Arlington, Virginia

Arlington, Virginia is a county located in the Washington metropolitan area, bordered by Washington, D.C. to the east, Fairfax County, Virginia to the west, Loudoun County, Virginia to the northwest, and the Potomac River to the south, with neighboring Montgomery County, Maryland and Prince George's County, Maryland across the river. The county is home to the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, and is also the location of Arlington National Cemetery, where many American Civil War soldiers, including Confederate States Army Stonewall Jackson, are buried, as well as John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, who was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The county is also close to the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia, and the National Security Agency headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. The area is served by Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with connections to United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.

Geography

Arlington, Virginia is situated on the west bank of the Potomac River, which forms the border between Virginia and Maryland. The county is bordered by Fairfax County, Virginia to the west and Washington, D.C. to the east, with Loudoun County, Virginia to the northwest and Prince William County, Virginia to the southwest. The county's terrain is characterized by low-lying areas along the Potomac River and higher elevations in the western part of the county, with the Piedmont region to the west and the Atlantic Coastal Plain to the east. The county is also home to several parks and nature reserves, including Theodore Roosevelt Island, Arlington County Parks, and the Mount Vernon Trail, which connects to the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Capital Crescent Trail. The area is also close to the Shenandoah National Park and the Great Falls Park, with connections to the Appalachian Trail and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath.

History

The area that is now Arlington, Virginia has a long and complex history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Paleoindian period, around 10,000 years ago. The county was originally part of the Northern Neck Proprietary, a large tract of land granted to Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron in 1649, and was later divided into several smaller tracts, including the Arlington Estate, which was owned by George Washington Parke Custis, the step-grandson of George Washington. The county was officially founded in 1801, when it was separated from Fairfax County, Virginia and became part of the District of Columbia, with the United States Congress meeting in the United States Capitol building. During the American Civil War, the county was occupied by Union Army forces, and several important battles took place in the area, including the First Battle of Bull Run and the Second Battle of Bull Run, with the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Gettysburg taking place nearby. The county is also home to the Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, which was the home of Robert E. Lee before the war, and is now a museum operated by the National Park Service.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Arlington, Virginia was approximately 233,464, with a diverse population that includes people of European American, African American, Asian American, and Hispanic and Latino American descent. The county has a high percentage of residents with a Bachelor's degree or higher, with many residents employed in the Federal government of the United States, including the United States Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency. The county is also home to many major corporations, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman, with connections to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. The area is served by several major highways, including Interstate 66 and Interstate 395, with connections to the Capital Beltway and the Dulles Toll Road.

Economy

The economy of Arlington, Virginia is diverse and strong, with a mix of government, defense, and private sector industries. The county is home to the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, and is also a major hub for the Federal government of the United States, with many residents employed in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and the Supreme Court of the United States. The county is also home to many major corporations, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman, with connections to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. The area is also a major center for the Information technology industry, with many companies, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Google, having operations in the county, with connections to the Internet Society and the World Wide Web Consortium.

Government

Arlington, Virginia is a county with a County board form of government, with a five-member Arlington County Board that is elected by the residents of the county. The county is also part of the Virginia General Assembly, with several representatives in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate. The county has a strong relationship with the Federal government of the United States, with many residents employed in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and the Supreme Court of the United States. The area is also served by the Arlington County Police Department and the Arlington County Fire Department, with connections to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service.

Education

Arlington, Virginia is served by the Arlington County Public Schools system, which operates several High schools, including Washington-Liberty High School, Yorktown High School, and Wakefield High School, with connections to the University of Virginia, George Mason University, and Virginia Tech. The county is also home to several private schools, including Bishop O'Connell High School and St. Agnes School, with connections to the Catholic University of America and the University of Mary Washington. The area is also served by several libraries, including the Arlington Public Library and the Library of Congress, with connections to the National Archives and Records Administration and the Smithsonian Institution. The county is also close to several major universities, including Georgetown University, American University, and George Washington University, with connections to the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.