Arlington (Virginia)

Arlington (Virginia), urban county in northeastern Virginia, on the Potomac River, opposite Washington, D.C., to which it is connected by several bridges. It is a residential suburb of Washington and contains many United States government offices, notably The Pentagon, headquarters of the Department of Defense. Telecommunications, aerospace, and media operations are among the leading employers in the area. Arlington National Cemetery, established during the American Civil War (1861-1865) on the confiscated estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, includes a Confederate memorial; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; and the graves of more than 240,000 war dead, veterans, and dependents, as well as many notable figures of state, including President John F. Kennedy. Located at the entrance to the cemetery is the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, which was dedicated in 1997. Educational institutions include Marymount University (1950). The area is served by the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Washington Dulles International Airport.

Captain John Smith, the English colonist, explored the region of modern Arlington County in 1608, but effective settlement didn’t begin until about 1722. The area was ceded to the U.S. government in 1791 as part of the new national capital. In 1846, however, Congress agreed to return the land to the state of Virginia. During the American Civil War, it was occupied by Union troops. In 1870 the county was separated from the city of Alexandria, and in 1920 was renamed for Arlington House, the local home of Robert E. Lee. It incorporated as an urban county in 1932.

Arlington covers a land area of 67 sq km (26 sq mi), with a mean elevation of 76 m (250 ft). According to the 2000 census, whites are 68.9 percent of the population, blacks 9.3 percent, Asians 8.6 percent, Native Americans 0.3 percent, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders 0.1 percent. The remainder are of mixed heritage or did not report race. Hispanics, who may be of any race, are 18.6 percent of the people. Population 152,599 (1980); 170,936 (1990); 195,965 (2005 estimate).