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
Arlington, Kentucky on the name "Arlington" after Arlington Heights, Virginia, the hometown of a railroad official. The new city was incorporated in 1876. When Carlisle County was created in 1886, Arlington was initially selected as the seat of the new county. The nearby city of Bardwell challenged this, however, noting its more central location within the county. County officials agreed, and moved the seat to Bardwell shortly afterward. Arlington is located in southern Carlisle County at . U.S. Route 51 and Kentucky Route 80 intersect in the city. US 51 leads north to Bardwell, Kentucky, and to Cairo, Illinois, while leading south