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Baring Cross was a town in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States, across the Arkansas River from Little Rock in the central part of the state.
History
[edit]Taking it’s name from the first bridge in the area to cross the Arkansas river in 1873, Baring Cross was a small incorporated municipality during the late 19th and early 20th century located west of Pike Avenue in present day North Little Rock, Arkansas. Growing out the developments of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company, the town had it’s origins the pioneer families of Josiah M. Giles and Emmanuel Boone, who controlled an area along the river west of the town of Argenta. After the opening of the Baring Cross bridge to replace the ineffective ferry system and the proximity to later developing railroad maintenance facilities, the town developed as a small community of middle-class railroad workers.
The facilities, now owned by the Union Pacific system, is still in use today and employs a large number of residents. The town grew steady as it incorporated in 1896 and elected Mord Roberts, a railroad mechanic, it’s first mayor and five councilmen. Under Roberts’ leadership, the town develop additional housing and annexed two additions in 1898 and 1903. The additions of schools and churches as well as the development of Pike avenue as main street for the town with hotels, stores, and restaurants promoted the growth of other larger businesses, such as the Vestal Florist Company and the Arkansas Industrial Company, which produced tile and brick.
The historian and folklorist Walter B. Metz, who grew up in Baring Cross, recalled that “families were large, money was scarce and three square meals a day was actually a luxury.” In 1905, the residents voted to join the growing city of North Little Rock and were visited by President Thedore Roosevelt as he visited Fort Roots across the river in Little Rock. With the resulting damaged caused by the flood of 1927 and the economic downturn of the 1960’s, Baring Cross began it’s decline despite numerous efforts at urban renewal and development over the next two decades. By the 1990’s, crime and poverty had taken root within the community.
As part of federal Neighborhood Stabilization program in 2010 and partnership with the Argenta Community Development Corporation, $8.4 million was provided for the development of public works and housing construction as well as private funds for residential and commercial development. Later projects include construction of $3.8 million Rockwater Marina, $1.9 million traffic roundabout, and extensions to Rockwater Boulevard.