Library
Actually, there isn't one!
No incorporated towns or cities lie within Arlington?s boundaries.
"Arlington is an urban county of about 26 square miles located directly across the
Potomac River from Washington DC. No incorporated towns or cities lie within Arlington?s boundaries. Originally part of the area surveyed for the nation?s capital, the portion on the west bank of the Potomac River was returned to the Commonwealth of Virginia by the U.S. Congress in 1846. This area was known as Alexandria City and Alexandria County until 1920 when the county portion was renamed Arlington County. " From Arlington County Profile 2009
The History
"In 1791 President George Washington determined that the survey to establish the boundaries of the ten-mile-square Federal District should begin at Jones Point, south of Alexandria, and should proceed northwestward so as to exclude the Falls Church. The survey was made that summer, and boundary stones were set up at one-mile intervals. The District of Columbia was not organized until 1801, however. The part of Fairfax County ceded by Virginia to federal jurisdiction was then organized as Alexandria County, which included the Town of Alexandria. All of the present Arlington County was located in the original Ten Mile Square of the District of Columbia." From the Arlington Historical Society
What's in a name?
In 1920 to avoid confusion between Alexandria County and the City of Alexandria and to honor Robert E. Lee, the name of the County was changed to Arlington.
An interesting map at the Library of Congress
Detailed map of part of Virginia from Alexandria to the Potomac River above Washington, D.C. 186-
Shows parts of Arlington and Fairfax counties, part of the defenses of Washington, roads, railroads, towns, vegetation, houses, fences, names of residents, and drainage.
Have a question you'd like to see answered in this space? Let us know.
- Ed Bearss To Speak On Northern Va And The Civil War
Long Bridge - predecessor to the 14th Street Bridge - spanned the Potomac during the Civil War. In the distance, rural Arlington (then Alexandria County) was little more than trees and farms. In the foreground, Union troops stood guard 24 hours a day...
- Arlington Historical Society Presents: Black Entrepreneurship In Segregated Arlington
Join us Thursday, Jan, 20, 7:00 p.m. at Central Library for "Black Entrepreneurship in Segregated Arlington County, Virginia," presented by Nancy Perry, on behalf of the Arlington Historical Society. Arlington County was segregated since its founding...
- Our Local History Collection Is Now On Flickr!
Lee Highway, 1895 - from the Places set Reading about local history is cool, but seeing it is even cooler - and now you can view hundreds of images of Arlington history online, thanks to the Virginia Room's Local History project. The Local History...
- Claudia Cappelle Paintings On Display At Aurora Hills
The Aurora Hills Library is pleased to be exhibiting the work of abstract painter Claudia Cappelle, from January to February 2010. Capelle's work has been exhibited at the Studio Gallery in Washington DC, the White Canvas Gallery in Richmond,...
- The Arlington Years: Fiscal Year 2010 Recommended Arlington Public Library Budget
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Please read the proposed Department of Libraries budget for FY 2010.A news release was issued Feb. 21 on the County Manager's proposed FY 2010 for Arlington...
Library
Where can I find the City of Arlington?
Actually, there isn't one!No incorporated towns or cities lie within Arlington?s boundaries.
"Arlington is an urban county of about 26 square miles located directly across the
Potomac River from Washington DC. No incorporated towns or cities lie within Arlington?s boundaries. Originally part of the area surveyed for the nation?s capital, the portion on the west bank of the Potomac River was returned to the Commonwealth of Virginia by the U.S. Congress in 1846. This area was known as Alexandria City and Alexandria County until 1920 when the county portion was renamed Arlington County. " From Arlington County Profile 2009
The History
"In 1791 President George Washington determined that the survey to establish the boundaries of the ten-mile-square Federal District should begin at Jones Point, south of Alexandria, and should proceed northwestward so as to exclude the Falls Church. The survey was made that summer, and boundary stones were set up at one-mile intervals. The District of Columbia was not organized until 1801, however. The part of Fairfax County ceded by Virginia to federal jurisdiction was then organized as Alexandria County, which included the Town of Alexandria. All of the present Arlington County was located in the original Ten Mile Square of the District of Columbia." From the Arlington Historical Society
What's in a name?
In 1920 to avoid confusion between Alexandria County and the City of Alexandria and to honor Robert E. Lee, the name of the County was changed to Arlington.
An interesting map at the Library of Congress
Detailed map of part of Virginia from Alexandria to the Potomac River above Washington, D.C. 186-
Shows parts of Arlington and Fairfax counties, part of the defenses of Washington, roads, railroads, towns, vegetation, houses, fences, names of residents, and drainage.
Have a question you'd like to see answered in this space? Let us know.
- Ed Bearss To Speak On Northern Va And The Civil War
Long Bridge - predecessor to the 14th Street Bridge - spanned the Potomac during the Civil War. In the distance, rural Arlington (then Alexandria County) was little more than trees and farms. In the foreground, Union troops stood guard 24 hours a day...
- Arlington Historical Society Presents: Black Entrepreneurship In Segregated Arlington
Join us Thursday, Jan, 20, 7:00 p.m. at Central Library for "Black Entrepreneurship in Segregated Arlington County, Virginia," presented by Nancy Perry, on behalf of the Arlington Historical Society. Arlington County was segregated since its founding...
- Our Local History Collection Is Now On Flickr!
Lee Highway, 1895 - from the Places set Reading about local history is cool, but seeing it is even cooler - and now you can view hundreds of images of Arlington history online, thanks to the Virginia Room's Local History project. The Local History...
- Claudia Cappelle Paintings On Display At Aurora Hills
The Aurora Hills Library is pleased to be exhibiting the work of abstract painter Claudia Cappelle, from January to February 2010. Capelle's work has been exhibited at the Studio Gallery in Washington DC, the White Canvas Gallery in Richmond,...
- The Arlington Years: Fiscal Year 2010 Recommended Arlington Public Library Budget
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Please read the proposed Department of Libraries budget for FY 2010.A news release was issued Feb. 21 on the County Manager's proposed FY 2010 for Arlington...