Arlington Virginia Information
If you are considering buying or building a home in Arlington, Virginia, pleaser read on as this article covers particularly important information pertaining to this city.
Arlington, Virginia encompasses 26 square miles of land located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Both US Airways and Verizon Communication Inc. have significant commercial real estate holdings here; both of which are listed as fortune 500 companies. Whether you currently reside here or are thinking of buying real estate or just visiting this city offers numerous things to do.
For more than thirty years the government has made it a point to concentrate the new developments around transit facilities, like Metro rail stations, and highly used bus lines. Over the past generation many of Arlington's developments are concentrated around seven of the eleven Metro rail stations, making it convenient for pedestrians to travel from Arlington to the District, and vice versa.
Interesting Historical Facts About This City
Arlington Virginia was not always considered to be a part of Virginia. Originally Arlington was considered a section of DC. It was an act of congress in 1846 that first made Arlington part of Virginia. This area is considered to be the smallest self-governing community in the nation, and it is known as the home of the Pentagon, The Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial, and the Arlington National cemetery.
National Cemetery
This military cemetery history dates back to the American Civil War. It was built where Confederate General Robert E. Lee's home resided; also known as Arlington House. This cemetery is the second largest national cemetery in the U.S., with roughly 300,000 United States serviceman laid to rest here.
The Pentagon
The Headquarters of the United States Department of Defense is located within the walls of the Pentagon.
- It is considered to be the world’s largest office building.
- Construction began on September 11th, 1941.
- 23,000 military and civilian employees along with 3,000 none-defense workers are employed here.
- The Pentagon has 17.5 miles of hall-way, though it only takes between seven and nine minutes to walk between any two points in this massive building.
- It was built from sand and gravel that was taken out of the Potomac River.
- The Pentagon experienced series damage from the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, which was on the 60th anniversary of the building’s ground breaking.
- A memorial was erected next to the Pentagon in memoriam of the attack.
Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial
- It is located in close proximity to the National Cemetery
- The memorial is a dedication to all U.S. Marines who have died in battle defending our country since 1775.
- The design was based on a picture taken during the battle of Iwo Jima, the raising of our nation’s flag on its soil.
- Construction on this memorial began in 1951.
- Inscribed around the base of this memorial is the date and location of every major Marine Corps battle.
- It was officially dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 10th, 1954
- In 1961 President John F. Kennedy issued a public statement that the U.S. flag shall be flown from the memorial for 24 hours a day. This is one of the few places where this is permitted.
