Arlington is one of the principal cities in the state of Texas located in Tarrant County, North Texas. The city lies 12 miles (19 km) east of downtown Fort Worth and 20 miles (32 km) west of downtown Dallas. Arlington has a land area of 95.86 square miles and forms a part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. It has an altitude of 604 feet (184 meters) above sea level.
The city has a 2020 population of 400,316, making it the 7th most populous city in Texas and the 49th largest city in the United States.
How Arlington came to be
The Caddo Indians were the first known settlers in the area during the early days of westward expansion. It was during the 19th century that Europeans first settled in Arlington. Several trading posts were established in 1841 on the present-day site of Arlington under the name Marrow Bone Spring.
In 1843, the Republic of Texas signed a peace treaty with nine Indian tribes near Arlington. Rail contractors built the city in 1876, which helped to draw new settlers and eventually lead to the establishment of Johnson Station, where new communities would become Arlington.
The city was named after General Robert E. Lee’s Arlington House in Arlington County, Virginia.
Cotton ginning and agriculture quickly became Arlington’s main industries because many natural springs provided irrigation to the city. By the end of the 19th century, many agricultural businesses had been established.
There was once a well in Downtown Arlington that was said to have healing powers. There was even a lion-headed monument erected by the chamber of commerce so people could access the “magical” waters. A commemorative statue now stands outside of city hall and the downtown library.
What is Arlington Texas known for?
The city was once known for its cotton-ginning and agricultural products. However, it is now more widely recognized as an industrial and commercial center with automotive and aerospace industries formed after the 1950s, which has also led to rapid population growth.
Some of the country’s largest universities can be found in Arlington, Texas, along with an independent school district that provides some of the best educational opportunities. First on the list is The University of Texas at Arlington, a doctoral-granting research institution with 30,000 students and a prestigious engineering school. In 2019 it has awarded 14,035 degrees. Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Arlington comes in second with 178 degrees, and Paul Mitchell the School-Arlington at third which offers 144 degrees.
The Arlington metropolitan area boasts of major companies like General Motors, National Semiconductor Wafer Plant, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV, Texas Health Resources, Mensa International, and D. R. Horton. GM’s headquarters plant manufactures Cadillac Escaldes, GMC Yukons, and Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes. GM produces approximately 1,140 vehicles at the Arlington Assembly plant every day and pays $1 Million in wages. General Motors’ Arlington plant is the only manufacturer of Suburbans, Tahoes, Escalades, and Yukons in the world.
Additionally, Arlington hosts the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Park of Major League Baseball, and the AT&T Stadium (formerly known as the Dallas Cowboys Stadium of the National Football League).
Known as the Mecca of international bowling, Arlington, Texas houses the U.S. Bowling Congress, the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, and the Bowling International Training & Research Center. Ultimately, bowling fans should not skip visiting the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame campus in Arlington, TX. This international bowling campus is a potential US Olympic bowling training facility where you can find a set of Olympic Rings.
The original Six Flags park in Arlington (Six Flags Over Texas) and Hurricane Harbor Water Park have made Arlington known as the entertainment capital of Texas. It boasts 82 parks, including the 1,300-acre River Legacy and Lake Arlington, and is easily accessible to Dallas and Fort Worth.
What makes Arlington Texas unique?
- Arlington, Texas lies on the crest of two distinct geological formations-a vast “grand prairie” called the “Eagle Ford” and an oak-dominated woodland of gently rolling hills called the “Eastern Cross Timbers.”
- In the 1930s and 1940s, Arlington was the largest gambling destination in the country before Las Vegas rose to fame. There was an illegal casino in Arlington that attracted guests such as Al Capone, Bonnie & Clyde, Clark Gable, and Mae West. Today it is found in Arlington Baptist University. Tours can be booked in advance or by reservation.
- Arlington Downs was a popular place to watch horses race when it opened in 1929. Despite pari-mutuel wagering being illegal in Texas until 1933, the law was repealed after the 1937 racing season, so the racetrack was repurposed for rodeos and other events until 1958. This former racetrack is now a historic site in Texas.
- AT&T Stadium features the world’s two longest arches, the largest sliding glass doors, and the world’s largest HDTV video board, which stretches from a 20-yard line to a 20-yard line and is lit by 30 million LEDs. AT&T Stadium is so large, the Statue of Liberty can fit inside with a few rooms to spare. From the midfield blue star to the retractable roof’s closure is 320 feet while New York’s Statue of Liberty is only 305 feet in height.
Arlington Sports, Leisure, and Outdoors
The city of Arlington, Texas, is a sports and recreation hub featuring the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, Dallas Wings, and an Esports arena to name a few. Here are some more reasons to visit Arlington:
- AT&T Stadium is not only famous for its two monumental arches and colossal HDTV video board, which is one of the largest in the world. Additionally, the stadium houses an impressive collection of contemporary art, including 50 pieces by 35 artists.
- The new Texas Rangers home, Globe Life Field, opened in 2020. The city of Arlington and Texas Rangers Baseball Club partner to build a climate-controlled, multi-purpose venue to keep Texas Rangers fans cool during the hot summer months. Globe Life Field’s retractable roof opens when the weather cooperates and closes when the forecast is not favorable, providing welcome relief to Rangers fans who have endured years of humid Texas summers. With 40,300 seats, it is smaller than Globe Life Park, offering fans a more intimate experience close to the field.
- Six Flags Over Texas was the first regional theme park in the United States and is named after six countries that ruled Texas in the past: Spain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy Government, the government of Republic of Texas, and the United States. The park opened on August 1, 1961, and admission was only $2.75. A total of 550,000 people visited the park during its first season. This world-class theme park boasts of the following records:
- Tallest Roller Coaster in Texas, the Titan at 245 ft
- Fastest Roller Coaster in Texas, the Titan with 85 mph speed
- Largest Land-Based Oil Derrick at 300 ft
- Second Tallest Swing Ride in the World, the Texas Skyscreamer at 400 ft tall
- Many young and talented entertainers, such as Betty Buckley and Kelly Clarkson, started their careers at Six Flags Over Texas, the first theme park in America to feature Broadway-style shows.
- Enjoy paddling along the River Legacy Paddling Trail which can take up to 8 miles along the West Fork of the Trinity River.
- Lake Arlington is another exciting outdoor attraction that has a 10.8-mile paddling trail. It was the first lake paddling trail in the Metroplex. Visitors can enjoy fishing, sailing, water skiing, biking, skating, picnics, and community events on this 2,275-acre lake.
- The 47 acres of Hurricane Harbor offer family fun on 3 million gallons of water. It has 23 rides, ranging from gentle floats down Lazy River to a free-fall of 70 feet on Dive Bomber.
- The Planetarium at UT-Arlington is one of the largest & most sophisticated systems in all of the Southwest—it has a 60-foot dome and state-of-the-art Digistar 4 DLP Projection System.
- Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has won two of his two matches at AT&T Stadium. His victories over Antonio Margarito in November of 2010 (attendance 41,734) and Joshua Clottey in March of 2010 attracted 50,994 boxing fans.
Arlington Culture
Located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, Arlington offers a wide range of cultural amenities. The city is host to renowned symphonies and ballets. There are many fine museums in Arlington, including the Arlington Museum of Art, the Fielder House, and the Center for Research and Contemporary Art at UTA Special Collections. The Arlington music and theater scene is thriving with groups such as Theatre Arlington, Arlington Community Band, Creative Arts Theater and School Tour, and UTA Concert Series. Another popular shopping destination near Metroplex is Parks Mall at Arlington. This area houses a large number of shops, restaurants, skating rinks, and movie theatres.
Arlington at Night
Arlington’s nightlife is quite diverse, and there is something for every taste. There are a lot of activities to choose from, such as theater, ballet, music, and dining. The Cowboys Dancehall has a dance floor measuring 3,500 square feet and features live country music from today’s top stars like Alabama, Lonestar, Willie Nelson, and more. The city has a lot of restaurants with live karaoke. Live bands perform four nights a week in the new Arlington nightclub and nightlife. Guests can also enjoy video games, billiards, shuffleboard, and other activities.
Arlington Convention Visitors Bureau
The Arlington Visitors Welcome Center is located near the Rangers ballpark in Arlington next to AT&T Stadium. Discounts, maps, visitors guides, and more are available to visitors.
City of Arlington Transportation
The Arlington suburb – which includes Six Flags Over Texas, AT&T Stadium, Hurricane Harbor, and Globe Life Park – is one of the largest cities in the U.S. without mass transit. The city is designed to function without a public transportation system. In 1980, 1995, and 2002, Arlington residents voted to reject mass transit options. Because Arlington’s residents want it that way, it will remain transit-free.
The city does, however, offer a few alternative transportation options if residents or visitors do not own a vehicle.
- Via Ride – For $3 per trip, residents can book seats on six-passenger vehicles using a smartphone application. Via also offers pick-up services at Centreport Station, the Trinity Railway Express’ stop in Fort Worth and Dallas.
- Drive.ai – passengers can book a ride using a smartphone app. The shuttle runs around the entertainment district from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
- Handitran Self-Service – transportation for elderly residents and residents with disabilities. If residents have been issued certificates, they can book rides up to 14 days in advance. Service costs $2 per one-way trip or $55 per month for unlimited service.
Famous People
- Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes, was born and raised in Arlington. TOMS donates a pair of shoes for every pair purchased to a child in need. TOMS has provided over 10 million pairs of new shoes to children around the world thanks to its giving partners.
- The University of Texas in Arlington has some famous alumni. Some of them include astronaut Kalpana Chalwa (1961-2003), who served as a mission specialist on the space shuttle Columbia; Gen.Tommy Franks of the United States Army is a distinguished alumnus of UTA; and actor Lou Diamond Phillips, best known for playing Ritchie Valens in La Bamba, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Drama from UTA.
Arlington is also home to some talented actors, athletes and authors as well. Some notable persons from Arlington,Tx are:
- Madison Pettis (actress)
- Mike McClendon (baseball player)
- Chris Odom (professional football player)
- Lee Shepherd (professional racecar driver)
- Kirstin Maldonado (singer, founding member of Pentatonix)
- Taylor Cole (actress)
- Jennifer Stone (actress)
- Stacey Oristano (actress)
- Billy Miller (actor)
- Elizabeth Bruenig (journalist and author)
- Ben Rappaport (author and game designer)
Demographics
The population of Arlington has grown by 9.54% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 365,438 in October 2010. It is currently growing at a rate of 0.18% per year. According to the 2020 census, Arlington’s population reached 400,316 and has a median age of 33.1 and a median household income of $63,09 Billion. With a total area of 99.7 square miles (258 square kilometers), Arlington is home to a population density of 4,180 people per square mile.
Five major ethnic groups make up Arlington’s population:
- 38.5% are White (Non-Hispanic)
- 22.9% are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
- 18.4% are White (Hispanic)
- 8.05% are Other (Multi-racial, Hispanic)
- 6.81% are Asian (Multi-racial, Non-Hispanic)
Climate
Arlington has a humid subtropical region. It is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. The maximum average precipitation usually occurs during May. Severe weather typically occurs between April to May. Winters are generally mild with snow seldom occurring (snowless years are not unusual). Arlington is also located in the famous Tornado Alley.
Among the weather conditions ever recorded are: The highest temperature was 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) in 1980 while the lowest temperature was -8 degrees Fahrenheit (-22 degrees Celsius) in 1899.
