Facts & Figures
Learn about Arlington's history, population, hotels. and more.
Situated directly across the Potomac River from the Washington, D.C., Arlington provides convenient access to the power, prestige, influence and opportunities of Washington, D.C., while retaining the warmth and charm of a close-knit neighborhood community. Arlington is 26 square miles and has nine different neighborhoods and 39 historic districts to explore. Arlington has received countless awards and accolades including Fittest City, Most Walkable City and Best Place to Live in Virginia.
Historic Roots
Originally part of the area surveyed for the nation’s capital, the portion of the District 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. It is also home to one of the region’s oldest buildings: the circa 1740 Ball-Sellers House.
Transportation & Accessibility
Welcoming nearly 24 million passengers each year, the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is in Arlington County. The international airport offers nonstop flights to more than 95 destinations on eight airlines. Once you’re on the ground, the county is well connected by public transportation with 11 Metrorail stations, 17 bus routes, 85 Capital Bikeshare stations, and 89 miles of biking and walking trails.
Hotel Information
Arlington has 44 hotels and motels in a variety of price points and configurations. The county has a 10,933 sleeping rooms and 354,764 square feet of meeting space.
Big Business
Many companies and prominent organizations are based in Arlington County, including Amazon's HQ2, Nestle USA, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Rosetta Stone, and PBS. With 41.9 million square feet of rentable building area, Arlington has more private office space than the downtowns of Los Angeles, Denver, and Atlanta, and the Central Business Districts of Dallas and Seattle. Arlington continues to grow with the addition of new development.
Community Data & Demographics
As of January 1, 2020, Arlington had an estimated population of 228,400 and is forecasted to grow to 287,600 persons by 2040. Arlington County is a highly diverse and educated area--it is the most educated county in the USA. In 2018, 74.6% of adults age 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher and 40% had a graduate or professional degree. The diversity of the County is reflected in Arlington Public Schools children who speak 114 languages and hail from 150 countries.
For more information about Arlington County, see the 2020 Arlington County Profile.