Arlington County, Virginia area. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., of which it was once a part. With a land area of , Arlington is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the U.S., and by reason of state law regarding population density, has no incorporated towns within its borders. Due to the county's proximity to downtown Washington, D.C., Arlington is home to many important installations for the capital region and U.S. government, including the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, and Arlington National Cemetery. Many schools and universities have campuses in
Construction of the Virginia approaches to Arlington Memorial Bridge county officials to plot a route around the north rather than south end of Arlington National Cemetery. In May 1932, Arlington county officials learned that the Virginia State Highway Commission had not obtained all the rights-of-way needed for the northern route. On May 22, the County Board of Supervisors ordered the Commonwealth's Attorney to seek condemnation of an right-of-way from Washington Boulevard north to North Pershing Drive. To assist the state in building this route, Senator Carter Glass attempted to secure a $10,000 appropriation to help the state survey the Lee Boulevard route. His effort was not successful. By 1933,