Huge planes overhead descend steadily and disappear suddenly. It might be a startling sight anywhere else, but along Highway 67 heading toward Jacksonville â€" home of the Little Rock Air Force Base and the only C-130 training base for the U.S. Department of Defense â€" it's a regular occurrence.

The sheer size of the 6,128-acre base means much of Jacksonville's activity involves the military. In fact, of the city's 30,000 residents, more than 11,000 are military personnel, civilians and their families who live and work on the base.

As a regular course of duty, residents that are members of the 314th Airlift Wing are called upon to assist as the supply mechanism for the military for destinations around the world. In 2005, the base was inundated with incoming flights from around the world bringing supplies for distribution to evacuees of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. And because the base draws servicemen and women from all over the nation and from different backgrounds, Jacksonville has become a melting pot of sorts.

Vibrant Businesses

But there's a lot more than military operations happening in Jacksonville. As the third-largest city in the Little Rock-North Little Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area, Jacksonville residents enjoy a vibrant business community that provides services to the area around the base. The proximity of Jacksonville to Little Rock and North Little Rock, about 15 minutes away, also gives shoppers access to any additional retail needs.

Activities Aplenty

Adrenaline junkies will find plenty of places for a fix, including two community pools and 11 parks. A variety of athletic and aerobic classes attract athletes of all ages to the city's 56,000-square-foot community center, whose crown-jewel is an aquatics area that features a heated, six-lane pool. Other amenities include basketball and volleyball courts, an aerobics classroom, a walking track, racquetball courts and personal training services.

Outdoors, Dupree Park is a popular choice for weekend play. And if the park's pool, playground, walking trails, ball fields and 10-acre lake with a fishing pier aren't enough options, the water park, Splash Zone, is nearby.

When they're not working or playing, Jacksonville residents retire to a wide spectrum of homes. Newcomers can make some good housing buys starting at about $75,000, and large custom homes are available for between $250,000 and $450,000.

New construction continues on the city's west side in response to population growth propelled by the base and offers contemporary dwellings apart from Jacksonville's more established neighborhoods like Penn Pointe, Base Meadows and Graham Settlement. Choosing a smaller neighborhood here has its benefits, such as more acreage and house for the price.

You'll find larger homes and suburban luxuries in distinguished areas like Stonewall and Foxwood, where residents enjoy an 18-hole golf course and country club that features a pool, tennis courts, and a volleyball sandpit.

Schools

Jacksonville's schools are currently part of the Pulaski County Special School District, but plans call for the city's schools to split off into their own district pending regulatory approvals. Area schools, which are currently being renovated, boast plenty of uniqueness, including the Jacksonville High School-based Jacksonville Star Academy program, which is known for its efforts to keep potential dropouts in school through graduation.

Additionally, Jacksonville Middle School recently adopted new single-gender classrooms in an effort to create environments that are more conducive to learning.

As a dry town within a wet county, Jacksonville has only one alcohol outpost â€" the local installment of the Chili's Grill & Bar chain â€" for post-game celebrations or otherwise.