Arlington Forest

Arlington Forest
Name	Arlington Forest
Settlement type	Census-designated place
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Virginia
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Arlington
Area total sq mi	0.3
Area land sq mi	0.3
Area water sq mi	0.0
Population as of	2020
Population total	2,365
Population density sq mi	auto
Timezone	Eastern (EST)
Utc offset	-5
Timezone DST	EDT
Utc offset DST	-4
Coordinates	38, 51, 12, N...
Postal code type	ZIP Code
Postal code	22207
Area code	703, 571
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	51-02944
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	2584803

Arlington Forest is a census-designated place located entirely within Arlington County, Virginia. It is a residential neighborhood situated just west of the larger community of Arlington. The area is characterized by its mature tree canopy, mid-20th century housing stock, and proximity to significant regional amenities like Washington, D.C.

History

The development of the area primarily occurred in the late 1930s and early 1940s, coinciding with the expansion of federal employment in nearby Washington, D.C. during the New Deal and World War II. The neighborhood's layout and architecture reflect the Colonial Revival and Cape Cod styles popular in that era, designed to house a growing population of government workers and military personnel. Its growth was further influenced by the post-war expansion of the Pentagon and other federal agencies in Arlington County. Unlike some older parts of the county, it was not directly part of the original land grants from George Washington or the Custis family, but its development is a direct result of the 20th-century suburbanization of the Washington metropolitan area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.3 square miles, all of it land. It is bounded roughly by Wilson Boulevard to the north, North George Mason Drive to the east, Arlington Boulevard to the south, and North Nottingham Street and Glebe Road to the west. The terrain is gently rolling, typical of the Piedmont region of Northern Virginia. The neighborhood is part of the Potomac River watershed, with stormwater draining toward Four Mile Run.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 2,365 people residing in the area. The population density was approximately 7,883 people per square mile. The racial makeup was diverse, with significant populations of White, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino residents. The median household income is substantially higher than the national average, reflective of the highly educated workforce employed in sectors like the federal government, technology, and professional services in the broader Washington metropolitan area. Housing primarily consists of single-family homes, with a mix of townhouses and low-rise apartment buildings.

Education

Residents are served by the Arlington Public Schools system. The designated elementary school is Arlington Traditional School, a county-wide optional program school. Students typically attend Williamsburg Middle School and then Yorktown High School. The area is also in close proximity to several institutions of higher education, including Marymount University and George Mason University, and is within easy commuting distance of Georgetown University and The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Parks and recreation

The neighborhood is adjacent to the extensive Arlington County park system. The major recreational feature is Lubber Run Park, which includes a community center, amphitheater, playgrounds, and walking trails along Lubber Run stream. Residents also have easy access to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, a paved rail-trail that runs from Purcellville to Shirlington. The Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation maintains several nearby facilities, including athletic fields and courts.

Transportation

Major arterial roads providing access include Arlington Boulevard and Wilson Boulevard, which connect to Interstate 66 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Public transportation is provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, with several Metrobus lines serving the area. The nearest Washington Metro station is Ballston–MU on the Orange and Silver Lines, located just over a mile to the east. The area is also served by Arlington Transit buses and is considered bike-friendly, with marked bike lanes and capital bike share stations nearby.

Category:Census-designated places in Arlington County, Virginia Category:Washington metropolitan area