Welcome to Metro Little Rock: Jacksonville
Home to the only C-130 training base for the U.S. Department of Defense, Jacksonville is an important part of the nation’s military force, but the city of over 29,000 possesses a family-friendly atmosphere that attracts people from everywhere.
Less than 30 minutes from Little Rock and across the Arkansas River, Jacksonville offers a tight-knit community and affordable housing (Zillow reports an average home value of $210,000 as of September 2025).
Sitting on 6,128 acres, the base is home to 6,678 military personnel at the Little Rock Air Force Base, 993 civilian employees and 6,797 family members. LRAFB is the sixth-largest employer in the state of Arkansas. The health care, education and manufacturing industries are three more of the city’s largest employers. Jacksonville is rich in history, visible at landmarks such as Reed’s Bridge Battlefield and the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, which is housed in the former administration building of the Arkansas Ordnance Plant, a World War II-era ammunition facility.
In October 2024, SIG Sauer opened the Jacksonville Arkansas Ammunition Center, a 210,000 square-foot facility in the city’s industrial park. Built to support the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons Program, the facility brings over 675 new jobs to Jacksonville.
The AOP was in operation from 1942 to 1945 and was the first of its kind in the country and over one billion devices (detonators, primers, percussion elements, etc.) were built at the plant by the time the war ended. Jacksonville was also the location of the Battle of Reed’s Bridge. Placards around the battle location tell the story of a skirmish that was fought in 1863 as Union soldiers attempted to move south while Confederate troops tried to protect the Capitol.
Attractions like Splash Zone (only open during the warmer months) and Dupree Park (one of Jacksonville’s 14 parks) are popular spots for the locals. Dupree Park is home to the Marshall Smith Inclusive Playground, which opened in 2023. The playground has been recognized as a National Demonstration Site by Playcore for advocating for inclusive play and advancing recreation through research-based best practices. The Dog Park is the latest addition to the city, opening in 2021. Athletic and aerobic classes entice athletes to the city’s 56,000-SF community center, its facilities include a heated six-lane pool, two hardwood basketball/volleyball courts, an aerobics classroom, a walking track, cardiovascular equipment and two racquetball courts.
Saturday of Labor Day weekend is the city’s annual one-day FestiVille event at Five Points in the downtown area, featuring carnival rides and games, live entertainment, local vendors, a petting zoo and more. In the spring, Jacksonville’s annual Christmas Parade, Big Bang on Main and Fourth of July celebration draw residents to the downtown district for food trucks, a kids’ corner, a wing-eating contest and fun for the whole family. Food trucks also line downtown during the spring and summer months for Food Truck Fridays. The newest additions to Jacksonville’s Parks system are the pump track at Dupree Park and pickleball courts.
The city is popular with families looking for great home prices and a big sense of community. Fortunately, Jacksonville has great annual events, Splash Zone and a community center that rivals all others in the metro.
A Bit of History
Jacksonville — and some of the land the Little Rock Air Force Base now sits on — was home to the Arkansas Ordnance Plant during World War II. The plant was among the first of its kind in the nation, and was heavily relied upon by the U.S. for its development of fuses and detonators for the war effort. There were 12 production lines operating around the clock. At the peak of production in November 1942, more than 14,000 workers were employed there – most of whom were women. By the end of the war, the plant had provided over a billion devices.
The Little Rock Air Force Base, located in Jacksonville, is the C-130 training base for the Department of Defense, training C-130 pilots, navigators, flight engineers and loadmasters from all branches of the U.S. military in tactical airlift and aerial delivery. The base is the heartbeat of this Metro Little Rock city.