Little Italy, Arkansas

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Little Italy, Arkansas
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Little Italy, Arkansas
Location of Little Italy in Arkansas
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Little Italy, Arkansas
Little Italy, Arkansas (the United States)
Coordinates: 34°56′15″N92°35′10″W / 34.93750°N 92.58611°W / 34.93750; -92.58611
CountryUnited States
State Arkansas
Counties Perry
Pulaski
Townships Big Rock Township
Wye Township
Elevation
[1]
692 ft (211 m)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
72135
72016
Area code +1 (501)
GNIS feature ID51290 [1]
Website http://littleitalyarkansas.com

Established initially as Alta Villa by Italian immigrants in 1915, [2] Little Italy is an unincorporated community in Pulaski and Perry counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. [1] The culturally rich and historically significant village is located in high terrain along Arkansas Highway 300 amidst the northeastern foothills of the Ouachita Mountains [3] bestriding Wye Mountain [4] and Kryer Mountain. [5]

Contents

In 2015, as part of a multi-decade heritage preservation effort, Little Italy's residents unsuccessfully sought to become an incorporated municipality. [6] [7] [8] As part of that same effort to preserve its history and culture, the community opened a heritage museum in 2019. [9] With similar sentiment, Little Italy marks its important anniversaries with homecoming events and celebrations. [10] [11] Since 1927, its residents also host an annual Italian festival highlighted by a spaghetti and sausage dinner featuring original, intergenerational recipes. [12] [13] [14]

See also

Other historically Italian settlements in Arkansas

Catholic Point, Arkansas
Sunnyside Plantation, Arkansas
Tontitown, Arkansas

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Little Italy, Arkansas". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  2. Whitworth, Katherine. "It takes a village: The hillside paradise of Arkansas's other Italians". Arkansas Life. November 2011, p. 15. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  3. Dorer, Chris. "Little Italy (Pulaski and Perry Counties)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  4. "Wye Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  5. "Kryer Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  6. "Becoming a Township". Little Italy. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  7. Walkenhorst, Emily. "State's Little Italy denied bid to be town.". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. February 27, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  8. Harrison, Judge Brandon J. et al. INCORPORATORS OF COMMUNITY KNOWN AS LITTLE ITALY v. PULASKI COUNTY (2018) Court of Appeals of Arkansas. November 28, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  9. Mackay, Mercedes. "Little Italy Arkansas Heritage Museum brings life to pivotal part of Arkansas' history". KTHV. September 15, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  10. Lane, Kim. Little Italy Celebrates 100 Years as a Community. AY Magazine. September 11, 2015. Blog. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  11. Price, Chris. “Immigrant Catholics Founded Little Italy 100 Years Ago”. Arkansas Catholic. August 11, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  12. Morgan, Rebecca. "A taste of the Old World in Arkansas—Little Italy." Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. August 1, 1999.
  13. Hebda, Dwain "Serving God — and the best spaghetti in Arkansas". Arkansas Catholic. 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  14. "LITTLE ITALY ITALIAN FESTIVAL". Arkansas Tourism Official Site. Maintained by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Retrieved July 25, 2024.

Further reading