Arlington County, Virginia
Map
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	9 July 1846
Seat	Arlington
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	26 sq mi (67 km²) 26 sq mi (67 km²) 0 sq mi (0 km²), 0.35%
Population  - (2007)  - Density	206,800 7,995/sq mi (3,087/km²)
Website: www.arlingtonva.u

Arlington VA Real Estate is the topic of water cooler chat in Northern Virginia.  It’s a very attractive place to live because of the convenience to Washington DC, the orange line metro, and the possibility of going green and ditching your car.  When Northern Virginia was at the peak of the market in 2003 and 2004, Arlington VA real estate was the place to buy.  When the real estate outlook was not too promising in 2006 and 2007, Arlington VA real estate was one of the only markets to actually increase its home sales.

Arlington VA is a short ride into Washington DC.  One of the major interstates that pour into the city is Route 66.  With thousands of commuters rushing on this major roadway, living in Arlington VA reduces that headache that people who live further west deal with every morning.  This is a big factor and one of the major reasons that Arlington VA continues to grow in value.

Arlington County is a county of about 206,800 residents in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is located directly across the Potomac River to the west of Washington, D.C. Formerly part of the District of Columbia, the land now composing the county was retroceded to Virginia on July 9, 1846, in an act of Congress that took effect in 1847. It was called Alexandria County from that date until March 16, 1920, when an act of the General Assembly changed its name to Arlington County.

Despite being organized politically as a "county" in Virginia, it is considered a Central City of the Washington Metropolitan Area by the Census Bureau, along with the adjacent cities of Washington and Alexandria, Virginia. At a land area of 26 square miles, it is geographically the smallest self-governing county in the United States.

In 2005 Arlington Virginia was ranked first among walkable cities in the United States by the American Podiatric Medical Association. CNN Money ranked Arlington as the most educated city in 2006 with 35.7% of residents having held graduate degrees. In October 2008, BusinessWeek ranked Arlington as the safest city in which to weather a recession, with a 49.4% share of jobs in 'strong industries'. Along with five other Northern Virginia counties, Arlington ranked among the twenty U.S. counties with the highest median household income in 2006.

Arlington is the location of Arlington National Cemetery, Washington National Airport, the Pentagon, the USMC War Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, and numerous other monuments.


Looking north towards The Pentagon with Rosslyn in the background

Looking south towards Arlington's Rosslyn and Crystal City skylines from Georgetown University

The recently completed Waterview towers in Rosslyn as seen from Roosevelt Island in the Potomac river.

Demographics

The Arlington County Planning Research and Analysis Team (PRAT) estimates the January 1, 2008 population at 206,800

As of the 2000 census, there were:

• 189,453 people
• 86,352 households,
• and 39,290 families residing in Arlington.

The population density was 7,323 people per square mile, the highest of any county in Virginia. There were 90,426 housing units at an average density of 3,495/sq mi.

 

There were 86,352 households out of which 19.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.30% were married couples living together, and 54.50% were non-families. 40.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.96.

In Arlington county, the population was spread out with 16.50% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 42.40% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.70 males.

According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in Arlington county was $90,047, and the median income for a family was $120,556. Males had a median income of $51,011 versus $41,552 for females. The per capita income for Arlington county was $37,706. About 5.00% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over. In 2004 the average single-family home sales price passed $600,000, approximately triple the price less than a decade before, and the median topped $550,000.

Arlington Census Designated Place (CDP) population history

• 1960.....163,401
• 1970.....174,284
• 1980.....152,299
• 1990.....170,936
• 2000.....189,453
• 2006.....200,226
• 2007.....202,800 (estimated)

Arlington Economic Development maintains regional economic data and statistics.

Development patterns

Aerial view of a growth pattern in Arlington County, Virginia Virginia. High density, mixed use development is often concentrated within 1/4 to 1/2 mile from Arlington County's Metrorail rapid transit stations, such as in Rosslyn, Courthouse, and Clarendon (shown in red from upper left to lower right). This photograph is taken from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website describing Arlington County's award for overall excellence in smart growth in 2002. The Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. can be seen in the top center of the picture across the Potomac River.

Arlington County has won awards for its smart growth development strategies. For over 30 years, the government has had a policy of concentrating much of its new development near transit facilities, such as Orange-Line Metrorail stations and the high-volume bus lines of Columbia Pike. Within the transit areas, the Arlington government has a policy of encouraging mixed-use and pedestrian- and transit-oriented development. Outside of those areas, the Arlington government usually limits density increases, but makes exceptions for larger projects that are near major highways, such as in Shirlington, near I-395 (Shirley Highway).

Much of Arlington VA's development in the last generation has been concentrated around 7 of Arlington County's 11 Metrorail stations. However, infill real estate development elsewhere in Arlington County has recently replaced many undeveloped lots and small single-family dwellings with row houses and larger homes.

Increasing land values and re-development has diminished Arlington Virginia's tree canopy and reduced the supply of existing affordable real estate housing. In addition, Arlington County implemented in 2005 an affordable housing ordinance that requires most real estate developers to contribute significant affordable housing resources, either in units or through a cash contribution, in order to obtain the highest allowable amounts of increased building density in new real estate development projects, most of which are planned near Arlington VA's Metrorail station areas. Arlington County also permits greater heights and densities through zoning ordinance bonuses in exchange for the creation of additional on-site affordable housing units, at a target level of 1:1 (i.e. one affordable unit for every market-rate unit; since 2004, and including new condominium projects, actual average production has been closer to 2:3.)

Arlington County focuses its efforts to preserve, create and maintain for-sale and rental affordable housing real estate to households whose income is not greater than 80% of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Median Income (AMI); rental units are committed for no fewer than 30 years at no greater than 60% AMI. AMI tables are published annually by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

High density cores of Arlington

Rosslyn	Courthouse	Ballston
Pentagon City	Crystal City

You’ll find that Arlington VA is divided up into different neighborhoods but is classified as Arlington County as a whole.  The neighborhoods are Ballston, Clarendon, Rosslyn, and Crystal City.  You’ll find the most desirable places to live are those homes that are within walking distance to an Arlington VA metro stop. Rosslyn, Courthouse, and Ballston are accessible on Arlington Metro's Orange Line from east to west, as well as the future Dulles Silver Line in coming years. Rosslyn, Pentagon City, and Crystal City are accessible on Arlington's Blue Line from north to south, with Pentagon City and Crystal City also utilizing Arlington's Yellow Line. Arlington city life is definitely the center of Arlington VA but you will also find quiet residential streets all within walking distance to Wilson Boulevard and Fairfax Dr., which are the major streets that divide Arlington VA.

Arlington VA Real Estate has something for everyone.  From the business districts, high rise buildings, condos and apartments, to the residential neighborhoods, plentiful shopping and energetic nightlife; anyone could easily call Arlington VA their home.  With the desirability and popularity of Arlington VA real estate, investing in this area is an easy decision for many people.

Portions from Wikipedia