Contact Information:
Meg Matthews
Public Relations Manager
mmatthews@littlerock.gov
(501) 804-4822

Little Rock Listed as One of the
Happiest Cities in America

(Little Rock – April 8, 2011)

Based on a new Gallup poll, Little Rock is one of the top six (6) happiest cities in America. The results were released in www.BusinessInsider.com. According to the poll, a key factor is the local employment level. Economic growth also contributes to happiness, as do personal factors like frequent exercise and low obesity.

“Little Rock’s vision is to be a leading city of the 21st Century,” said City Manager Bruce Moore. “This new Gallup poll is evidence that providing a safe and supportive environment that empowers its citizens, neighbors and businesses to develop and prosper is working! Happiness is the best payoff anyone could ask for.”

The authors of the BusinessInsider.com article note that Little Rock bounced back quickly from the recession with 0.6% employment growth from third to fourth quarter last year, leading to America’s twelfth-lowest unemployment rate. Being a state capital and a college town helped during the recession as well.

“I’m thrilled to see Little Rock ranked as one of the happiest cities in the country,” said Mayor Mark Stodola. “This confirms something we’ve known for a long time. Little Rock is a great place to live, work, play and raise a family.”

The Gallup poll shows that 91.8% of respondents said they were “satisfied” and 68.6% said they were “optimistic.”

Other cities that made the top 6 list were Austin, TX, Raleigh, NC, Fort Collins, CO, Lincoln, NB and Provo, TX.