am one who sees this town for what it really is and no through rose colored glasses. Yes, Little Rock's (and Jackson's) negative stereotypes are somewhat exaggerated but there is much truth to them.

Ummm...okay.

1 - I do not agree, and neither do recent studies, that Little Rock is an undesirable place to live. In fact, quite the opposite. I do not know about Jackson.

2 - Let me clarify then...I think other than being a state capital of a small southern, rural (poor) state, there is little comparison between Jackson and Little Rock - both empirically (example - population: LR exceeds Jackson's MSA by more than 150,000 and exceeds its CSA by 300,000, and is growing at a much faster rate) and perceptually (example - several friends of mine from Jackson say there is no comparison top to bottom).

3 - I know quite a bit about HP. Please clarify your comment. Are you referring to their temporary offices in downtown Little Rock, or out-of-state hires? The final development is in Conway. Regardless, you well know that their hesitation is due to your last comment about stereotypes - which is 90% misguided perception.

4 - Negative stereotypes. You know that metropolitan Little Rock stats are well above the national average..income, education, etc. People associate Little Rock with Arkansas, which by and large is well deserving of poor perception. I don't wear rose tinted glasses. Little Rock has it's share of problems, but I am well aware of the facts, and make it a point to correct misinformed stereotypes.

[ndark]

While we are on Little Rock and Jackson comparisons, I think if Jackson had Little Rock's downtown it would be the superior city. Right now I consider them pretty much identical twins, with Jackson having better upscale shopping and Little Rock having a more active downtown. However, to say Little Rock is better than Jackson even just a little bit isn't really saying much. Both Little Rock and Jackson are among the most undesirable places to live in the entire country, and the economy here really suffers because of it. A guy I know who works for HP says they are having a difficult time filling positions because nobody wants to move to Little Rock. I guess I am one who sees this town for what it really is and no through rose colored glasses. Yes, Little Rock's (and Jackson's) negative stereotypes are somewhat exaggerated but there is much truth to them.

This isn't necessarily directed at you but this post made me think of shopping.

To me Active Downtown/Restuarant Scene>>>>>Shopping. I can get online and buy anything from any store I choose. In fact I buy nearly everything online now except for pants and some shirts. Most things are cheaper online and always have what you need in stock. Why should I care if we have a Macy's or Apple? Other than the status of having these brick and mortar stores in your city I don't see how having them actually makes a city better at least in my eyes. I haven't been to Jackson in a few years but if all they have on LR is some extra stores we don't have then to me there is no contest between the two. Sure, having cool stores is nice but give me a cool downtown and cool restaurants over that anyday.

Are there advantages of having B&M stores that I am missing? I am sure there are.

[ndark]

Ummm...okay.

1 - I do not agree, and neither do recent studies, that Little Rock is an undesirable place to live. In fact, quite the opposite. I do not know about Jackson.

2 - Let me clarify then...I think other than being a state capital of a small southern, rural (poor) state, there is little comparison between Jackson and Little Rock - both empirically (example - population: LR exceeds Jackson's MSA by more than 150,000 and exceeds its CSA by 300,000, and is growing at a much faster rate) and perceptually (example - several friends of mine from Jackson say there is no comparison top to bottom).

3 - I know quite a bit about HP. Please clarify your comment. Are you referring to their temporary offices in downtown Little Rock, or out-of-state hires? The final development is in Conway. Regardless, you well know that their hesitation is due to your last comment about stereotypes - which is 90% misguided perception.

4 - Negative stereotypes. You know that metropolitan Little Rock stats are well above the national average..income, education, etc. People associate Little Rock with Arkansas, which by and large is well deserving of poor perception. I don't wear rose tinted glasses. Little Rock has it's share of problems, but I am well aware of the facts, and make it a point to correct misinformed stereotypes.

The Little Rock Growth thread confirms these points with data. Take a look. Roughly 30% higher GDP, twice the percent population growth from July 07 to July 08, and on a couple recent Forbes list.

Edited June 12, 2009 by ndark

[Sammy00]

While we are on Little Rock and Jackson comparisons, I think if Jackson had Little Rock's downtown it would be the superior city. Right now I consider them pretty much identical twins, with Jackson having better upscale shopping and Little Rock having a more active downtown. However, to say Little Rock is better than Jackson even just a little bit isn't really saying much. Both Little Rock and Jackson are among the most undesirable places to live in the entire country, and the economy here really suffers because of it. A guy I know who works for HP says they are having a difficult time filling positions because nobody wants to move to Little Rock. I guess I am one who sees this town for what it really is and no through rose colored glasses. Yes, Little Rock's (and Jackson's) negative stereotypes are somewhat exaggerated but there is much truth to them.

I completely disagree.

I've lived in Michigan for sometime now, and I must say that you are overestimating Little Rock's national negative connotations.

I also have relatives that live in Jackson, and they prefer Little Rock head and shoulders above Jackson.

I realize this is merely a sample of the national perception of Little Rock, but I absolutely do not believe that people perceive Little Rock quite as badly as you.

Edited June 12, 2009 by Sammy00

[skirby]

Having lived in both places I prefer LR over Jackson. I think one of the major points holding them both back is a lack of a major university. But one thing I can say about Jackson is you can't discount the charm of Jackson's southern women.

[Architect]

Having lived in both places I prefer LR over Jackson. I think one of the major points holding them both back is a lack of a major university. But one thing I can say about Jackson is you can't discount the charm of Jackson's southern women.

Ha! Good point! That certainly could sway the vote....

[turboturtle]

This is a pretty good chunk of the retail I have in Short Pump, VA (Richmond suburb).

http://shortpumpmall.com/go/dirListing.cfm?FL=All

A small Dave and Busters open near hear recently and an REI was announced this week. BUT we don't have a Container Store. AND I have to drive 2 hours to IKEA!

[Architect]

This is a pretty good chunk of the retail I have in Short Pump, VA (Richmond suburb).

http://shortpumpmall.com/go/dirListing.cfm?FL=All

A small Dave and Busters open near hear recently and an REI was announced this week. BUT we don't have a Container Store. AND I have to drive 2 hours to IKEA!

Richmond's a big town...but Ikea AND Nordstrom? Pretty impressive.

What do you do again Turboturtle? I thought you were in LR!