Virginia

Arlington

238,643
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Arlington

Arlington, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 5,949. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 238,643.

Its recorded population peaked at 285,222 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 16 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Virginia-Susquehannock War 1675, September 11 Attacks — Pentagon, September 11 Pentagon Attack, and 69 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020238,643
2010207,627
2000189,453
1990282,119
1980255,816
1970285,222
1960254,424
1950197,236
194090,563
193050,764
192034,100
191025,560
190020,958
189018,597
188017,546
187016,755
186012,652
185010,008
18409,967
18309,573
18209,703
18108,552
18005,949
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Arlington

Military engagements that took place in Arlington, Virginia.

Virginia-Susquehannock War 1675
1675
September 11 Attacks — Pentagon
2001
September 11 Pentagon Attack
2001

Historic places in Arlington

National Register of Historic Places listings in Arlington, Virginia.

Georgetown Pike
Arlington
Barcroft Community House
Arlington
Maywood Historic District
Arlington
Drew, Charles Richard, House
Arlington
Glebe, The
Arlington
Fairlington Historic District
Arlington
Gray, Harry W., House
Arlington
Washington National Airport Terminal and South Hangar Line
Arlington
Fort C. F. Smith Historic District
Arlington
Clarendon School
Arlington
Cherrydale Volunteer Fire House
Arlington
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
Arlington
Fort Myer Historic District
Arlington
Ball-Sellers House
Arlington
Winslow, Earle Micajah, House
Arlington
Saegmuller House
Arlington
Buckingham Historic District
Arlington
Buckingham Historic District Boundary Increase
N/A
Benjamin Banneker: SW 9 Intermediate Boundary Stone
Arlington
Calvert Manor
Arlington
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
Arlington
Arlington Village Historic District
Arlington
Fort Ethan Allen
Arlington
Cherrydale Historic District
Arlington
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Arlington County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Arlington County, Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Arlington

When does Arlington first appear in the US census?
Arlington, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 5,949.
What is the population of Arlington?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Arlington had a recorded population of 238,643.
When did Arlington's population peak?
Arlington's recorded population peaked at 285,222 in 1970.
Were any battles fought in Arlington?
3 documented military engagements took place in Arlington, including Virginia-Susquehannock War 1675, September 11 Attacks — Pentagon, September 11 Pentagon Attack.
How many historic places are in Arlington?
69 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Arlington, Virginia.
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