Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County, often called simply Arlington, is a county in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is part of the Washington metropolitan area and the larger Northern Virginia region. It sits right across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., the nation's capital. It is the smallest self-governing county in the United States by area. Arlington has quiet suburban neighborhoods and busier city areas. The busier areas are near several Washington Metro stations and lines. The county's government offices are in the Court House neighborhood, which also holds the county courthouse.

Arlington was first home to the Nacotchtank people. The Colony of Virginia was established there in 1606. English colonists began settling the area by the 1670s. In 1742, the area became part of Fairfax County. In those early days, the economy was mostly based on tobacco farming on large plantations. The farms were worked by enslaved labor and indentured servants. After the Revolutionary War ended, the planters and yeoman farmers began growing other crops. Virginia gave up the land that is now Arlington to help form the District of Columbia. Starting in 1801, the area was known as Alexandria County. In 1847, it was returned to Virginia after pressure from Alexandria, the county's main business center.

During the Civil War, Arlington was part of the Union's defenses of Washington. The war caused great damage to its land and economy. After the Civil War, Black residents gained the right to vote in local and state elections. However, by the 1880s, local conservative Southern Democrats had taken back power and restored white supremacy. By the early 1900s, Jim Crow laws and racial segregation were in place in Arlington. The county's suburbs kept growing with an expanding trolley network, and more federal workers moved there. Some people in Virginia opposed change through the massive resistance campaign and other groups. Even so, Arlington became the first county in Virginia to desegregate its schools in 1959. In 1960, its businesses were desegregated too, after a series of sit-in protests.

Arlington's modern economy has been shaped greatly by several Metrorail lines. Planning for these lines began in the 1960s, and they became the center of the county's busy areas. Many federal government agencies are based in Arlington, including the Pentagon, which houses the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. Companies such as Boeing and RTX Corporation also have offices in the county. Colleges and universities with main or satellite campuses there include George Mason University, Marymount University, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech. Arlington is also home to Arlington National Cemetery, a military cemetery established in 1864. More than 400,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces are buried there. Visitors come to see sites such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Other military memorials in Arlington include the Marine Corps War Memorial and Air Force Memorial.

History

Further information: Native American tribes in Virginia

Further information: Colony of Virginia

Main article: District of Columbia retrocession

Further information: Virginia in the American Civil War

Further information: Washington Metro

Native American peoples lived in the area for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. When John Smith came in 1608, the Nacotchtank lived there, but by 1679 they had left. Colonists settled along the rivers and built large plantations where tobacco was grown. Many enslaved people were made to work the land. The area was part of Fairfax County from 1742. When the federal capital was set up nearby, the area became part of the federal district and later Alexandria County. It returned to Virginia in 1847. During the Civil War, the area mostly supported the Union. Union troops took over the county and built defenses. The Freedman's Village settlement was started in 1863 to help formerly enslaved people. The Union government took over the estate of Robert E. Lee, which became a burial place in 1864.

After the war, the county's economy was weakened, and laws based on segregation limited the lives of Black residents. Alexandria County was renamed Arlington County in 1920. It grew into a suburb of Washington, with Rosslyn and Clarendon becoming important places. During the Jim Crow era, Black residents faced unfair rules. It was not until the 1950s and 1960s that civil rights activists won major changes, including integrated schools and an end to legal housing discrimination. Federal workers moved in during the New Deal era, and the Pentagon was built during World War II. The Orange Line of the Washington Metro opened in 1979. It helped the county grow into a business center. On September 11, 2001, an airplane crashed into the Pentagon during the September 11 attacks, and part of the building was damaged. In recent years, companies such as Amazon and Boeing have set up headquarters in Arlington, and the population has become more diverse.

Geography

Arlington County is in the Washington metropolitan area and the Northern Virginia region. Fairfax County and Falls Church are to the west, and the city of Alexandria is to the southeast. Washington, D.C. is to the northeast, across the Potomac River. The county covers 67 square kilometers (26 square miles). It is the smallest self-governing county in the United States. It sits on a fall line between the Appalachian Piedmont and the Atlantic Coastal Plain. These two areas are separated by geologic provinces. The Piedmont has terrain that is heavily eroded, with rolling hills. The county's highest point, Minor's Hill, rises 451 feet above sea level. The Coastal Plain is mostly flat. Four Mile Run, Pimmit Run, and other small streams all flow into the Potomac River. Some of them have deep valleys carved by erosion.

Arlington County has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are mild to moderately cold. On average, the county gets about 41.82 inches (1,062 millimeters) of rain each year. It also gets about 13.7 inches (35 centimeters) of snow, most of it in February. Arlington can also experience extreme weather, such as hurricanes and blizzards. Examples include Agnes in 1972, Isabel in 2003, and the 2010 "Snowmaggedon" snowstorm. Both hurricanes caused serious flooding and damaged property. Flooding on Four Mile Run once damaged neighborhoods. Parts of the stream were later channelized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1980s. More impervious surfaces, like pavement, have made stormwater harder to manage. The stream also needs periodic dredging. Because of climate change, these floods have become more frequent and more severe.

See also: List of neighborhoods in Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington has become heavily urbanized since Metro service opened in the 1970s. The county's smart growth approach is sometimes called the "Bull's Eye" model. It encourages dense, mixed-use development within walking distance of Metro stations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave Arlington a national smart growth award in 2002. The American Planning Association gave its plan a national award in 2017. Outside the urban areas, Arlington is mostly residential and suburban. Single-family homes covered around 75% of its land in 2023. Several major arterial roads and highways connect the county to the wider Washington area. These include Interstate 395, Interstate 66, U.S. Route 50, and U.S. Route 1.

Urbanization in the 20th century greatly changed Arlington's natural environment. Many natural streams, wetlands, and forests were buried, reclaimed, or removed. Animals such as raccoons and red foxes are common. White-tailed deer were nearly gone from Virginia by 1900. Their numbers have grown in Arlington since reintroduction and conservation programs began in the 1940s. About half of the county's plants are non-native. Some invasive species, such as English Ivy and Kudzu, have been found there.

Arlington has worked to address environmental degradation in its watershed. Part of the watershed has been restored to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Projects have included living shorelines planted with native plants. They have also turned stormwater catchment ponds into wetlands. A 2011 project brought back a rare Magnolia bog in Barcroft Park. Native fish include the American eel, Eastern blacknose dace, and White sucker. Invasive snakehead and carp are also present.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Arlington County had 238,643 people. The median age was 34.0 years. About 17.6% of residents were under 18, and 10.6% were 65 or older. Most residents were White (60.9%). Other groups included Black or African American (8.7%), American Indian and Alaska Native (0.7%), Asian (11.5%), Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (0.1%), and people of two or more races (10.8%). Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 15.7% of the population. All residents lived in cities or towns. The county had 109,912 households and 119,085 housing units. The population grew by 14.9% since 2010.

According to the American Community Survey's 2023 estimates, the median age is 35.7, and 12.4% of people are over 65. The largest age group is adults aged 25 to 29, who make up 12.8% of the population. About 77.7% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 21.7% were born outside the United States.

Economy

See also: List of federal agencies in Northern Virginia and List of companies headquartered in Northern Virginia

In 2023, Arlington County's economy (GDP) totaled $47.3 billion. Arlington is very close to Washington, so its economy depends a lot on the federal government. Many local companies provide consulting, engineering, or technology services to government agencies. The Pentagon, Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, and other federal places are also big parts of the county's economy. Over the past several decades, companies from outside the government have also opened offices and headquarters in Arlington. The county government has encouraged this, especially in technology, by offering tax incentives.

Arlington's economy is mostly service-based. In 2025, most of the county's estimated 221,200 workers had jobs in professional services, technology companies, or federal, state, and local government. About 20% of the workforce were public employees. Many private companies in Arlington work as contractors for government agencies in Washington. These include Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Accenture. Large defense and aerospace companies such as Boeing, RTX Corporation, and Lockheed Martin have their headquarters in Arlington or offices there. Companies like Amazon, Costar, and Nestlé also operate in the county, along with many non-profit organizations and groups that work for causes.

About 70% of Arlington's jobs are in its "planning corridors," and most of those are in the Rosslyn-Ballston area. Working from home became very common during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it continues today. In 2023, 31.5% of workers worked full time from home. This has helped cause an office vacancy rate (the share of empty office space) that rose to 24.2% in late 2024. Arlington's unemployment rate has been below the average for the Washington area since at least 2015. However, because so many people work for the government, the county can be affected when federal spending is cut. Unemployment rose to 3.3% in May 2025, after many government agencies cut spending, laid off workers, and canceled contracts during the second Trump Administration.

Arlington is also one of the wealthiest towns in the United States, with a mean annual income of $114,097. Its wealth is mostly in the northern neighborhoods. The southern areas, which are more diverse and have more immigrant families, have lower incomes and more poverty. Housing is expensive. The average rent was $2,549 in 2024, and more than 38% of homes were valued at $1 million or more. Homelessness has been rising since 2021. Tourism brought 7.1 million visitors in 2023, which supported 27,567 jobs.

Culture

Arlington County is part of Northern Virginia. This region grew close to Washington and has many federal government jobs. These jobs have drawn people from other states and countries, so the culture is more international and northern than in Virginia's southern regions. Arlington has communities from many different backgrounds. The Columbia Pike area has welcomed immigrants since Southeast Asians began arriving after the Fall of Saigon in the 1970s. Today its residents come from over 150 countries, and the area is known for its wide variety of international food.

Arlington County is home to Arlington National Cemetery and several memorials, including the Air Force Memorial, Marine Corps War Memorial, and National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. The cemetery welcomes millions of visitors each year. Many visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is guarded all year by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry. Other sites include the John F. Kennedy Gravesite, with its eternal flame, and the Military Women's Memorial. Many members of the U.S. Armed Forces are buried there. Local museums include the Arlington Historical Museum, which is housed in the Hume School, built in 1891. There is also the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, which is in the historic Clarendon School building.

Each year the county hosts cultural events, such as the Arlington County Fair, first held in 1977. It also holds music festivals and summer concerts. Major sporting events include the Marine Corps Marathon, which has run through Arlington every fall since 1976. The Armed Forces Association Cycling Classic is a summer road bicycle race held in Crystal City and Clarendon since 1998.

Government and politics

Since 1930, Arlington County has been run by a board of supervisors. The board hires a county manager, who manages the county's everyday work. Each of the board's five members is elected at-large for a four-year term. The terms are staggered, so not all members are chosen at the same time. Since 2023, primary elections for county board seats have used ranked-choice voting. Every January, the board members pick a chair and a vice-chair. The chair is the official leader of county government, but the chair has the same power as the other members and cannot veto decisions. Other elected county officials include the school board, the county clerk of the circuit court, the commissioner of the revenue, the commonwealth's attorney, the sheriff, and the treasurer.

Arlington has three members in Virginia's General Assembly in the House of Delegates, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Districts. It also has two members in the Senate, from the 39th and 40th Districts. Delegates serve two-year terms, and senators serve four-year terms. In the U.S. Congress, Arlington is part of Virginia's 8th congressional district in the House of Representatives. Don Beyer, a Democrat, has represented this district since 2015. Virginia's two senators in the U.S. Senate serve six-year terms. Mark Warner has held one seat since 2009, and Tim Kaine has held the other since 2013. Both are Democrats.

Arlington was once a conservative area, but it has strongly supported the Democratic Party since the 1980s. Democrats have won most of its local offices for decades. In 2014, John Vihstadt, a Republican running as an independent, won a county board seat. He was the first non-Democrat to win a county board general election since 1983. Recent discussions have focused on rising living costs, the shortage of affordable housing, and how the county should grow.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Arlington Public Schools runs the county's public K-12 schools. There are 22 elementary schools, six middle schools, and three high schools. It also runs two special secondary programs. H-B Woodlawn uses an alternative style of learning. Arlington Tech focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math. The school system has about 3,000 teachers and around 28,000 students. It is the 13th largest public school system in Virginia. A school board of five members governs it. Board members are elected to four-year terms that overlap. They officially run without a party label, although political parties can endorse them. Arlington also has several private and religious schools, including the Catholic Bishop O'Connell High School.

Colleges and universities

Many universities have satellite campuses in Arlington County. These include George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, and Northeastern University. Marymount University is a private Catholic university started in 1950 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary. It is the only university with its main campus in Arlington County.

Transportation

Two interstate highways run through Arlington County: Interstate 66 and Interstate 395. Several Virginia state highways also run through the county. These include Virginia State Route 123, Virginia State Route 124, Virginia State Route 233, Virginia State Route 237, and Virginia State Route 309. Some U.S. Routes do too, including U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 29, and U.S. Route 50. The Virginia Department of Transportation runs and cares for these highways. The George Washington Memorial Parkway is a green parkway along the Potomac River. The National Park Service manages it. The street names have followed a system since 1934. U.S. Route 50 divides the northern street names from the southern ones. Named streets mostly run north to south, in alphabetical order, starting at the Potomac River. Numbered streets run east to west.

Further information: Arlington Transit, Virginia Railway Express, and Washington Metro

The county is served by the WMATA Metrorail and Metrobus systems. It also has the local Arlington Transit (ART) bus service. The Virginia Railway Express offers commuter rail trips and has a station in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington. Arlington also shares ownership of the Capital Bikeshare bicycle-sharing system. As of 2021, it had more than 100 stations across the county. People can ride regular bikes or e-bikes. Arlington has built bike lanes and trails that are protected from traffic. In 2024, the League of American Bicyclists named Arlington a Gold-level community for being friendly to bicycles. The county also has about 49 miles of paved trails. Some of the biggest are shared-use paths, such as the W&OD, Custis, Four Mile Run, and Mount Vernon Trails.

Main article: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the only airport in Arlington County. It is near Gravelly Point, on reclaimed land. Most of its non-stop flights go to places across the United States. It also has international flights to Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Travelers can get there on the Blue and Yellow Lines, at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station.

Parks and recreation

Further information: NOVA Parks

Arlington County has 164 parks, 13 community centers, and over 100 sports facilities. Glencarlyn Park is one of the county's largest parks. It sits along Four Mile Run and has nature trails, playgrounds, and a nature center with exhibits about the local environment.

The Long Bridge Aquatic and Fitness Center opened in 2021. It is a large indoor building for swimming and recreation. It has Arlington's only 50-meter competition pool, a gym, and rooms for community meetings. National Park Service manages the Mount Vernon Trail, which is part of the larger Potomac Heritage Trail. NOVA Parks runs the W&OD trail.

Sister cities

The Arlington Sister City Association (ASCA) is a nonprofit group connected to Arlington County, Virginia. It helps share the region's international connections. It also encourages exchanges in education, business, culture, and the arts. ASCA was established in 1993. It supports and organizes the activities of the county's five sister cities.

The five sister cities are Aachen, in Germany; Coyoacán (Mexico City), in Mexico; Ivano-Frankivsk, in Ukraine; Reims, in France; and San Miguel, in El Salvador.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Arlington, Virginia