Arlington is both a county and a city suburban to Washington, DC. This may seem a little confusing; just know that locally, the whole area is generally referred to as “Arlington.” The Arlington, VA real estate market is strong, with some of the state’s highest home values. The median price for a single-family home, which has a median size of nearly 3,900 square feet, is right at the million-dollar mark. Condos and townhouses tend to be more affordable with a median price of $399,000 for just under 1,000 square feet. It’s worth noting that the city’s high transient population (due to military and government jobs) keeps the home ownership rate low, at just 45 percent compared to the state average of 67 percent.
Source:en.wikipedia.org
Arlington is an integral part of Virginia’s storied history, from the colonial period to the Civil War. After British colonization of the New World, much of the parcel of land now known as Arlington was a plantation. Arlington was briefly included in the nation’s capital, the District of Columbia, but its citizens successfully petitioned to rejoin the state of Virginia due to lack of government representation as well as sharply divided opinions about slavery.
Mary Washington’s grandson purchased the property at the dawn of the 19th century, and it eventually passed into the possession of Mary Anna Custis Lee – General Robert E. Lee’s wife. After the Confederacy lost the Civil War, the Federal government confiscated the property due to a tax law, and the land became a military cemetery. At the end of the 19th century, the government legally purchased the land from the Lees’ heir and ultimately turned it into Arlington National Cemetery.
Arlington experienced a population boom in the late 1950s that directly led to the development of the Washington Metro underground transit system. The Metro transformed Arlington and allowed it to grow into the metropolitan center that it is today.
In addition to the Cemetery, historic sites include the Robert E. Lee memorial Arlington House and the US Marine Corps War Memorial, better known as the “Iwo Jima Memorial.”
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All reports indicate that the job market has gradually recovered from the 2008 recession. Arlington has kept up with the national average job growth, with new jobs climbing slowly but steadily since taking a significant dip in April of 2014. The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies several “super-sectors” which saw the greatest job gains between October 2014 and October 2015, including: professional and business services, adding more than 25,000 jobs; education and health services, adding more than 12,000; and government, adding nearly 10,000 jobs.
The federal government is the largest employer in Arlington. The Department of Defense employs 36,000; the Department of Justice has about 5,200 employees; and the Department of State has 4,500. The top three private employers include the professional services firm Deloitte with about 3,500 employees; defense technologies company Lockheed Martin, which employs about 2,700; and the Virginia Hospital Center with about 2,000 employees.
Arlington offers a plethora of parks, playgrounds, and activity centers to keep kids of all ages entertained. For outdoorsy types, there are three nature centers: Gulf Branch, Long Branch, and Potomac Overlook, all offering a variety of programs, exhibits, and trails. Theodore Roosevelt Island is another popular outdoor destination, with canoeing, wildlife viewing, and ranger-led hikes and programs. Dog lovers will rejoice in a total of eight dog parks, including Fort Barnard and Towers Park. For some “cool” fun, check out the Ed Burns Arena Ice Skating Rink, open August through April. Older kids might enjoy the Drug Enforcement Administration Museum, with exhibits demonstrating the history of the DEA. Tours of the Pentagon are available to groups of five or more.
If that’s not enough, a 30-minute metro ride will take you to the heart of DC, where museums abound, along with other attractions like the National Mall and the National Zoo.
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Arlington County boasts 36 miles of multi-use trails and 50 miles of biking trails, leaving no shortage of adventure for outdoor aficionados. There are 14 total county parks, including Dawson Terrace, Lacey Woods, and Tuckahoe Park. If weather is prohibitive, or if you prefer an indoor workout, there are plenty of gyms, studios, and fitness centers to choose from, like Solidcore, Phoenix, and Revolve.
Foodies will delight in the area’s six farmer’s markets: Columbia Pike, open Sundays year-round; Arlington, open year-round on Saturdays; Ballston FreshFarm Market, open Thursdays May through October; Crystal City, open Tuesdays April through November; Fairlington, open Sundays April through November; and Westover, open Sundays year-round. There’s also a great variety of berry farms and pick-your-own produce locations, like Hollin, Wegmeyer, and Great Country Farms.
If you’re prowling the city after dark, looking for some nightlife, Arlington and the DC area offer a little something for everyone. Spider Kelly’s is a laid-back Clarendon bar with surprisingly good food. For non-stop dancing, check out Mad Rose Tavern, with its famous glow-in-the-dark beer towers. If you just want to sample a ridiculous array of beers, World of Beers will be your newfound paradise. Looking for some live music? IOTA Club won’t disappoint, with a variety of live bands and open mic nights. For a more upscale experience, don’t miss the Rosslyn Jazz Festival in September.
