Shinall Mountain
Encyclopedia
Shinall Mountain, elevation 1056 ft (321.9 m), is located near the Chenal Valley
neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas
, in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains
. It is the highest point in Pulaski County.
Because the neighborhood (and Chenal Parkway, a major West Little Rock thoroughfare named for it) have similar-sounding names, the mountain is often misspelled "Chenal Mountain"; but "Chenal" is a French language
word chosen by Chenal Valley's developers for foreign branding
because of its similarity to the mountain's name. The mountain was known as "Shinall" long before either the neighborhood or the parkway existed. However, a book by noted Little Rock author, Fred W. Allsop published in 1931 by the Grolier Society, entitled, Folklore of Romantic Arkansas Vol. 1, page 90 states, "Shinall Mountain is a phonetically-spelled corruption of the French name Chenault, a family which in early days settled near its base. Its location is near the Joe T. Robinson Schoolhouse, in Pulaski county, and is reached via Perryville road and the 12th Street Pike in Little Rock; about 14 miles west of Forest Park." The Chenault families were those of Elijah Nelson Chenault and Benjamin Franklin Chenault who settled there before the Civil War on the southwest base of what became Chenault Mountain.
Although Pinnacle Mountain, in Pinnacle Mountain State Park
to the north, is more prominent because it is located near the Arkansas River
(even the USGS quad map
for the Shinall Mountain area is called "Pinnacle Mountain"), it is only 1,011 feet (308 m), slightly shorter than Shinall Mountain.
Other than the Chenal Valley neighborhood, Shinall Mountain is best known for the numerous broadcast
towers built atop it. The transmitters of television stations KARK-TV
, KARZ-TV
, KKAP
, KLRT-TV
, and KTHV
, as well as the KKYK-CD repeater of KMYA-DT and numerous radio stations, are located there. The KARK/KTHV was built in 1954 and KARK-FM (now KABZ
) was added in 1967. In 1972, KLAZ now KURB
became the first stand-alone FM station on Shinall. In 1984, KLRT became the first stand-alone TV station on Shinall Mountain. Shinall is also the transmitter location of NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
station WXJ55
, which is programmed by the National Weather Service
Forecast Office over in North Little Rock
. The station covers the Little Rock Metro area and the rest of Central Arkansas.
After the 2008 collapse of its former tower
near Redfield
, KATV
started broadcasting from Shinall Mountain using KTHV's backup analog transmitter and a digital subchannel of KWBF; it received Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) approval to relocate its tower there permanently http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0608/528809.html and now broadcasts from Shinall Mountain. With the relocation of KATV, the Little Rock affiliates of the "big four" networks (ABC
, CBS
, Fox
and NBC
), as well as MyNetworkTV
, RTN
and Daystar
, all broadcast from Shinall Mountain.
Chenal Valley, Little Rock, Arkansas
A sizable and more recently developed section of the city, Chenal Valley is in the west-central section of Little Rock, Arkansas, known as West Little Rock...
neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains
Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The range's subterranean roots may extend as far as central Texas, or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift. Along with the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S...
. It is the highest point in Pulaski County.
Because the neighborhood (and Chenal Parkway, a major West Little Rock thoroughfare named for it) have similar-sounding names, the mountain is often misspelled "Chenal Mountain"; but "Chenal" is a French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
word chosen by Chenal Valley's developers for foreign branding
Foreign branding
Foreign branding is an advertising and marketing term describing the implied cachet or superiority of products and services with foreign or foreign-sounding names.-English-speaking countries:...
because of its similarity to the mountain's name. The mountain was known as "Shinall" long before either the neighborhood or the parkway existed. However, a book by noted Little Rock author, Fred W. Allsop published in 1931 by the Grolier Society, entitled, Folklore of Romantic Arkansas Vol. 1, page 90 states, "Shinall Mountain is a phonetically-spelled corruption of the French name Chenault, a family which in early days settled near its base. Its location is near the Joe T. Robinson Schoolhouse, in Pulaski county, and is reached via Perryville road and the 12th Street Pike in Little Rock; about 14 miles west of Forest Park." The Chenault families were those of Elijah Nelson Chenault and Benjamin Franklin Chenault who settled there before the Civil War on the southwest base of what became Chenault Mountain.
Although Pinnacle Mountain, in Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Pinnacle Mountain State Park is located just northwest of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains near Natural Steps, Arkansas on Arkansas Highway 300. The primary natural feature of the park is Pinnacle Mountain, elevation , which rises steeply above the Arkansas...
to the north, is more prominent because it is located near the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
(even the USGS quad map
Topographic map
A topographic map is a type of map characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative representation of relief, usually using contour lines in modern mapping, but historically using a variety of methods. Traditional definitions require a topographic map to show both natural and man-made features...
for the Shinall Mountain area is called "Pinnacle Mountain"), it is only 1,011 feet (308 m), slightly shorter than Shinall Mountain.
Other than the Chenal Valley neighborhood, Shinall Mountain is best known for the numerous broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
towers built atop it. The transmitters of television stations KARK-TV
KARK-TV
KARK, virtual channel 4, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Central Arkansas that is licensed to Little Rock. Owned by the Nexstar Broadcasting Group, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KARZ-TV and the two share studios on West Capitol Avenue in Downtown Little Rock one block...
, KARZ-TV
KARZ-TV
KARZ-TV is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Central Arkansas. It is licensed to Little Rock. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 42 from a transmitter on Shinall Mountain near the Chenal Valley section of Little Rock...
, KKAP
KKAP
KKAP is a religious television station in Little Rock, Arkansas, broadcasting locally on channel 36 as an affiliate of Daystar. Founded in 2001, the station is owned by Daystar Television Network.-Digital television:...
, KLRT-TV
KLRT-TV
KLRT-TV, virtual channel 16 , branded as "FOX16", is the Fox-affiliated television station for Central Arkansas that is licensed to Little Rock...
, and KTHV
KTHV
KTHV , is the CBS network affiliate television station serving the Little Rock/Pine Bluff television market and central Arkansas. The station is owned by Gannett Company, which purchased the station in 1994...
, as well as the KKYK-CD repeater of KMYA-DT and numerous radio stations, are located there. The KARK/KTHV was built in 1954 and KARK-FM (now KABZ
KABZ
KABZ "The Buzz" is an American radio station broadcasting a talk/personality format with a focus on sports. Licensed to Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, it serves the Little Rock area. The station is currently owned by Signal Media and the broadcast license is held by Signal Media of Arkansas,...
) was added in 1967. In 1972, KLAZ now KURB
KURB
KURB is an Adult Contemporary radio station in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is owned by Cumulus Media. KURB is the area's continual top performer for women listenership...
became the first stand-alone FM station on Shinall. In 1984, KLRT became the first stand-alone TV station on Shinall Mountain. Shinall is also the transmitter location of NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office. It is operated by the NWS, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the United States Department of...
station WXJ55
WXJ55
WXJ55 is a NOAA Weather Radio station that serves the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan area and Central Arkansas. It is programmed from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in North Little Rock, Arkansas with its transmitter located on Shinall Mountain...
, which is programmed by the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
Forecast Office over in North Little Rock
National Weather Service North Little Rock, Arkansas
National Weather Service - North Little Rock, AR also known as National Weather Service - Little Rock, AR is a local weather forecast office responsible for monitoring weather conditions for 45 of Arkansas's 75 counties...
. The station covers the Little Rock Metro area and the rest of Central Arkansas.
After the 2008 collapse of its former tower
KATV Tower
The KATV tower was a 2000 ft tall television mast built near Redfield, Arkansas in 1965 at . Its Federal Communications Commission registration and other sources claim that it was built in 1967, but they are incorrect; the Clear Channel Broadcasting Tower Redfield also has an incorrect...
near Redfield
Redfield, Arkansas
Redfield is a city in Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It was incorporated by the County Court on October 18, 1898. The city population was 1,157 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, KATV
KATV
KATV, channel 7, is an ABC affiliated television station serving the Little Rock television market and central Arkansas. The station is owned by Allbritton Communications Company....
started broadcasting from Shinall Mountain using KTHV's backup analog transmitter and a digital subchannel of KWBF; it received Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) approval to relocate its tower there permanently http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0608/528809.html and now broadcasts from Shinall Mountain. With the relocation of KATV, the Little Rock affiliates of the "big four" networks (ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
), as well as MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
, RTN
Retro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
and Daystar
Daystar Television Network
The Daystar Television Network is an American evangelical Christian television religious broadcasting network headquartered near Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Bedford, Texas...
, all broadcast from Shinall Mountain.