History of Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas traces its roots to 1876, when settlers established a community along the tracks of the Texas and Pacific Railway. The budding town was named after Arlington House in Virginia (the former home of General Robert E. Lee), which carved out its early identity as a center of cotton ginning and farming. Over time, the settlement flourished, formally incorporating as a city in 1884.
Arlington’s transformation accelerated dramatically in the mid-20th century. The arrival of a General Motors assembly plant in 1954 sparked large-scale industrialization, a shift that would fuel decades of expansion. With the combined momentum of the automotive and aerospace industries, Arlington experienced one of the fastest population growth rates in the United States between 1950 and 1990.
Today, Arlington remains a vibrant and growing city, led by a team committed to its future. The current mayor is [Jim Ross], elected in 2021. He is joined on the city’s governing body by eight council members: Mauricio Galante (District 1), Raul H. Gonzalez (District 2), Nikkie Hunter (District 3), Andrew Piel (District 4), Rebecca Boxall (District 5), Long Pham (At-Large District 6), Bowie Hogg (At-Large District 7), and Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley (At-Large District 8). The city’s administration is headed by [Trey Yelverton], the City Manager, who guides Arlington’s operations and long-term planning.
From its humble beginnings along a railway to its growth as an industrial and cultural hub and now under contemporary civic leadership, Arlington’s evolution is a testament to resilience, ambition, and community.
