Archive for category: Arlington Government

The Arlington Way

The term "Arlington Way" is commonly used to describe the county's non-partisan, cooperative political culture. Its history is rooted in the 1930s and 1940s, when Arlington's local politics shifted away from partisan battles to a non-partisan system, fostering a collaborative and consensus-driven approach to governance that continues today.

ABC

ABC members pushed for reforms like a county manager form of government, increased transparency, and fairer budgeting. They also promoted civic engagement and encouraged qualified candidates to run for office—often challenging the long-standing political machine.

A Short History of Voting in Arlington

According to historian C.B. Rose, people living in what is now Arlington would have been able to vote after early settlements were incorporated around 1645. Voting likely increased when the land of present-day Arlington was established as Fairfax County and received its own Court House in the town of Alexandria in 1752. At this point in time, all voting had to take place at a Court House, which limited eligible voters who lived far away from these buildings.

Support

The Arlington Historical Society relies solely on membership dues and donations to support the Arlington Historical Museum and Ball-Sellers House.

Join
Donate
Volunteer

Visit Us

The Arlington Historical Museum
1805 S Arlington Ridge Rd, Arlington, VA 22202
703-892-4204 ext. 800
Open Saturday, Sunday 1-4 pm
Get Directions

The Ball-Sellers House
5620 3rd St S, Arlington, VA 22204
703-577-7042
Open Saturday 1-4 pm
Get Directions

Contact Us

E-mail us: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
Call us: 703-892-4204 ext. 800

Arlington Historical Society
P.O. Box 100402
Arlington, Virginia 22210-3402

Facebook

Copyright 2025 Arlington Historical Society. All rights reserved.