Arlington County, Virginia

county in Virginia, United States; part of Washington metropolitan area

Arlington County is a county in Virginia. It has so many buildings that it looks like a city. It is one of the smallest counties in the United States by area. It is across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., and parts of it were once part of Washington. In 2020, 238,643 people lived there.[1] It is where many U.S. government offices are, such as The Pentagon. It is also the location of Arlington National Cemetery, which was built at the former plantation of Robert E. Lee, and the Ronald Reagan National Airport. ANC is where John F. Kennedy and many American soldiers are buried. Several battles of the American Civil War were fought in and around Arlington.

Arlington County
Arlington's Rosslyn neighborhood seen across the Potomac River from Washington Harbour
Arlington's Rosslyn neighborhood seen across the Potomac River from Washington Harbour
Flag of Arlington County
Official logo of Arlington County
Map of Virginia highlighting Arlington County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°52′49″N 77°06′30″W / 38.880278°N 77.108333°W / 38.880278; -77.108333
Country United States
State Virginia
FoundedFebruary 27, 1801
Named forArlington House
Area
 • Total26 sq mi (70 km2)
 • Land26 sq mi (70 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total238,643
 • Density9,200/sq mi (3,500/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.arlingtonva.us
Arlington National Cemetery
1878 map of Alexandria County, now Arlington County
Aerial view of a growth pattern in Arlington County, Virginia. High density, mixed use development is often concentrated within 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the county's Metrorail rapid transit stations, such as in Rosslyn, Courthouse, and Clarendon (shown in red from upper left to lower right).

The District of Columbia was made with land contributed by Virginia and Maryland. In 1846, Congress agreed to give the land south of the Potomac back to Virginia. Most of the returned land became Arlington.

Notable People

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References

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  1. "QuickFacts: Arlington County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 22, 2024.