A History of the Boundaries of Arlington County, Virginia

This concise volume traces the shifting limits of Arlington County from its earliest colonial surveys to the modern line established in the mid‑1960s. Drawing on official charters, congressional acts, and local records, it maps each annexation, cession, and readjustment that has reshaped the area’s 16,500 acres. Listeners will hear a clear, chronological narrative that explains why a place now known as Arlington only acquired its name in 1920, after decades of belonging to Virginia, the District of Columbia, and even Alexandria.

The author updates the original 1957 compilation with newly uncovered documents, including the 1966 boundary agreement with Alexandria, making it a reliable guide for historians, property researchers, and curious residents alike. Along the way, the book sketches the early charters of the Virginia Company, the 1846 return of the land to Virginia, and the series of legal adjustments that produced the familiar streets and neighborhoods of today. Whether you’re tracing a family deed or simply want to understand how borders shape community identity, the narration offers a vivid, fact‑rich portrait of Arlington’s evolving outline.