The history of Little Rock dates back to 1821, when the city was founded as a frontier post by the Arkansas Territorial Legislature. The city rapidly grew in the following years and became an important center for trade and politics. In 1861, Little Rock was selected as the capital of the newly formed Confederate States of America. However, the city was quickly occupied by Union forces during the Civil War and remained under Union control until the end of the conflict. Following the war, Little Rock prospered as a center of commerce and industry and eventually became the capital of Arkansas in 1874. The city continued to grow throughout the 20th century and today is home to a diverse population of over 200,000 people.