Arlington County, or simplyArlington, is acounty in theU.S. state ofVirginia. The county, which is located in theWashington metropolitan area and the broaderNorthern Virginia region, is positioned directly across fromWashington, D.C., the national capital, on the southwestern bank of thePotomac River. The smallest self-governing county in the United States by area, Arlington County has both suburban and urbanized districts. Its urbanized districts are located in proximity to severalWashington Metro stations and lines. Its seat of government is located in theCourt House neighborhood, which hosts many of its administrative offices and county courthouse.
Originally part of theNacotchtank tribe's territory prior to the establishment of theColony of Virginia in 1606, English colonists began settling in Arlington by the 1670s; the area was eventually designated as part ofFairfax County in 1742. The colonial-era economy was mostly based intobacco agriculture operated withenslaved labor andindentured servants on largeplantations. Following the end of theRevolutionary War, Arlington'splanters andyeoman farmers transitioned to other crops. Virginia ceded present-day Arlington to help form the District of Columbia, and from 1801 the area was known asAlexandria County; it was eventually retroceded back to Virginia in 1847 as a result of pressure fromAlexandria, which was the county's primary commercial center.
During theCivil War, Arlington formed part of theUnion'sdefenses of Washington, which devastated its landscape and economy. Virginia'sReconstruction eraConstitution of 1870, in addition to administratively separating Arlington from Alexandria, empowered its black community to participate in local and state elections, which changed the political dynamics of the county until local conservativeSouthern Democrats succeeded in reestablishingwhite supremacy by the 1880s. This facilitated the institution ofJim Crow laws andracial segregation in Arlington by the early 20th century. Developers and local politicians further ingrained these practices in Arlington as it experienced a boom in suburbanization with its expanding interurbantrolley network starting in the 1880s and a continued influx of federal employees into the 1950s. Despite opposition from Virginia'smassive resistance campaign and other groups, Arlington became the first county in Virginia todesegregate its schools in 1959, and its businesses in 1960 after aseries of sit-in protests.
Arlington's modern economic development has been greatly influenced by its Metrorail lines, which through deliberate planning starting in the 1960s have become the center of its urban corridors. Manyfederal government agencies and complexes, including thePentagon, which houses the headquarters of theUnited States Department of Defense, are based in Arlington. Government contractors that serve these organizations and others in the Washington metropolitan area, such asBoeing andRTX Corporation, are also located in the county. While the public sector is a primary driver of Arlington's economy, tech firms with private sector operations, including Amazon, have established regional headquarters or offices in Arlington's business districts over the past several decades. Institutions of higher education with main or satellite campuses in the county includeGeorge Mason University,Marymount University, theUniversity of Virginia, andVirginia Tech. Arlington is also known as the location ofArlington National Cemetery, amilitary cemetery established in 1864 where more than 400,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces are buried. Sites at the cemetery such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier attract thousands of visitors annually. Other prominent military memorials located in Arlington include theMarine Corps War Memorial andAir Force Memorial.
Arlington County was inhabited by prehistoric Native American cultures from the arrival of thePaleo-Indians 10,000 years before European colonization.[4] Archeological evidence, including pottery fragments, tools, and arrowheads, suggests sporadic habitation during theArchaic Period, with more permanent communities during theFormative stage andEarly Woodland period.[5] Some objects unearthed during archeological digs have been found to be from as far as southernOntario, indicating the existence of a trade route that ran through the area.[6]
Detail from John Smith's 1624 map of theChesapeake region that features the present-day Arlington County area, which is oriented toward the west. The Nameroughquena settlement is positioned near the center along the Potomac River
WhenJohn Smith made contact in 1608, Arlington was populated by theNacotchtank, anEastern Algonquian-speaking people that were likely part of thePowhatan Confederacy.[7] He identified a village named Nameroughquena near the present-day14th Street bridges.[7] The Nacotchtank farmed, hunted, and fished along the nearby Anacostia River, where they had more villages.[8]
Later in the 17th century, the Nacotchtank became involved in the regionalbeaver trade instigated byHenry Fleete, which while enabling the Nacotchtank to build wealth, undermined traditional social structures and ultimately weakened them.[9] Further pressures, including population loss due to thespread of infectious diseases from Europeans, warfare with encroaching British colonizers, and conflict with Native American tribes in northern regions forced the Nacotchtank to abandon their homeland.[10][7] By 1679, they had fully left the area and were absorbed into thePiscataway.[7]
The original mid-18th century section ofBall–Sellers House, built by John Ball as a log cabin, is the oldest building in Arlington County, and currently operates as ahouse museum.
Colonists began migrating fromJamestown and towards the Potomac River between 1646 and 1676, during which landspeculation in the region increased substantially.[11] Early grants were issued in the mid-17th century by the Governor on behalf of theCrown to prominent figures of Virginia society; many never inhabited their landholdings during this period.[11][12] The first "seated" grant in the area was the Howson Patent, which John Alexander purchased from Captain Robert Howson on November 13, 1669, and populated with tenants by 1677.[13] With the establishment of theNorthern Neck Proprietary after therestoration ofCharles II in 1660, future land grants in the region were made by inheritors of Northern Neck, namely theLords Fairfax.[14]
After colonists depopulated the area in the aftermath ofBacon's Rebellion in 1676, migration to Northern Neck began to grow by the end of the 17th century. The increase in population justified the formation ofPrince William County from parts ofStafford County in 1730, and in 1742Fairfax County, of which present-day Arlington County was part.[15] Early settlement patterns were defined by largeplantations along waterways, whereplanters builtwharfs that provided access to colonial trade networks.[16] This includedAbingdon Plantation, which was established by John Alexander's grandson Gerard by 1746 and was the Arlington area's first mansion house.[17][18]Log cabins, such as thehome built by John Ball in the mid-18th century, were common among Arlington'syeoman farming community.[19]
Indentured servants andenslaved labor worked the land, the latter of which are first documented being in the Arlington area in 1693 and were owned by the wealthiest planters, such as theMasons andWashingtons.[20][21]Tobacco was the dominant crop grown in Arlington until local soil was exhausted by the late 18th century, motivating tobacco planters to move further inland; remaining farmers turned to growing alternatives such as corn.[18][22] Colonists also builtgristmills along Arlington's creeks and engaged infishing along the Potomac.[23] Rudimentary roads, some of which were first established by Native Americans, and ferries along the Potomac connected residents and plantations with emerging towns such asAlexandria andGeorgetown.[24] The former served as the region's primary shipping and commercial district.[25]
Revolutionary war and formation of federal district
Following theRichmond Convention in 1776, Fairfax County established aCommittee of Safety that collected taxes for the war effort and enforced bans on trade with Britain.[27] Local Fairfax militia formed before the war were dissolved after the Richmond Convention ordered for the organization of a regular state force in July 1775.[28] Men were recruited from Fairfax County and joined the Virginia state regiment that were incorporated into theContinental Army by 1776.[29] While the area did not see significant action during the war, Alexandria was the home port for part of theVirginia State Navy; some ships operated asprivateers.[30] Part ofRochambeau'sforces likely camped nearTheodore Roosevelt Island on their way toYorktown in 1781.[31]
After American independence from theBritish Empire was achieved following theTreaty of Paris and theConstitution was instituted in 1789, the federal government set about establishing the United States' seat of government, which Article 1, Section 8 enabled through the power to acquire an area of no more than ten square miles for the nation's capital.[32] TheResidence Act passed by Congress on July 17, 1790, which decreed that the federal district be located on the Potomac River between the "mouths of the Eastern Branch and theConogochegue", settled the rivalry between states on claiming the location of the capital city.[32] President George Washington commissioned a survey to define its borders, which reached down toHunting Creek and were consequently beyond the Residence Act's limits; this required an amendment that was passed on March 3, 1791.[32]
In 1789, Virginia had offered to cede ten square miles or less and provide funding for the construction of public buildings. Congress accepted this as a part of the federal district, but specified that no public buildings would be erected in the Virginia section of the capital.[32] Boundary stones were placed at one miles intervals along the borders of the district starting on April 15, 1791.[32] The federal government and Congress moved to the new city of Washington within the District of Columbia in 1800; the Virginia section, which included Alexandria, became known as Alexandria County through theDistrict of Columbia Organic Act of 1801.[33]
William MacLeod,View of the City of Washington from the Virginia Shore (1856),White House Collection. MacLeod's scene depicts the rural state of 19th century Alexandria County in the foreground
In the early 19th century, the land outside of Alexandria, termed the "country part" of Alexandria County and representative of present-day Arlington, remained rural and dominated by several large plantations and smaller farms. Migration from northern states, includingNew York andPennsylvania, brought investment and improved farming methods.[34] Small communities established along the intersections of Alexandria County's growing road network, includingBall's Crossroads, became gathering places for local residents.[35] The county'sfree black population, which consistent of 235 individuals outside of Alexandria in 1840, lived throughout the area in small clusters and among white neighbors.[36] While agriculture, particularly of corn andgrain, was the county's main economic output in the first half of the 19th century, some residents worked in various trades and factories in Alexandria.[37] Other non-farming occupations included fishing and brickmaking.[38]
EnslavedAfrican Americans consisted of around 26% of the population in 1810, working on properties such asGeorge Washington Parke Custis'sArlington Plantation, which Custis established with his inheritance fromJohn Parke Custis, step-son of George Washington, in 1802; this included 18,000 acres of land across Virginia and 200 slaves, 63 of which worked on building and maintaining the plantation.[39][40] The prominent African AmericanSyphax family, whosematriarchMaria Carter Syphax was an illegitimate daughter of Custis and enslaved maidArianna Carter, originated as enslaved servants on the Arlington estate; Custis latermanumitted Maria and her children in 1845 and granted them 17 acres of land.[41][42] Custis was the largest slave owner in the area until his death in 1857.[18]
The population share of the enslaved dropped to around 20% by 1840 as a consequence of the continued movement away from labor-intensive tobacco farming and the slave trade withDeep Southern states and territories.[18] Alexandria became a national center of this trade, with firms likeFranklin & Armfield pioneering in thetrafficking of enslaved people from around theChesapeake region toNew Orleans and theForks in the Roadslave market inNatchez, where they were sold to the Deep South's growingcotton plantations.[43]
An 1839 illustration of the Chain Bridge, looking towards the Virginia side
Major infrastructure, including theChain Bridge,Long Bridge, andAqueduct Bridge, was built in the first half of the 19th century to better connect the District of Columbia with the surrounding region.[44]Toll roads were established between Alexandria, Georgetown,Leesburg, and other major settlements to facilitate the improvement and maintenance of thoroughfares, some of which also funded bridge construction.[45] TheAlexandria Canal, which via the 1843 Aqueduct Bridge connected Alexandria to theChesapeake and Ohio Canal in Georgetown, was opened in 1846.[46] Alexandria County's firstrailway, the Alexandria and Harper's Ferry Railroad, was chartered in 1847; it later became part of theWashington and Old Dominion Railroad.[47] Infrastructure expansion drove the Jackson City speculative development, which was established in 1835 by a group of investors from New York at the foot of Long Bridge. Their vision of Jackson City as a rival port to Georgetown and Alexandria was never realized, as the settlement failed to receive a charter from Congress owing to opposition from residents Georgetown and Washington.[48]
An 1838 map ofAlexandria Canal, which, along with other projects, propelled Alexandria County's public debt to nearly $2 million.[50]
The reintegration of Alexandria County into Virginia had been raised intermittently since the formation of the District, particularly by townspeople in Alexandria.[46] Congressional debate of the issue began with discussion of the 1801 Organic Act and its implications, focusing on the lack of political rights afforded to District residents,[51] who were not permitted to vote or have representation in Congress.[52] Economic concerns relating to insufficient federal investment in infrastructure like the Alexandria Canal, which left Alexandria heavily indebted, motivated merchants and leaders in Alexandria to consider retrocession by the 1830s.[53] The argument went that rejoining Virginia would bring financial relief to the municipal budget, greater support for economic development, restored political rights, and free Alexandria County from "antiquated" statutes Congress had inherited from older colonial laws and not updated.[54]
Congress's failure to recharter banks in the District further frustrated Alexandria's business community,[55] and in 1840 the Common Council of Alexandria convened a county-wide referendum on retrocession, with a majority voting in favor.[56] After several years of lobbying by a committee of Alexandrians, the Virginia General Assembly introduced state legislation in July 1846 to accept Alexandria County back into Virginia territory if Congress agreed.[56] Congress passed the Retrocession Act later that month that authorized the return of Alexandria County to Virginia pending another county referendum.[57]
"The act of retrocession is an act in clear and obvious hostility to the spirit and provisions of the constitution of the United States, and beyond the possibility of honest doubt, null and void; That therefore we respectfully invoke the senate and house of assembly to disregard and give no countenance or head to any so-called commissioners or representative pretending or purporting to speak for and in behalf of the citizens of the county of Alexandria, and more especially of the citizens of the country part of the same."
Committee of Nine, Memorial to Governor of Virginia. December 2, 1846[58]
The referendum, held on September 1 and 2, passed with overwhelming support from Alexandrians, but was rejected by residents in the broader county;[57] many in Alexandria County questioned the constitutionality of retrocession and felt marginalized by a movement that was primarily driven by Alexandria's business interests.[59] George Washington Parke Custis, who had originally opposed retrocession due to concerns about the county's finances, changed sides after the Virginia General Assembly agreed to take on the debt incurred by the Alexandria Canal construction.[57][58] Alexandria County was officially returned to Virginia on March 13, 1847, after the Virginia General Assembly passed the state's retrocession bill.[60]
Beyond the freeholding whites in Alexandria County who were able to participate in the referendum, Alexandria County's free black community was also opposed to retrocession, as they anticipated thepro-slavery Virginia government would encroach upon their rights and institutions. This fear was realized soon after retrocession, when Virginia closed most of Alexandria County's black schools and imposedBlack Codes upon all free African Americans.[61][62]
While not mentioned prominently in contemporary debates about retrocession, modern historians and other figures have since argued that the future of slavery in Alexandria and Virginia more broadly was a significant factor.[63] Growingdomestic and internationalabolitionist sentiments stoked fears in Alexandria that slavery would eventually be abolished in the District of Columbia and by extension threaten the town's lucrative slave trade.[64] This ultimately came to pass as a part of theCompromise of 1850, which banned Washington's slave trade.[65]
In 1907, Alexandria County attorneyCrandal Mackey wrote that, given Alexandria County's existence as a destination for runaway enslaved people, Alexandrians thought they would be better served by the enforcement of slaveowners' property rights that would be guaranteed by Virginia's pro-slavery government.[66] Retrocession also enabled the pro-slavery faction of the Virginia General Assembly to add two safe seats, strengthening their position against non-slave owning, abolitionist-leaning constituencies in Western Virginia.[57][66]
The "country part" of Alexandria County leaned stronglyUnionist, as indicated by the results of the May 23, 1861 vote held on the ratification of Virginia'sOrdinance of Secession; despite reports ofvoter intimidation from secessionists, two-thirds voted against the Ordinance.[67] This was in part a result of the migration from northern states into Arlington County during the first half of the 19th century, some of whom were sympathetic to abolitionism and theRepublican Party.[68] Regardless, Virginia voted overwhelmingly in favor of secession and joined theConfederacy.[69]Robert E. Lee, a colonel in the U.S. Army, son-in-law of George Washington Parke Custis, and owner of Arlington Plantation following Custis's death, left for Richmond with his family on April 22, 1861, to accept command of Virginia's army.[70]
The proximity of Alexandria County to Washington, as well as the direct lines of sight it offered to important landmarks, necessitated the construction of defenses to protect the capital.[71] After engaging in brief reconnaissance activities, theUnion army moved three units into Alexandria County on the night of May 23, 1861, with commanding officer GeneralJoseph K. Mansfield establishing a regional headquarters at Arlington Plantation.[71] Work began immediately on a series of fortifications that eventually became theArlington Line of theCivil War Defenses of Washington. These included forts and rifle trenches along Arlington Heights, thoroughfare intersections, and bridgeheads.[71][72] The Confederate victory at theBattle of Bull Run in July 1861 increased the urgency of completing Washington's defenses,[73] which were mostly finished by the end of that year.[74] The Union army also built roads, includingMilitary Road, to enable improved communications and transport along the defensive line.[75] Construction of forts and improvements continued up to 1863.[75]
The Union occupation significantly altered the landscape of Alexandria County. Defensive works required the logging of forests and trenches that cut through farmland.[76] Union troops repurposed private homes and public buildings as hospitals and other facilities.[77] Many properties were left decimated following troop encampments and the razing of structures for timber and other resources.[78] Confederate sympathizers, many of whom were local officials, left after the arrival of Union soldiers, which created gaps in governance; GeneralWilliam Reading Montgomery addressed this by creating a military court that tried military and civilian cases, which was eventually closed after local criticism.[79]
Throughout the war, Alexandria County only saw minor skirmishes between Union and Confederate forces. Confederate parties began engaging in guerrilla tactics against Union outposts in early June 1861,[80] including a minor clash at Arlington Mill on June 2.[81] The most significant battle took place in August 1861 at Ball's Crossroads, when Confederates stationed atMunson's Hill in Fairfax County penetrated the Union line as far asHall's Hill, which they shelled before being driven back by Union cavalry.[82][83] Union forces also operated theBalloon Corps in Alexandria County until 1863 to performaerial reconnaissance on nearby Confederate encampments and activities.[84]
Congress's June 1862 enactment of an assessment of taxes owed by Southern property owners, and subsequent enforcement of tax collection, resulted in the Lee family owing $92.07 on Arlington plantation.[85]Mary Anna Custis Lee sent a relative to pay this, which was rejected given her absence.[85] The federal government then seized Arlington estate and purchased it at a public auction held on January 11, 1864, on orders from PresidentAbraham Lincoln.[86] Following this purchase, theQuartermaster General's Office, in search of a burial site for the many Union casualties at theBattle of the Wilderness, selected Arlington in May 1864 for its scenic beauty and association with Robert E. Lee.[87] Thefirst military burial took place on Mary 13, 1864, around one month before the cemetery was officially established.[88]
Children reading books at Freedman's Village,c. 1864-1865
The rise incontraband migrants from the South into Washington, and the overcrowded camps that accommodate them, motivated theDepartment of Washington to establish theFreedman's Village settlement for emancipated enslaved people on the grounds of Arlington.[89][90] Founded on December 4, 1863, Freedman's Village, unlike other contraband camps, was envisioned as a model community for African Americans transitioning out of enslavement.[90] The Village provided its inhabitants with instruction in trades, housekeeping, and general education; many were employed by the Union Army and paid a regular wage.[91]Secretary of StateWilliam H. Seward often toured prominent visitors around Freedman's Village to demonstrate the Villagers' progress.[92] Many organizations, including churches and fraternities, were founded by Villagers during this period that became the social foundation of Arlington's black community.[93]
Years of occupation by Union troops left Alexandria County's economy in poor condition after the war; thousands of acres of farms and woodland had been destroyed.[94] Local landowners who applied for compensation through theSouthern Claims Commission generally received much less than they requested.[78] Some financially ruined residents sold off parcels of land at low rates to formerly enslaved people migrating into Alexandria County from rural Virginia and Maryland, eventually creating black enclaves like Hall's Hill.[95]
An 1878 map of Alexandria County illustrating its three districts and separation from Alexandria
Changes in municipal governance in Virginia's1870 Constitution required that all counties be divided into three or more districts, excluding any cities with a population greater than 5,000. This administratively separated Alexandria from the rest of the county and divided Alexandria County into the Arlington, Jefferson, and Washington Districts, with each having its own elected offices, public schools, and other facilities.[96][97] TheReconstruction Amendments passed along with the 1870 Constitution enabled Alexandria County's eligible black voters to participate in district and county-level elections, resulting in local black politicians, such asJohn B. Syphax, rising to elected office.[98] This was especially the case in the Jefferson District, which contained Freedman's Village and became a center of black political power in the county.[98]
An undated photo of John B. Syphax, a leader in Alexandria County's black community who served in several elected offices, including theVirginia House of Delegates from 1874 to 1875
While this constituency was initially associated with theRepublican Party, the rise of Virginia'sConservative Party, which opposed black suffrage and other Reconstruction-era reforms,[99] eventually led to the Republicans abandoning their commitments to racial equality.[100] Dissatisfied black voters, as well as white working class communities associated with thelabor movement, flocked to theReadjuster Party, a newly establishedprogressivepopulist party that opposed Virginia's old planter establishment and controlled the General Assembly by 1879.[100][101]
White conservatives that wanted to reinstate theirpolitical and social dominance challenged the ascendency of Alexandria County's black community by the 1880s. Through an orchestratedsmear campaign in the local press, they contributed to the closure of Freedman's Village in 1887, which had by that point lost the support of the federal government.[102][103] White conservatives also prevented elected black officials from taking office either through claims about "inexperience" or identifying failed payments of election dues.[102] This occurred during a broader political shift in Virginia towardsSouthern Democrats, who successfully undermined the Readjuster Party's interracial coalition with areactionary, racist platform by 1885.[104]
Starting in the 1880s, local railroad companies began constructing aninterurban trolley system in Alexandria County that eventually provided commuter services to Washington by 1907.[105] This facilitated the establishment of suburban subdivisions, such asClarendon, along the trolley lines by 1900.[105] Population growth, as well as the inconvenience of running the county's affairs from the old courthouse in Alexandria, drove the General Assembly to enact legislation that enabled residents to vote if the courthouse should be relocated.[106] After a majority voted in favor of the motion, the county's new courthouse was completed on the old site ofFort Woodbury in 1898.[106]
20th century suburbanization and Jim Crow segregation
In the first several decades of the 20th century, Alexandria County, officially renamed to Arlington County after the Arlington estate in 1920,[107] rapidly developed into a commuter suburb of Washington. The ten-year period between 1900 and 1910 saw the creation of 70 new communities and subdivisions.[108] Community organizations were established in these neighborhoods to advocate for their residents.[109] During this period, the City of Alexandria succeeded in annexing significant portions of Arlington's southern area in 1915 and 1929; further annexations were prevented by the General Assembly in 1930.[110]
A 1930 portrait ofFrank Lyon, who developed several suburbs in northern Arlington, including the eponymous neighborhoods ofLyon Village andLyon Park
Developers and political figures such asFrank Lyon and Crandal Mackey, who were members of theSouthern Progressive movement, advocated for county-wide infrastructure improvements and the removal of "areas of vice" to facilitate continued suburbanization.[111] This includedRosslyn, an interracial neighborhood which had developed a series of gambling halls and saloons beginning in the 1870s.[112] Lyon and Mackey established the Good Citizen's League in the 1890s, which consisted of Arlington's wealthiest and most influential residents, to push for these changes.[111]Consistent with other Southern Progressives during theJim Crow era, the Good Citizen's League sought to modernize Arlington while maintaining its racial hierarchy throughsegregation and other means.[111] League members conducted violent "clean up" raids, most infamously in Rosslyn in 1904,[112] participated in theVirginia Constitutional Convention of 1901–02 thatdisenfranchised black voters throughpoll taxes,[113] and developed white suburban subdivisions viaracially restrictive housing covenants.[114] By 1930, these figures also succeeded in changing Arlington's system of government, where the districts established in 1870 were abolished and replaced with a county board of fiveat-large members that appointed a county manager as chief executive. As intended, this diluted the voting power of Arlington's black population and enabled further institution of racial segregation.[115]
While there were nolynchings in Arlington like elsewhere in the South during thenadir in American race relations, there were recorded instances of racial violence by whites against Arlington's black residents, particularly on its segregated trolley lines. One notable example took place in 1908, when two black passengers traveling to Falls Church, Sandy James and Lee Gaskins, were severely beaten and thrown from a trolley car by a crowd of white people; a mob of 300 white people then gathered in Ballston to search for them on account of an unsubstantiated rumor that James and Gaskins had attempted to derail the trolley. Gaskins was found and sentenced to 10 years in prison despite flimsy evidence, and James was never seen again; Arlington Sheriff Howard Fields later boasted that he had hit James in the head 25 times with ablackjack.[116] Arlington also had an activeKu Klux Klan (KKK) presence during this period, who would participate in community parades and stage cross burnings near black neighborhoods.[117]
KKK members in a funeral parade in Arlington in 1922
The 1896Plessy v. FergusonU.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized "separate but equal" racial segregation enabled theVirginia Assembly to pass zoning ordinances in 1912 that created "segregation districts" throughout the state, which were adopted in Arlington.[118] While these were eventually struck down by the 1917Buchanan v. Warley decision, county planners and developers restricted the growth of black neighborhoods in other ways, including through Arlington's 1930 zoning ordinance that prevented further construction of more affordablemultifamily housing in black communities.[119] The effect of these policies was the stagnation of Arlington's black population, which declined from 38% of Arlington's population in 1900 to around 12% by 1930.[120] Blacks were forced to concentrate in a few overcrowded enclaves as the county's white population increased rapidly with the growth of whites-only suburban subdivisions. These subdivisions gradually encroached upon black neighborhoods, and by 1950 only three black communities remained in the county; 11 had existed in 1900.[121]
Beginning in theNew Deal era, Arlington County experienced an inflow of federal workers.[122] While theGreat Depression stalled residential development, incoming government employees instigated further growth and the population doubled between 1930 and 1940.[123][124]Public housing projects such asColonial Village backed by theFederal Housing Administration were built across Arlington to help house its expanding population; consistent with Arlington's Jim Crow policies, these communities were closed off to Arlington's black residents and other minority groups.[125] New Deal programs, such as thePublic Works Administration, also supported the continued improvement of Arlington's infrastructure, including the completion of an overhauled sewer system in 1937 and renovations to local public schools.[126][127] Rising car ownership caused the closure of Arlington's trolley lines during the 1930s; these were replaced with a public bus system.[128]Washington National Airport, later renamed after PresidentRonald Reagan in 1998, opened in 1941 on land formerly occupied by the Abingdon Plantation.[129]
Arlington's population increase fundamentally altered its politics. Its traditional Southern Democratic political establishment, which favored racial segregation and consisted of Southerners in the mold of Mackey and Lyon, was gradually replaced with moreliberal,New Deal Democrats and whitemoderates.[130] These figures fought for greater investment in public education and infrastructure in Arlington, often against opposition inRichmond, where the Democratic Party's socially andfiscally conservativeByrd Machine had dominated the General Assembly since the early 20th century.[131] These developments coincided with a rising civil rights movement in Arlington, reflected in the establishment of itsNAACP branch in 1940 and Green Valley residentJessie Butler's legal challenge to Virginia's poll tax in 1949.[132]
A 1942 image ofthe Pentagon during its construction
The entry of the U.S. intoWorld War II drove expansion in government that had a significant impact on Arlington County. Massive facilities such as thePentagon andNavy Annex were built to support military operations.[133] These, along with infrastructure like theShiley Memorial Highway, required the demolition of Queen City and East Arlington, two historic black communities that had been established shortly after the closure of Freedman's Village.[134][135] The federal government at first housed displaced residents in several trailer camps after an intervention by First LadyEleanor Roosevelt;[136] poor living conditions resulted in both being closed by 1949.[137] Roosevelt further pressured theFederal Public Housing Authority in 1944 to provide more housing to Arlington's African American community, resulting in the construction of a 44-unit public housing project inJohnson's Hill for black residents that year; many leaving the trailer camps moved into this property.[138] By comparison, white residents had access to thousands of public housing units during this period, and none were housed in trailer camps.[138]
Arlington Trailer Camp in April 1942
Arlington's NAACP and other civil rights organizations continued fighting the county's prevailing racial segregation through a series of legal challenges, particularly after the 1954Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down "separate but equal" segregation underPlessy v. Ferguson. Reactionary political forces and organizations, including Virginia'smassive resistance program against racial integration in schooling led by former governor and SenatorHarry F. Byrd and local Arlington hate groups such asGeorge Lincoln Rockwell'sAmerican Nazi Party and the KKK, rose in opposition to this civil rights activism and Arlington's increasing liberalism.[139]
A 1956 lawsuit by NAACP and three residents from Hall's Hill against Arlington's segregation in schooling initiated an extended legal fight that lasted until February 2, 1959, whenStratford Junior High School inCherrydale was racially integrated with the admission of four black students.[140] The integration, while tense, occurred with relative peace and was dubbed "the day nothing happened" in the local press.[141] In 1960, theCherrydale sit-ins organized by theNonviolent Action Group atHoward University resulted in thedesegregation of Arlington businesses,[142] and with the passing of theCivil Rights Act of 1968,de jure racial housing discrimination in Arlington was officially outlawed.[143]
Arlington County experienced decelerated population growth starting in 1960 as a result of continued migration of residents out to newer suburbs inFairfax andMontgomery countits; between 1970 and 1980, Arlington lost 21,865 residents.[144] Factors involved in this population shift included new transportation infrastructure that made commuting from more distant communities possible, andwhite flight following theracial integration of Arlington's school system.[145] This change caused its commercial districts, which were also facing competitive pressure from suburbanmalls, to enter a period of decline.[146]
To revitalize these struggling neighborhoods, the Arlington County government sought to leverage the plannedWashington Metro system, which was originally meant to follow the futureInterstate 66freeway.[144] Government planners were otherwise intending to use the provisions under the1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act to build a freeway network in Arlington to address growing issues with traffic, which while potentially enabling easier commutes into Washington from outer suburbs, presented concerns about destructive highway construction to Arlington's residents.[144] The County Board also desired to diversify Arlington's economy away from the federal government by attracting more commercial activity.[147] This was reflected in the transformation of Rosslyn, where 19 skyscrapers were completed by 1967.[147]
After extended negotiations, the County Board convinced theWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to run theOrange Line between Rosslyn and Ballston. Residents in this area pushed back based on anticipate high-rise development surrounding the Metro stations.[144] This drove the County Board to adopt its "Bull's Eye" planning model, where higher density development would be concentrated within a walkable distance from the planned Metro stations while maintaining pre-existingsingle-family zoning beyond a half-mile radius.[144] Both the Orange andBlue Lines were operational by 1979.[144]
The Rosslyn skyline in 1970, illustrating increasing densification
As a consequence of reduced rents caused by Orange Line construction, Clarendon became aVietnamese enclave as refugees migrated to Arlington fromSoutheast Asia in the aftermath of theVietnam War.[148] Known by names like"Little Saigon", Clarendon was one of the largest Southeast Asian commercial centers on theEast Coast into the 1980s.[149][150] Increased rents and redevelopment following the opening of the Metro in 1979 eventuallydisplaced almost all of Clarendon's Vietnamese businesses by the 1990s;[151] many moved to theEden Center inFalls Church, which has succeeded Little Saigon as a Vietnamese community hub.[152]
The opening of the Metro stimulated another period of rapid growth. As planned, the corridor between Rosslyn and Ballston experienced revitalization driven bymixed-used,transit-oriented development.[144] Other areas near Blue line stations, such asPentagon City, also became urbanized with numerous office complexes and retail centers like thePentagon City Mall that opened in 1989.[144] As a result, Arlington increasingly transitioned away from being solely a commuter suburb of Washington and towards becoming anedge city with business and commercial districts.[153]
In recent years, Arlington's highly educated workforce, proximity to Washington, and financial incentives offered by the government have encouragedmultinational corporations, includingAmazon andBoeing, to establishcorporate headquarters in Arlington's business districts.[155] New residents, including immigrants ofAsian andHispanic background, that have arrived since the passing of the1965 Immigration Act have substantially increased Arlington's racial and ethnic diversity, altering the county's historical white-black demographic profile.[145] Some communities, such as Arlington's historicallyblack neighborhoods, have experiencedgentrification into the 21st century, driving rising costs of living.[156]
In 2020, Arlington County pursued amissing middle housing study to evaluate solutions to ongoing issues with county's inadequate housing supply, lack of housing options, and increasing housing costs.[157] Following the completion of this study and community engagement, the County Board officially adopted the Expanded Housing Options (EHO) zoning ordinance on March 22, 2023 to allow construction of up to 6 units on lots zoned for single-family housing, with the goal of increasing Arlington's housing supply and relieving upward pressure on the cost of housing.[158] As of 2025, a successful lawsuit filed by neighborhood organizations opposed to the EHO policy has blocked the measure, which is currently moving throughappeal.[159]
Arlington County, which is located in theWashington metropolitan area and theNorthern Virginia region, is surrounded by Fairfax County and Falls Church to the west, the city of Alexandria to the southeast, andWashington, D.C. to the northeast across thePotomac River. It occupies 26 square miles and is the smallest self-governing county in the United States.[1] Arlington is mostly within boundaries that were defined when it was made part of the District of Columbia in 1791; Arlington's irregular southeast border with Alexandria developed after several annexations by Alexandria that took place in the first half of the 20th century and was finalized in 1966.[160][161]
Arlington County exists on afall line between the AppalachianPiedmont and theAtlantic Coastal Plain.[162] The fall line between thesegeologic provinces follows Interstate 66 between Rosslyn and Four Mile Run, and cuts south to the county border around U.S. Route 50.[162] Arlington's Piedmontterrain is characterized by highlyeroded rollinghills; the county's highest prominence, Minor's Hill, is in this area and rises 451feet abovesea level.[162] The Coastal Plain is generally flat. Arlington is drained byFour Mile Run,Pimmit Run, and other smallstreams that all flow into the Potomac River.[162] Some of these waterways have deepvalleys that have been cut by erosion.[162]
Arlington County has ahumid subtropical climate that is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to moderately cold winters. Based on climate data captured at the National Weather Service's Reagan National Airport station, regional seasonal extremes vary from average lows of 14.3 °F (−10 °C) in January to average highs of 98.1 °F (37 °C) in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.82 inches, with an average low of 2.86 inches in January and average high of 4.33 inches in July. The average annual snowfall is 13.7 inches, with most of this falling in February.
Cars covered by snow near the end of the 2010 blizzard inPentagon City
Arlington can experienceextreme weather events, such ashurricanes andblizzards. These have includedAgnes in 1972,Isabel in 2003, and the 2010"Snowmaggedon" snowstorm; both hurricanes caused severeflooding and property damage,[163][164] and the 2010 blizzard brought over 13 inches of snowfall in some areas.[165] Extreme flooding of waterways such as Four Mile Run has in the past caused extensive damage to residential neighborhoods, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s before parts of the stream werechannelized by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1980s; this was a result of the county's rapid 20th century development, much of which occurred before the introduction of modern stormwater management regulations.[166] Growth in Arlington'simpervious surfaces, the majority of which has been driven by redevelopment of single family homes, has continued to present challenges to the county's stormwater management.[166] Localized flooding events after intense rainfall, particularly during the summer months, have occasionally been destructive to residential neighborhoods and infrastructure. For example, a July 2019 weather event later categorized as an 150-year storm resulted in hourly rainfall rates of 7 to 9 inches, which caused Four Mile Run to rise 11 feet within an hour.[167] This has required the periodicdredging of Four Mile Run to ensure it can accommodate for 100-year storms.[168] Due to globalclimate change, the frequency and extremity of these occurrences has increased in recent years; this trajectory is expected to continue as the broader climate warms.[169][170]
Aerial view of the growth pattern in Arlington County. High density,mixed-use development is concentrated within 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the county'sMetrorail stations, such as inRosslyn,Courthouse, andClarendon (shown in red from upper left to lower right).
Since the opening of Metro service in the 1970s, Arlington County has become heavily urbanized; the local government has actively encouraged this via itssmart growth, "Bull's Eye" urban planning model, where high density, mixed-use development is promoted within walking distance of Metro stations.[176] Adopted in the county's General Land Use Plan (GLUP) since 1975, the impact of this policy is evident in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor along the Orange and Silver lines and in the Richmond Highway Metro corridor along the Blue and Yellow Lines.[176][177] County planners have termed neighborhoods within the corridors as "urban villages", where each is intended to have unique amenities and characteristics.[177] These areas are rated highly for their walkability, access to public transit, and environmental sustainability, which align with design principles formulated by theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1996.[176] Arlington's approach to urban planning has been recognized by several organizations, including the EPA, which awarded Arlington with its National Award for Smart Growth Achievement for Overall Excellence in Smart Growth in 2002,[178] and theAmerican Planning Association, which awarded Arlington's GLUP with its National Planning Achievement Gold Award for Implementation in 2017.[179]
Outside of its urban districts, Arlington is mostly residential and suburban in character; single-family homes consisted of around 75% of its total land area in 2023.[180] Garden apartment complexes, which were built most prolifically between the New Deal era and the post-war period, exist throughout the county.[181] Several majorarterial roads andhighways, including Interstate 395, Interstate 66, U.S. Route 50, and U.S. Route 1 run through Arlington and connect it with the broader Washington metropolitan area.[182]
Arlington's urbanization during the 20th century greatly impacted its local ecosystem, with many of its natural stream, wetland, and forest environments being buried, reclaimed, or removed to facilitate development; a 2011 study found that only around 738 acres of land, or 4.4% of the total land area in the county, qualified as "historical natural areas".[183] Animals that have adapted well to these conditions, includingraccoons andred foxes, are abundant.[184]White-tailed deer, which were mostly eradicated from Virginia by 1900, have rebounded significantly in Arlington sincereintroduction andconservation programs were instituted statewide beginning in the 1940s;[185] the county is working to develop a plan to actively manage deer to address concerns about overpopulation.[186] Around half of plants found in the county are non-native;invasive species, including numerous varieties of vine such asEnglish Ivy andKudzu, have been documented in Arlington.[187]
The wetlands and shoreline along lowerFour Mile Run in 2025
Arlington has attempted to address itsenvironmental degradation, particularly in its watershed,[188] which has been partiallyrestored over the past several decades to improve localwater quality and provide habitat for local wildlife.[189] Past projects have included the installation ofliving shorelines populated with native plants, removal of invasive vegetation along the lower Four Mile Run, and the conversion ofstormwater catchment ponds into wetland habitats.[190][191] One 2011 restoration initiative revived a globally rareMagnolia bog ecosystem that was discovered in Barcroft Park.[192] The efforts enhanced habitats for Arlington's many native mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.[193] Native fish that inhabit Arlington's waterways includeAmerican eel,Eastern blacknose dace, andWhite sucker; invasive species likesnakehead andcarp are also present.[194] The county government actively monitors the water quality and ecosystem of its watershed via a series of stream monitoring stations.[195]
Arlington County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
The 2020 Census found that Arlington County's total population had reached 238,643, which represents growth of 14.9% since the 2010 Census. Arlington's population increase was 9.7% of growth experienced throughout the Northern Virginia region, and 4.9% of Virginia overall.[203] Arlington continued to become more racially and ethnically diverse, with Arlington's Non-Hispanic White population growing 5%, but falling to 58.52% of the total population from 64.04% in 2010. Arlington's Asian population grew by 37.8% – the most of any single-racial group – during this period,[204] and reached a population share of 11.41%. Those that identified as multi-racial or another race not listed in the census had the highest growth rates among all groups.[204] Arlington had a total of 119,085 housing units, representing an increase of 13,681 units from 2010.[205]
According toAmerican Community Survey's 2023 estimates, Arlington's median age was 35.7,[206] with 12.4% of individuals being above 65.[207] Adults aged between 25 and 29 are the largest age bracket and make up 12.8% of the total population.[206] 77.7% of the population has attained a bachelor's degree or higher; 42% of residents have a Master's or professional degree.[208] 21.7% of Arlington's population is foreign-born; 48.4% of this segment are non-U.S. citizens.[209] Married couple family households make up 36.7% of households; 44% of residents have never married.[210]
In 2023, Arlington County's GDP totaled $47.3 billion.[211] Given its proximity to Washington, Arlington's economy is especially focused on the federal government, with many of its corporations providing consulting, engineering, or technology services to defense and civilian agencies.[212] As the location of the Pentagon, theJoint Base Myer–Henderson Hall military installation, and other federal institutions, the federal government itself is also a significant contributor to the county's economic activity. Firms with business outside of the federal sector have also set up operations and headquarters in Arlington over the past several decades; the county government has actively pursued this, particularly in the technology space, through tax incentives and other measures.[213]
Arlington County's economy is primarilyservice-based, with a majority of its estimated 221,200 workers employed in professional services, technology companies, and federal, state, and municipal government in 2025; public employees made up around 20% of the workforce.[215] Many private companies with a presence in Arlington serve various government agencies in Washington ascontractors, includingDeloitte,Booz Allen Hamilton, andAccenture. Largedefense andaerospace corporations such asBoeing,RTX Corporation, andLockheed Martin are either headquartered or have offices in Arlington. Corporations either unaffiliated with or that have operations outside of the public sector, like Amazon,Costar, andNestlé, have also established themselves in Arlington.[216] Outside of companies and government entities, Arlington also hosts a number of non-profit organizations and advocacy groups.[217]
The skyline of Rosslyn, a main business district in Arlington County, in 2020
70% of all jobs in Arlington are in the county's "planning corridors", which include Rosslyn-Ballston, Richmond Highway, Columbia Pike, and Langston Boulevard; most of Arlington's jobs are located in the Rosslyn-Ballston area.[218] These districts are also home to Arlington's largest retail facilities, such as the Fashion Center at Pentagon City and Ballston Quarter.[219] Work from home arrangements, which spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to persist in the post-pandemic era, with 31.5% of workers working full time from their place of residence in 2023.[220] This has contributed to Arlington's office vacancy rate, which rose to 24.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 14.6% in 2020.[219]
Arlington's unemployment rate, which rose to 4.3% during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, has been consistently under the average for the Washington metropolitan area since at least 2015.[215] High levels of employment in the public sector has made Arlington vulnerable to cuts in federal government spending;[221] this has been particularly acute in thesecond Trump Administration, during which Arlington's unemployment rate rose to 3.3% in May 2025 as a result of broad spending cuts,layoffs, and contract cancellations across numerous government agencies.[222]
With a mean annual income estimated at $114,097,[223] Arlington is one of the wealthiest municipalities in the United States; 31.3% of households had an annual income of $200,000 or more.[224] Arlington's wealth is not equally distributed geographically or by racial background and tends to be concentrated in its wealthier northern neighborhoods that have a higher share of white households. Arlington's southern areas, which have greater racial and ethnic diversity and a higher population of immigrant families, have lower incomes and higher levels of poverty.[225] This has been attributed to the county's historical underinvestment in the infrastructure and economy of southern Arlington, which is the location of several of Arlington's formerly segregated, historically black neighborhoods.[226] Overall, 7.3% of Arlington residents were below the national poverty level in 2023.[224]
Arlington had an estimated total of 126,540 housing units in 2025, representing 6.3% growth since 2020. 73% of its housing supply consists of multifamily apartments or condos.[227] More than 38% of homes in Arlington are valued at $1 million or more, and the home ownership rate stands at 41.1%.[228] The average rent in 2024 was $2,549;[227] Arlington was identified as one of the most expensive rental markets in the United States outside of California by several real estate firms in 2025.[229] About 8.9% of Arlington's total housing supply consisted of affordable housing units in 2025.[227]Homelessness in Arlington has been trending upwards since 2021; as of 2025, there were 271 homeless individuals, which represented a 12% increase from 2024.[230]
According to a 2024 report by the county government, Arlington County attracted 7.1 million visitors in 2023, who generated $6.5 billion in economic activity from a total of $4.5 billion in spending.[231] This activity, which is inclusive of spending at the county's travel centers like Ronald Reagan National Airport, supported 27,567 jobs and is representative of a broader recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic.[231][232] Employment in tourism and hospitality also increased during this period, but has yet to reach parity with pre-pandemic levels.[233]
Arlington County is within the Northern Virginia region, which has been described as being greatly influenced by its proximity to Washington and its employment opportunities in the federal government; this has attracted highly educated, affluent migrants from other states and countries, ultimately rendering the culture more international andnorthern in character relative to Virginia's southern regions.[234][235] Consequently, Arlington has communities and enclaves of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Columbia Pike corridor, which has been a destination for immigrants since Southeast Asians began arriving after theFall of Saigon in the 1970s,[236] exemplifies this, and is today home to residents from over 150 different nationalities; it has become particularly known for its wide variety of international food options and venues.[237]
Arlington County is home toArlington National Cemetery and several prominent military and civilian memorials, including theAir Force Memorial,Marine Corps War Memorial, and theNational 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. Arlington National Cemetery attracts more than 3 million visitors annually,[238] with many coming to observe memorials like theTomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is guarded all year by the U.S. Army3rd Infantry, theJohn F Kennedy Gravesite, which memorializes former president John F Kennedy with aneternal flame, and theMilitary Women's Memorial, which honors all women that have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Others visit Arlington National Cemetery to pay respects to or grieve for deceased soldiers and relatives; more than 400,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces are buried in the cemetery.[239] The cemetery offers interpretive group tours and tour bus services to its main memorials.[240] In addition, the National Park Service operates a museum in the historic Arlington House about the history of the Custis plantation, the estate's enslaved laborers and servants, and the life of Robert E. Lee.[241]
Local museums in Arlington include the Arlington Historical Museum, which is located in the 1891Hume School and run by the Arlington Historical Society,[242] the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, which details the history of Arlington's black community,[243] and theMuseum of Contemporary Art Arlington, which is hosted in the historicClarendon School building and is one of the largest non-federal contemporary art venues in the Washington metropolitan area.[244]
Arlington County hosts a variety of events every year pertaining to culture and the arts, such as the Arlington County Fair, which was first held in 1977 as an event for local gardening clubs,[245] music festivals such as the Columbia Pike Blues Festival and Rosslyn Jazz Festival,[246][247] and summertime concerts held at the Lubber Run Amphitheater.[248] Major sporting events include theMarine Corps Marathon, whose course has run through Arlington every fall since 1976,[249] and theArmed Forces Association Cycling Classic, a summerroad bicycle race which has been held in Arlington'sCrystal City and Clarendon neighborhoods since 1998.[250]
Since 1930,[261] Arlington County has been governed by aboard of supervisors that appoint aCounty Manager, the latter of which oversees the county's everyday operations, as well as its departments and offices that provide administrative and regulatory services.[262] Each of the board's five members are electedat-large and serving staggered 4-year terms.[263] Since 2023,primary elections for county board seats have been conducted viaranked choice voting.[264] Board members elect a chair, who serves as the official head of county government, and vice-chair at annual organizational meetings held every January.[263] The elected board chair and vice-chair share the same duties and responsibilities of their peers, and do not possess the power to veto motions.[263]
The board oversees various elements of county administration, including general policy, land use and zoning, tax rates, the issuance of proclamations, and the making of appointments to citizen advisory groups.[263] The board also represents Arlington County at regional, state, and national forums and commissions.[263] Other elected county officials include theschool board and five constitutional officers, which consist of theCounty Clerk of the Circuit Court,Commissioner of the Revenue,Commonwealth's Attorney,Sheriff, andTreasurer.[265]
In Virginia's General Assembly, Arlington County is represented by three members of theHouse of Delegates from the1st,2nd, and3rd Districts, and two members of theSenate from Districts39 and40.[271] Members of the House of Delegates and Senate serve two-year and four-year terms, respectively.[271]
Historically a conservative Southern Democratic constituency, Arlington County has been a liberal Democratic stronghold since the 1980s; a Republican candidate has not won Arlington in state or federal elections since 1981.[276] The Democratic Party has also mostly held Arlington's local elected offices over the last several decades; the election of John Vihstadt, a Republican who ran as an independent, to the county board in November 2014 represented the first non-Democrat to win a county board general election since 1983.[277] The demographic growth seen in Arlington and the broader Northern Virginia region, which is generally affiliated with the Democratic Party, has shifted Virginia's political orientation; largely as a consequence of its more diverse, urbanized regions, it has voted for the Democratic presidential nominee since 2008.[278][279]
Issues that have defined Arlington County politics in recent years have focused on how to manage rising costs of living and the county's housing supply, which has brought into debate the future of single-family zoning laws and community density, as well as lack of affordable housing options for residents.[264] This has been expressed in the controversy surrounding the county board’s EHO housing policy.[264] Also featured in recent elections has been Arlington's elevated office vacancy rates in the post-pandemic era, which have impacted revenue from commercial properties and increased the tax burden of residents for public services.[264]
Arlington Public Schools operates the county'spublic K-12 education system, which includes 22 elementary schools, six middle schools, and three high schools.[280] It also runs two specialized secondary education programs atH-B Woodlawn, which adopts analternative education model,[281] and Arlington Tech, which provides STEM-focused coursework.[282] Arlington Public Schools has 3,000 teachers that serve a student body around 28,000 pupils, making it Virginia's 13th largest public school division.[283] It is governed by a school board composed of five members that are elected in overlapping four-year terms;[284] while board members officially run as non-partisan candidates per Virginia law, political parties are able to endorse them.[285] Arlington also has severalprivate andreligious schools, including the CatholicBishop O'Connell High School.[286]
Arlington County's street naming convention, first adopted in 1934 to unify the area's originally unorganized, duplicative street system, uses U.S. Route 50 as the dividing line between northern and southern street designations. Named streets generally run north to south and are ordered alphabetically starting at the Potomac River; this ordering is repeated with additional syllables when the end of the alphabet is reached. Numbered streets run east to west parallel to U.S. Route 50.[292]
Arlington County is served by the WMATA Metrorail andMetrobus systems, as well as its localArlington Transit (ART) bus service.[293] The Orange and Silver Metrorail lines run through Arlington's Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and Falls Church, while the Blue and Yellow lines are located along the Potomac River and the Richmond Highway corridor. Metrobus and ART service provides connections between Metrorail stations, Arlington's neighborhoods, Fairfax County, Alexandria, and Washington.[294][295] TheVirginia Railway Express, which providescommuter rail service via theManassas andFredericksburg Lines to locations in Alexandria,Fredericksburg, and Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, andSpotsylvania Counties, has a station in Arlington in its Crystal City neighborhood.[296]
Arlington County has a network of bike and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure;[303] Arlington operates around 49 miles of paved trails for hikers and bikers. Majorshared-use paths include theW&OD,Custis,Four Mile Run, andMount Vernon Trails.[304] Arlington has continued to make improvements to its bike infrastructure in recent years, which includes protected bike lanes and trails, and was recognized by theLeague of American Bicyclists in 2024 as being a Gold-level community for bicycle-friendliness.[305]
Arlington County maintains 164 parks, 13 community centers, and over 100 sports facilities. The 100-acre Glencarlyn Park, one of Arlington's largest parks, is located along Four Mile Run and has nature trails, playgrounds, and a nature center with exhibits on Arlington's local ecosystem.[306][307] The Long Bridge Aquatic and Fitness Center, a 92,000 square foot indoor aquatic and recreation facility completed in 2021,[308] has Arlington's only 50-meter competition pool, a gym, and venues for community meetings.[309]National Park Service manages the Mount Vernon Trail, which is part of the largerPotomac Heritage Trail, andNOVA Parks operates the W&OD trail.[304][310]
Arlington Sister City Association (ASCA) is a nonprofit organization affiliated with Arlington County, Virginia. ASCA works to enhance and promote the region's international profile and foster productive exchanges in education, commerce, culture and the arts through a series of activities. Established in 1993, ASCA supports and coordinates the activities of Arlington County's fivesister cities:[311]
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^Official records for Washington, D.C. were kept at 24th and M StreetsNW from January 1872 to June 1945, and at Reagan National Airport since July 1945.[171]
^Bailey, J. F.; Patterson, J. L.; Paulhus, J. L. H. (1975).Hurricane Agnes Rainfall and Floods, June-July 1972(PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 85. RetrievedJuly 22, 2025.
^2020 Census Redistricting Data(PDF). Arlington, Virginia: Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development. September 2021. p. 2. RetrievedJuly 24, 2025.
^ab2020 Census Redistricting Data(PDF). Arlington, Virginia: Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development. September 2021. p. 4. RetrievedJuly 24, 2025.
^2020 Census Redistricting Data(PDF). Arlington, Virginia: Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development. September 2021. p. 7. RetrievedJuly 24, 2025.
^Juday, Lucas."10 ways to map Northern Virginia".coopercenter.org. University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. RetrievedJuly 31, 2025.
Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development (2025).Profile 2025(PDF). County of Arlington, Virginia. RetrievedJuly 29, 2025.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Bestebreurtje, Lindsey (2024).Built by the People Themselves: African American Community Development in Arlington, Virginia, from the Civil War through Civil Rights. Columbia: The University of South Carolina Press.ISBN978-1-64336-498-8.
Goodall, Jonathan L.; Elias, Antonio; Andrews, Elizabeth; Chope, Christopher; Cosgrove, John; El Koubi, Jason; Irish, Jennifer; Lawrence, Lewis L. III; Lazaro, Robert W. Jr.; Leighty, William H.; Luckenbach, Mark W.; Miller-Hooks, Elise; Phillips, Ann C.; Pollard, Henry V.; Steinhilber, Emily; Feigenoff, Charles; Sayegh, Jennifer (June 2021).The Impact of Climate Change on Virginia's Coastal Areas. Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Faulty Publications. RetrievedJuly 22, 2025.
Core cities are metropolitan core cities of at least a million people. The other areas are urban areas of cities that have an urban area of 150,000+ or of a metropolitan area of at least 250,000+. Satellite cities are in italics.
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![1838 map of the Alexandria Canal. Alexandria County's public debts from this and other projects amounted to nearly $2 million.[49]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMap_of_Alexandria_Canal_1838.jpg)
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