Little Rock and North Little Rock (Ward: city hall, area, cities)

[matt.bruns]

Why is the area of Little Rock north of the river a separate city? It's strange how North Little Rock is separate from Little Rock. North Little Rock sounds like the North end of Little Rock. If it's a different town why not call it something else?

[BMW335i]

It was originally a part of Little Rock - the 8th Ward. Due to some tensions in representation at city hall, and by way of some underhanded politics about 100 years ago, "Argenta" seceded from Little Rock through a measure hidden in a state legislative bill.

It later changed its name to North Little Rock, and now its resurgent downtown is referred to as Argenta. There have been various attempts/movements over the years to "merge" NLR back into Little Rock. It would certainly make a ton of sense objectively, but given its 100 year history, there's likely too much provincialism for this to happen.

[sub]

It may not sound practical, but it’s hardly strange or unheard of.
Lots of cities have these types of histories and situations.