Any address in Arlington, Virginia might read like it belongs to some rustic old farmhouse in a state that is only one of 50 in the U.S., particularly to people unaware of the major metropolitan areas in the country. The real brand name, of course, is Washington, DC, which is just a short hop across the Potomac. Ever heard of Silver Springs, Maryland? It's another town in another state, but like Arlington essentially just another part of the bigger DC area. Of course, once people visit Arlington, any previous notions they might have had about the place go out of the window as quickly as money spent at one of Arlington's most famous clients, the nearby Pentagon.
When you look at Arlington, of course, it lacks the glamour of its cousin across the river (and the dirt and grime, some might argue). Sure, there are plenty of sites the outsider will want to see. Arlington National Cemetery (where the Kennedys are buried, among many other notables), the Pentagon, and the Iwo Jiwa Memorial, aka the Marine Corps Memorial, are etched in our history as much as Pearl Harbor or Ground Zero. Equally impressive is the fact that Arlington is not only a city, but an independent county, even though there are no other cities incorporated. At 25 square miles, Arlington might just be the smallest county in the nation.
There are still subtle reminders that Arlington is part of the greater DC area, which is HUGE. The metro lines running through Arlington (the yellow, orange, and blue lines) are as vital to the overall operations of our nation's capital as are the 66 and 395 highways, not to mention the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Ronald Reagan 'Washington' National Airport is located in Arlington despite using a Washington address and zip code (as does the Pentagon, for that matter). It seems that while people appear to love Arlington, VA as a site for business or a government agency, it's hard for them to identify themselves with the name. Reginald Dwight became Elton John, who sang about Norma Jean, who became Marilyn Monroe, who inspired Marilyn Manson, aka as plain ole Brian Hugh Warner. William Bailey became Axl Rose. Unsexy Arlington became Washington, DC, at least for some people.
Aside from the heavyweights I just mentioned, Arlington is residential, for the most part. The median cost for a house here is well over $500,000, while the unemployment rate at a paltry 4.9% barely registers. Of course, this would indicate how wealthy the city-county really is, although the town's 30% employment share within the federal and state governments confirms how important Washington (and Richmond) really are.
In the political sector, the Republican Party might have a better chance winning a majority in Havannah, Cuba than it ever would in Arlington. The last time Arlington voted for a Republican presidential candidate was in 1980 when, you guessed it, Ronald Reagan ran for office. Every one of the five county board members are Democrats, as are its two state senators and four Virginia delegates. Three elected officials are openly gay, while there is only one other openly gay government representative in the entire state. Progressive politics certainly could do a lot worse than Arlington, Virginia.
Despite its small size, I don't think I know a better place to run or bike than Arlington. I remember many mornings and early afternoons jogging along the Potomac and tipping my cap at some of the famous memorials across the river. Even for its small size, Arlington is green to a large percentage. European cities might be greener, but only out of envy.
So Arlington sounds like the perfect small city, USA package, doesn't it? This is the place where you would want to have the house, kids, and dog, and live happily ever after, right?
Maybe not.
For beginners, the rent in places like Clarendon or Rosslyn is very similar to what it is in Washington, DC, meaning you pay with a more physical currency, like an arm and a leg. Property taxes are extremely high. Having a car here can be murder, especially when negotiating the Beltway at any time of the day. And then there is the weather. As I am writing this, it is 33 degrees F outside with a cold, cold rain. But hey, not everybody can live in California or Florida. As I've already indicated, Arlington certainly translates to money, so either you should have or make a lot of it before considering a relocation here.
All things considered, this is a wonderful American town with all of the benefits but few of the hassles Washington has to offer.
For now, all I wish they could do is put a roof over it.
