About | Events | Shop
  • Shopping Cart Shopping Cart
    0Shopping Cart
Arlington Historical Society
  • Visit
  • Stories
    • Arlington County, VA 1920
    • Arlington Historical
    • Memorializing the Enslaved
    • On This Day
    • Stories from the Underground
  • Exhibitions
    • Museum Exhibits
    • Online Exhibits
  • Collections
    • Artifact Donation
    • Images
    • Maps of Arlington
    • Scope of Collection
    • Videos
  • Learn
    • Historical Milestones
    • Racial History Timeline
    • Teaching History
      • Teaching History Subject Index
      • Geography
      • Exploration to Revolution
      • Revolution and New Nation
      • Expansion and Reform
      • Civil War
      • Reconstruction
      • Reshaping the Nation
      • Turmoil and Change
      • Since World War 2
    • AHS Magazine
    • AHS Newsletter
  • Research
    • AHS Research & Preservation Committee
    • Your County
    • Your Family
    • Your Neighborhood
    • Your Property
    • Your Question – Something Else
    • Preservation
      • Document Your Property’s History
      • Preservation Research Links
  • Support
    • Join
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Maps of Arlington

  • Maps of Arlington

This online exhibition is part of the VA250 Commemoration.  For over 400 years, maps have documented Arlington County’s rich history, which predates the arrival of Europeans in Virginia and is marked by ongoing change and growth. After the revolution and independence, the area along the Potomac River was designated as the District of Columbia in 1801, with Arlington—then known as Alexandria County—being incorporated into D.C. on the Virginia side. In 1847, Alexandria County retroceded back to Virginia. During the Civil War, the U.S. Army defended the area against a Confederate attack on Washington, D.C. Following the war, Arlington gradually transitioned from rural farmland to an urban area. Diversity has always played a role in shaping Arlington, from freed enslaved persons, establishing African American communities, to the Vietnamese enclave in Clarendon in the 1970s. Advances in public transit, especially the Metro, spurred further development and investment, attracting more residents. Arlington’s story reflects a history of continual change, growth, and development. The following maps have been selected because of the unique stories they tell about Arlington’s history.

1670 Map

August 4, 2025
This map was created in 1670; while not as detailed as John Smith’s map, it includes the English settlements that had started to emerge since the beginning of the English colonization.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1670-Map-scaled.jpg 2040 2560 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-08-04 08:26:512025-08-04 08:26:511670 Map

Virginia Map-1606

August 4, 2025
In 1606, explorer John Smith created one of the first maps made of what would become Virginia. Smith was famous for his interactions with the Powhatan Indians, helping to foster trade relations with them,
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Virginia-1606-Map.jpg 962 1249 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-08-04 08:19:222025-08-04 08:19:22Virginia Map-1606

1791 Map

August 3, 2025
This map was created in 1791-1793 by Andrew Elliot, a surveyor, a mentor of Lewis, who, alongside Clark, was tasked by President Jefferson to travel to the West Coast.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1791-map-scaled.jpg 2560 1805 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-08-03 08:59:592025-08-03 08:59:591791 Map

1760 Map

August 3, 2025
This map, created by Beth Mitchell in 1987 for Fairfax County, shows property lines, owners, and the number of slaves for each farm/property in 1760 northern Virginia.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/fairfax1760.jpg 2304 1728 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-08-03 08:48:062025-08-03 08:48:061760 Map

Population Growth Map 2020

July 9, 2025
This map shows the population growth in Arlington specifically between 2000 and 2020. Like in the 20th century, most of the population increase is centered around the metro stations.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/02-Arlington-population-tracts-1-2048x1152-1.png 1152 2048 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-07-09 22:17:282025-07-10 07:39:18Population Growth Map 2020

Arlington County Map Logo 2021

July 9, 2025
The Arlington County logo changed in 2021 from a representation of Arlington House to a map of the original D.C. borders, with Arlington County shaded a dark blue.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11430_arlingtoncountylogo_color_vertical.png 384 480 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-07-09 22:05:542025-07-10 08:01:34Arlington County Map Logo 2021

Civic Associations Map 2024

July 9, 2025
A recent map of Arlington's various neighborhoods. Some of the names correlate with farms or businesses that were once prominent in the area.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Civic-Associations-MAP.png 1378 1384 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-07-09 21:53:352025-07-11 14:24:01Civic Associations Map 2024

Department of Community Affairs 1983 Map

July 9, 2025
Commissioned by the Arlington County Department of Community Affairs in 1983, this map closely resembles the 1975 map but highlights key differences, such as population growth and shifts in the business landscape.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1983-GLUP-scaled.jpg 2560 1644 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-07-09 21:35:072025-07-10 07:59:46Department of Community Affairs 1983 Map

General Land Use Plan Map 1975

July 9, 2025
This map was created by the Arlington County Department of Environmental Affairs showing the population distribution as well as the locations of businesses—see the right-hand side of the legend.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1975-GLUP-scaled.jpg 2560 1645 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-07-09 21:22:362025-07-11 13:44:46General Land Use Plan Map 1975

Metro Map 1968

July 9, 2025
This map was created by Metro in 1968, showcasing not only the initial rail lines that were planned, but also future extensions—including one to Dulles Airport.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Metro-Map-1968.jpg 946 1280 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-07-09 21:12:162025-07-10 08:05:58Metro Map 1968

Department of Interior 1944 Map

July 9, 2025
Similar to the 1932 map, the 1944 map was created by the U.S. Department of the Interior and shows the transition of Arlington from a rural community to a more urbanized center.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Arlington-1947-scaled.jpg 2560 2141 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-07-09 20:16:562025-07-11 14:28:37Department of Interior 1944 Map

Urban Growth Map

July 9, 2025
It was created by the Federal Department of the Interior. Compared to earlier maps, this one shows more urbanization and less open space or farmland in Arlington County.
Read more
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Arlington-1932-scaled.jpg 2560 2234 Peter Vaselopulos /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png Peter Vaselopulos2025-07-09 19:56:382025-07-11 14:26:44Urban Growth Map
Page 1 of 212
Share this post

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.

Share this post
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top