First council meeting in Little Rock

On this week in 1832, Mayor Matthew Cunningham presided over Little Rock’s first council meeting. Since there was no government hall, the meeting happened at his house, which was located somewhere on the block bordered by what is now Main, 3rd, Louisiana and 4th streets.

Little Rock was chartered as a town in November 1831, with elections held thereafter. Present at the first meeting were the original aldermen – Charles Caldwell, Benjamin Clemens, David Holt and John McLain.

In 1931, a plaque marking the first meeting was erected at the corner of 3rd and Main as part of Little Rock’s Centennial.

– Scott Carter, City of Little Rock