Arlington, Texas#Transportation

{{For timeline}}

European settlement in the Arlington area dates back at least to the 1840s. After the May 24, 1841 battle between Texas General Edward H. Tarrant and Native Americans of the Village Creek settlement, a trading post was established at Marrow Bone Spring in present-day Arlington (historical marker at {{coord|32|42.136|N|97|6.772|W|type:landmark}}).{{Cite web|title=Village Creek Historical Summary|url=http://www.forttours.com/pages/villagecreek.asp|access-date=2020-10-26|website=www.forttours.com}} The rich soil of the area attracted farmers, and several agriculture-related businesses were well established by the late nineteenth century.

Arlington was founded in 1876 along the Texas and Pacific Railway.{{Handbook of Texas|id=hja13|name=Arlington, Texas}} Named after General Robert E. Lee's Arlington House in Arlington County, Virginia.,{{Cite web|title=History of Arlington, Texas|url=https://downtownarlington.org/about/history|access-date=2020-10-26|website=downtownarlington.org}} Arlington grew as a cotton-ginning and farming center, and incorporated on April 21, 1884.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/File/City%20Hall/Depts/Office%20of%20Strategic%20Initiatives/Landmark%20Preservation%20Commission/Historic_Preservation_Plan.pdf |title=Preservation plan |year=2014 |website=arlingtontx.gov }} The city could boast of water, electricity, natural gas, and telephone services by 1910, along with a non-federal public school system.

File:Arlington Mineral Well, Arlington, Tex (20088440).jpg

From 1892 until 1951, a mineral well drilled exactly in the middle of downtown Arlington, Texas, was a key reason to visit the town. The water was part of the city's brand, also serving as a meeting point for everything from prohibition to the right of women to vote. The well has been paved over.

In the 1920s and 1930s, life in Arlington was bustling with controversy and entertainment. In the early 1920s, a tea room known as "Top O' Hill Terrace" opened up along the now-defunct Bankhead Highway to serve dinner and tea to guests traveling through Dallas and Fort Worth. Ownership changed in the late 1920s and shortly thereafter the facilities were secretly converted into casinos and a speakeasy. Known by historians as "Vegas before Vegas", escape tunnels and secret rooms were constructed to hide the illegal gambling during police raids. However, the restaurant portion of the facility still existed as a legitimate business and a front.{{cite web|url=https://www.topohillterrace.com|title=Top O' Hill Terrace History|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

File:Myers, Noyes, & Forrest Official Map Arlington, Texas 1926 UTA.jpg

By 1925 the city's population was estimated at 3,031—well under the population of Dallas and Fort Worth at the time.{{cite web|title=US. Census Bureau Statistical Information|url=https://www.census.gov/library/working-papers/1998/demo/POP-twps0027.html|access-date=July 19, 2020}} In 1929, a horse-racing track called Arlington Downs was constructed by W.T. Waggoner and Brian Nyantika close by to the speakeasy. Gambling was still illegal, but people were making bets regardless. Waggoner and his sons campaigned to make parimutuel betting legal, and in 1933 the state issued its first legal gambling permit to Arlington Downs. The track was immensely profitable at that point, making a daily average of $113,000 before inflation with a daily attendance average of 6,700 people. At the end of the 1937 season, the state legislature repealed their parimutuel gambling laws, and the Downs were sold to commercial developers.{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/xva02|title=Arlington Down Racetrack|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

In the 1940s, the Arlington Downs was used as a rodeo and event venue. Top O' Hill Terrace evaded the police until 1947, when famous Texas Ranger M. T. "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas caught the gambling operation in full-swing and had the place shut down. The 1940s brought World War II to the forefront of the United States, and many families from around Texas moved to Arlington to find jobs. Before World War II, the city's population had grown to over 4,000. The war kick-started a manufacturing revolution in Texas. Arlington was between the biggest aerospace engineering hubs in Texas at the time, Dallas and Fort Worth.{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/dzm01|title=Manufacturing Industry|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

In 1956, the Top O' Hill Terrace property was purchased by the Bible Baptist Seminary and converted into what is now Arlington Baptist University. The underground tunnels and original structures are still standing. In 1958, the Arlington Downs was completely destroyed by commercial developers. All that is left is an original concrete water trough and a Texas historical landmark marker placed in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://americanracehorse.com/texas-arlington-downs-racetrack-to-be-recognized-with-historical-marker/|title=Texas Arlingtn Downs Racetrack to be Recognized with Historical Marker|access-date=July 19, 2020}} Large-scale industrialization began in 1954 with the arrival of a General Motors assembly plant. Automotive and aerospace development gave the city one of the nation's greatest population growth rates between 1950 and 1990.

Arlington became one of the "boomburbs", the extremely fast-growing suburbs of the post-World War II era. U.S. Census Bureau population figures for the city date the population boom: 7,692 (1950), 90,229 (1970), 261,721 (1990), 365,438 (2010){{cite web|title=DP-1 'Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010' with '2010 Demographic Profile Data'|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212055711/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 9, 2013}} and almost 374,000 by 2011.{{cite web|title=Arlington (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4804000.html|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116021235/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4804000.html|archive-date=January 16, 2015|url-status=dead}} Tom Vandergriff served as mayor from 1951 to 1977 during this period of robust economic development. Six Flags Over Texas opened in Arlington in 1961.{{Cite web|title=Park History of Six Flags Over Texas|url=https://www.sixflags.com/overtexas/about-us/park-history|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Six Flags|language=en-US}} In 1972 the Washington Senators baseball team relocated to Arlington and began play as the Texas Rangers and in 2009 the Dallas Cowboys also began to play at the newly constructed Cowboys Stadium, now AT&T Stadium.

On January 13, 1996, a 9-year-old girl, Amber Hagerman, was abducted in Arlington and found murdered four days later. No one has been arrested or convicted for her murder as of 2024. The case led to the creation of the Amber Alert system.

In October 2019, Arlington was chosen out of several major U.S. cities to become the permanent home of the $150 million National Medal of Honor Museum. Construction of the museum is set to be completed in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.fox4news.com/news/national-medal-of-honor-museum-to-be-built-in-arlington|title=National Medal of Honor Museum to be built in Arlington|publisher=Fox|date=October 3, 2019|last1=Paredez|first1=Ashley|last2=Nguyen|first2=Lynnanne|access-date=January 6, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/arlington-gets-national-medal-of-honor-museum|title=Arlington Gets National Medal of Honor Museum|publisher=Dallas Cowboys|date=October 4, 2019|access-date=January 6, 2021}}

According to the United States Census Bureau,{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Arlington city, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/arlingtoncitytexas/PST045219|access-date=2020-10-29|website=www.census.gov|language=en}} the city of Arlington has a total area of {{convert|99.7|sqmi|km2}}; {{convert|96.5|sqmi|km2}} was land, and {{convert|3.2|sqmi|km2}} is water. The city lies approximately {{convert|12|mi}} east of downtown Fort Worth and {{convert|20|mi}} west of downtown Dallas.

Johnson Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River, and the Trinity River itself, flow through Arlington. Arlington borders Kennedale, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and Fort Worth, and surrounds the smaller communities of Dalworthington Gardens and Pantego.

Arlington falls in the Cfa (humid subtropical) region of the Köppen climate classification system which is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters.{{cite web|url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/usa.htm|publisher=Institute for Veterinary Public Health|title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated map for the United States of America|access-date=September 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217160754/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/usa.htm|archive-date=December 17, 2013}}

• The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|113|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in 1980.
• The lowest recorded temperature was {{convert|-8|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in 1899.
• The maximum average precipitation occurs in May.
• Severe weather generally occurs April and May months.
• Located in the famous Tornado Alley.
• Winters are typically mild with snow seldom occurring (snowless years are not unusual).

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Arlington Six Flags, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–1894, 1991–2020)

| Jan record high F = 83

| Feb record high F = 96

| Mar record high F = 94

| Apr record high F = 101

| May record high F = 101

| Jun record high F = 105

| Jul record high F = 110

| Aug record high F = 110

| Sep record high F = 111

| Oct record high F = 97

| Nov record high F = 89

| Dec record high F = 88

| year record high F = 111

| Jan high F = 55.0

| Feb high F = 59.4

| Mar high F = 67.1

| Apr high F = 74.4

| May high F = 81.6

| Jun high F = 90.0

| Jul high F = 94.4

| Aug high F = 94.5

| Sep high F = 87.6

| Oct high F = 77.0

| Nov high F = 65.0

| Dec high F = 57.0

| year high F = 75.2

| Jan mean F = 44.7

| Feb mean F = 48.6

| Mar mean F = 56.6

| Apr mean F = 64.0

| May mean F = 72.4

| Jun mean F = 80.8

| Jul mean F = 84.8

| Aug mean F = 84.4

| Sep mean F = 77.4

| Oct mean F = 66.2

| Nov mean F = 55.0

| Dec mean F = 46.8

| year mean F = 65.1

| Jan low F = 34.3

| Feb low F = 37.9

| Mar low F = 46.0

| Apr low F = 53.7

| May low F = 63.2

| Jun low F = 71.6

| Jul low F = 75.1

| Aug low F = 74.2

| Sep low F = 67.3

| Oct low F = 55.4

| Nov low F = 45.1

| Dec low F = 36.6

| year low F = 55.0

| Jan record low F = 3

| Feb record low F = 9

| Mar record low F = 15

| Apr record low F = 31

| May record low F = 39

| Jun record low F = 51

| Jul record low F = 57

| Aug record low F = 52

| Sep record low F = 40

| Oct record low F = 19

| Nov record low F = 20

| Dec record low F = 10

| year record low F = 3

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 2.67

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.24

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.51

| Apr precipitation inch = 3.34

| May precipitation inch = 4.66

| Jun precipitation inch = 3.78

| Jul precipitation inch = 2.46

| Aug precipitation inch = 2.40

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.45

| Oct precipitation inch = 4.82

| Nov precipitation inch = 2.76

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.00

| year precipitation inch = 40.09

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 5.4

| Feb precipitation days = 6.5

| Mar precipitation days = 7.6

| Apr precipitation days = 6.3

| May precipitation days = 8.2

| Jun precipitation days = 7.5

| Jul precipitation days = 4.7

| Aug precipitation days = 4.8

| Sep precipitation days = 5.8

| Oct precipitation days = 6.0

| Nov precipitation days = 5.6

| Dec precipitation days = 5.5

| year precipitation days = 73.9

| Jan snow inch = 0.1

| Feb snow inch = 0.4

| Mar snow inch = 0.0

| Apr snow inch = 0.0

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.0

| Nov snow inch = 0.0

| Dec snow inch = 0.3

| year snow inch = 0.8

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 0.2

| Feb snow days = 0.2

| Mar snow days = 0.0

| Apr snow days = 0.0

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.0

| Dec snow days = 0.1

| year snow days = 0.5

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=fwd

|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = May 17, 2024}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00410337&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = May 17, 2024}}

}}

During the April 3, 2012 tornado outbreak, a severe thunderstorm produced an EF2 tornado in Eastern Kennedale which moved northeast across U.S. Route 287 near Stagetrail Drive and continued in a north/northeastern direction. The tornado had a maximum path width of 150 yards estimated path length of 4.6 miles, and estimated maximum wind speeds of {{convert|135|mph}}.

The tornado caused damage to numerous businesses including the Green Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center which had a large portion of its roof torn off and sustained damage to exterior walls. Eighteen homes were destroyed, and 291 others were damaged as well. There were eight injuries which occurred due to this tornado, one of which was serious.{{cite interview|title=Severe weather blog: North Texas cleanup under way |url=http://www.wfaa.com/news/weather/Severe-weather-blog-Tornado-warnings-issued-145963545.html |access-date=April 4, 2012 |work=WFAA News 8 HD|publisher=American Broadcasting Company |location=Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex |date=April 3, 2012 |last1=WFAA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405194802/http://www.wfaa.com/news/weather/Severe-weather-blog-Tornado-warnings-issued-145963545.html |archive-date=April 5, 2012 }}{{cite video|title=Kennedale/Arlington Tornado, Rated EF-2|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/fxc/fwd/graphicast/image_full2.gif|publisher=National Weather Service|access-date=April 4, 2012|date=April 4, 2012}}{{cite web|title=NWS Forth Worth Kennedale/Arlington Tornado|url=https://www.weather.gov/fwd/april32012kennedalearlington|publisher=National Weather Service|access-date=December 9, 2020|date=December 9, 2020}}

{{US Census population

| 1880 = 163

| 1890 = 664

| 1900 = 1079

| 1910 = 1794

| 1920 = 3031

| 1930 = 3661

| 1940 = 4240

| 1950 = 7692

| 1960 = 44775

| 1970 = 90643

| 1980 = 160113

| 1990 = 261721

| 2000 = 332969

| 2010 = 365438

| 2020 = 394266

| estyear = 2024

| estimate = 403672

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}
2010–2020

}}

At the 2020 United States census, there were 394,266 people, 135,240 households, and 93,164 families residing in the city. During the 2018 American Community Survey estimates, Arlington had a population of 392,462. At the census of 2010, there were 365,438 people, 133,072 households, and 90,099 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,811|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 144,805 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,510|/mi2|/km2}}.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4804000.html|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116021235/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4804000.html|archive-date=January 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}

The 2011 estimated racial makeup of the city (based on the 2010 census) was 59% White, 18.8% Black or African American, 6.8% Asian, 0.7% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.3% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latinos of any race were 27.4% of the population.{{cite web|title=NP01 – Population and Housing Narrative Profile: 2011" with "2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates" |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=U. S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 11, 2014 }} In 2018, the racial makeup of the city was 39.1% non-Hispanic White, 22% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 6.8% Asian American, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, 2.3% from two or more races, and 29.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{Cite web|title=American Community Survey 2018 Demographic and Housing Estimates|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Arlington,%20Texas%20demographic&tid=ACSDP5Y2018.DP05&hidePreview=false|access-date=2020-10-20|website=data.census.gov}} Approximately 20.8% of the population were foreign-born from 2014 to 2018.{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Arlington city, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/arlingtoncitytexas/PST045219|access-date=2020-10-20|website=www.census.gov|language=en}} By 2020, 34.93% were non-Hispanic White, 22.38% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 7.63% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.43% some other race, 3.54% multiracial, and 30.68% Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4804000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=data.census.gov}} The demographic increase of American Black and American Hispanic, as well as American Asian is notable with migration patterns and fertility.{{Cite web |last=Frey |first=William H. |date=2020-07-01 |title=The nation is diversifying even faster than predicted, according to new census data |url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/new-census-data-shows-the-nation-is-diversifying-even-faster-than-predicted/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Brookings |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Essig |first2=Alexa |last2=Ura |first3=Jason |last3=Kao |first4=Carla |last4=Astudillo |first1=Chris |date=2021-08-12 |title=People of color make up 95% of Texas' population growth, and cities and suburbs are booming, 2020 census shows |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/12/texas-2020-census/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}

In 2010, there were 133,072 households, out of which 40% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 48% were married couples living together, 15% had a female householder with no father present(family units), and 32% were non-family or family-units. 25% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.3.{{cite web|title=DP-1 – 'Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010' with '2010 Demographic Profile Data'|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212055711/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2013}} In the city, the 2010 population was spread out, with 31% under the age of 20, 8% from 20 to 24, 30% from 25 to 44, 23% from 45 to 64, and 8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 104 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 94 males 18 and over.{{cite web|title=DP-1 'Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010' with '2010 Demographic Profile Data'|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212055711/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2013}}

The median income for a household in the city was estimated to be $50,655 in 2011. Individual males working full-time year-round had a median income of $41,059 versus $35,265 for females.{{cite web|title=NP01 – 'Population and Housing Narrative Profile: 2011' with '2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates'|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?fpt=narrative_profile|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2013}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The per capita income for the city was $25,317. About 16% of Arlington families in general and 31% of female-headed families with no husband present were living below the poverty line; 20% of the Arlington population as a whole, including 28% of individuals under age 18 and 8% of those age 65 or over were living in poverty. Approximately 43% of Arlington renters and 28% of homeowners were paying 35% or more of their household income for housing costs in 2011.{{cite web|title=CP04 – 'Selected Housing Characteristics 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates'|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_1YR_CP04&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212213818/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_1YR_CP04&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2013}}

According to Arlington's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR),{{cite web |title=City of Arlington CAFR Reports |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/departments/finance/financial_transparency/traditional_finances/annual_comprehensive_financial_reports |access-date=July 14, 2024 |website=arlingtontx.gov}} the top five employers, making up 13% of the total employment in the City, include:

• American Excelsior Company (1888){{cite web|url=http://worknet.wisconsin.gov/worknet/empdetail.aspx?menuselection=ed&empnum=006629232|title=WORKnet - Infogroup Employer Profile|work=Wisconsin.gov|accessdate=2015-06-25}}

File:Tornado water slide at Hurricane Harbor in Texas.jpg water slide at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor]]

Arlington is home to Six Flags Over Texas, a nationwide theme park that includes many notable attractions. Six Flags also opened Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, a waterpark, after the previous location, Wet 'n Wild, was sold to them in the mid-1990s.

With the relocation of the U.S. Bowling Congress, and the Bowling Proprietors Association of America and the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Arlington became the world headquarters for bowling.{{cite web|title=USBC receives $693,000 award from State of Texas for relocation to Arlington|url=http://www.bowlingdigital.com/bowl/node/3818|date=March 20, 2008}}

For retail shopping, Arlington is home to the Parks Mall at Arlington, which houses numerous stores, eateries, an ice skating rink, a bowling/arcade spot, and a movie theatre. In addition, the Arlington Highlands was completed in mid-2007, serving as a shopping and entertainment hotspot. The Arlington Highlands is located on I-20 at Matlock Rd. The Lincoln Square located near the AT&T Stadium also houses several stores, restaurants, and a Studio Movie Grill.{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnsquarearlington.com/info/aboutus |title=Lincoln Square ::: Arlington ::: TX |publisher=Lincolnsquarearlington.com |access-date=June 24, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425184302/http://lincolnsquarearlington.com/info/aboutus |archive-date=April 25, 2016 }}

Arlington is also home to Theatre Arlington, one of the largest community theatres in the nation, which produces quality live theatre year-round and offers theater classes for all ages. The Mainstage Theatre at UT Arlington is another well-known venue for live theatre in Arlington.

The Arlington Museum of Art in downtown and the Gallery at UT Arlington are the city's designated art venues. In 2016, the city's art museum hosted a public art project called "The Star of Texas" to promote their new slogan as the "American Dream City." Community artists were chosen to paint a large star sculpture with their interpretation of the city. Today, these stars can still be seen throughout the city – most notably in the downtown and entertainment districts.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/residents/arlington_fun/star_of_texas_challenge|title=STAR OF TEXAS CHALLENGE|website=arlingtontx.gov/|access-date=July 19, 2020}} In the mid-2010's, art murals began to appear in downtown Arlington, giving the area an artistic atmosphere.

The Planetarium Dome Theater at UT Arlington is one of the largest in Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.uta.edu/planetarium/ |title=The Planetarium at UT Arlington — The University of Texas at Arlington |publisher=Uta.edu |access-date=June 24, 2016}}

Levitt Pavilion Arlington opened in 2009 and offers 50 free concerts per year in downtown Arlington featuring a diverse range of music genres. Notable performers have included Asleep at the Wheel, the Band of Heathens, the Killdares, Pentatonix, the Polyphonic Spree, the Quebe Sisters, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. The Texas Hall and AT&T Stadium are also destinations for live concerts in Arlington.

On July 4, the all-volunteer non-profit Arlington Fourth of July Parade Association puts on the annual parade through Downtown Arlington and UT Arlington's College Park District, featuring floats and entries from local schools, businesses, and organizations. The parade is broadcast on local radio stations as well as on the AISD TV station and website. The parade began in 1965 as decorated bicycles ridden through Randol Mill Park organized by citizen Dottie Lynn and Church Women United. It has grown to around 75,000 spectators a year enjoying the festivities.{{cite web|url=https://arlington4th.org/about-the-parade/parade-history|title=Parade History|website=arlington4th.org|access-date=August 27, 2017|archive-date=June 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606112404/http://www.arlington4th.org/about-the-parade/parade-history|url-status=dead}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the parade was canceled for the first time in 55 years.

Texas Live! is a $250 million mixed-use district featuring dining, entertainment, and a 302-room hotel with a convention center.{{cite web|url=https://dallasinnovates.com/arlington-swinging-fences/|title=Arlington: Swinging for the Fences » Dallas Innovates|first=Dallas|last=Innovates|date=March 14, 2018}} The 200,000-square-foot district is located immediately outside the new Globe Life Field. Texas Live! opened in August 2018.{{cite web|url=http://texas-live.com/|title=The Cordish Companies – Home|website=texas-live.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/rangers-reveal-construction-update-on-texas-live-project/|title=Rangers Reveal Construction Progress For Texas Live! Project|website=CBS News |date=February 26, 2018}}

The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official tourism identity for the city of Arlington, Texas. The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is tasked with pursuing conventions, meetings, tour groups, reunions, and individual leisure travelers to increase city revenues from sale and lodging taxes. The Arlington CVB also supports local stakeholders that pursue high-profile special events and sporting events to fill hotels, Arlington Convention Center, AT&T Stadium, College Park Center, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, and other venues around the city.

File:Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M–Commerce football 2021 01.jpg]]

File:Arlington June 2020 4 (AT&T Stadium).jpg]]

File:Arlington June 2020 5 (Globe Life Field).jpg]]

Arlington has long been the home of the Texas Rangers baseball team, who made Arlington Stadium their first home upon moving to Dallas/Fort Worth from Washington, D.C., in 1972. In 1994, the Rangers built a new stadium, The Ballpark in Arlington (renamed Choctaw Stadium in 2021{{cite news |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/article253757073.html |title=Globe Life Park renamed Choctaw Stadium following naming rights agreement|last=Cardona|first=Megan|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=August 26, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2021}}). The Rangers made trips to the 2010 World Series, 2011 World Series, and 2023 World Series, winning in 2023 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2016, residents voted to construct a new stadium and by 2017, construction began on the $1.1 billion Globe Life Field across the street from Choctaw Stadium. Globe Life Field serves as the new home of the Texas Rangers; however, the debut of the park was delayed by the postponement of the 2020 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.theshorthorn.com/sports/delay-of-game-texas-rangers-react-to-postponement-of-globe-life-field-s-opening-day/article_84a0d0b2-737a-11ea-b97b-e32aa5108b2b.html|title=Delay of game: Texas Rangers react to postponement of Globe Life Field's Opening Day|date=March 31, 2020 |access-date=July 19, 2020}} In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Arlington became the first city since 1944 to hold every World Series game in a single venue at Globe Life Field.{{cite news |title=World Series To Be Held in Arlington; First Time at One Site Since 1944: AP |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/red-fever/world-series-to-be-held-in-arlington-first-time-at-one-site-since-1944-ap/2444257/ |access-date=27 October 2020 |publisher=NBC DFW |date=15 September 2020}} In October 2023, the Rangers defeated the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series, and won the 2023 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Dallas Cowboys football team moved from Texas Stadium in Irving in 2009 to the $1.3 billion AT&T Stadium, which is within walking distance of the Rangers Ballpark. Completed in 2009, it has attracted high-profile sporting events to Arlington, including the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl XLV in 2011, the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball South Regional Championships, and the 2014 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Final Four; the stadium was also the site of the first College Football Championship Game in January 2015 (covering the 2014 season). The Dallas Cowboys rent AT&T Stadium from the City of Arlington for $167,500 per month over a thirty-year period, a sum far less than market value; in exchange, the Cowboys have complete control over the facility's calendar and the revenues collected therefrom, including naming rights, billboard advertising, concession sales and most of the surrounding parking.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

The Dallas Wings became the first Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchise in North Texas in 2015. They were known as the Tulsa Shock while based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but reinvented their brand after relocating to North Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/wnbas-dallas-wings-introduced-in-dfw-metroplex/|title=WNBA's Dallas Wings Introduced in DFW Metroplex|publisher=WNBA|access-date=November 23, 2015}} The Wings play home games at the College Park Center in Arlington.

The Arlington Renegades is a UFL football team based in Arlington. The team was established in 2019 and played in the renovated Choctaw Stadium. The inaugural home opener drew 17,026 fans.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/xfl-off-to-solid-start-during-opening-weekend-with-healthy-attendances-and-tv-ratings/|title=XFL off to solid start during opening weekend with healthy attendances and TV ratings|publisher=SportBusiness|date=February 10, 2020|last=Williams|first=Bob|access-date=January 6, 2021}}

The North Texas SC of MLS Next Pro also calls Arlington and Choctaw Stadium home since May 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2019/10/03/north-texas-soccer-club-play-globe-life-park-2020|title=North Texas Soccer Club to Play at Globe Life Park in 2020|website=FCDallas.com|date=October 3, 2019 }}

AT&T Stadium will host the most matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-will-host-9-games-in-upcoming-2026-world-cup/#:~:text=A%20silver%20lining%20in%20Sunday%27s,on%20the%20pitch%20in%20Arlington | title=AT&T Stadium will host 9 games in upcoming 2026 World Cup - CBS Texas | website=CBS News | date=February 5, 2024 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/media-releases/media-release-greater-than-fwc-2026-greater-than-host-cities-announcement|title=FIFA unveils stellar line-up of FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities|publisher=FIFA|date=June 16, 2022|access-date=June 16, 2022|archive-date=June 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616223211/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/media-releases/media-release-greater-than-fwc-2026-greater-than-host-cities-announcement|url-status=live}}

The UT Arlington Mavericks are the athletic teams representing The University of Texas at Arlington. The Mavericks compete in the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference in 15 varsity sports.{{cite web|url=http://www.utamavs.com/ |title=UT Arlington Official Athletic Site – The University of Texas at Arlington |publisher=Utamavs.com |access-date=November 23, 2015}}

UTA was a founding member of the Southland Conference in 1963 and participated in the league until the end of the 2011–12 athletic year. They joined the Western Athletic Conference for one year before moving to the Sun Belt Conference for several years then moving back to the Western Athletic Conference in July 2022.

A new arena called the College Park Center is now the host facility for basketball and volleyball home games as well as other university activities. The arena opened February 1, 2012, and seats approximately 7,000 people. Baseball home games are held at the Clay Gould Ballpark and softball home games are at the Allan Saxe Field; both facilities completed $5.5 million in upgrade cost in early 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.utamavs.com/sports/m-basebl/archive/clubhouse.html |title=UT Arlington Official Athletic Site – Baseball |publisher=Utamavs.com |access-date=November 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123221303/http://www.utamavs.com/sports/m-basebl/archive/clubhouse.html |archive-date=November 23, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

The Mavericks' team name selection was made in 1971, predating the National Basketball Association's expansion franchise Dallas Mavericks' starting choice in 1980.

Arlington Baptist College also competes in a number of sports. They are known as the Patriots and is an active member in the National Christian College Athletic Association, Southwest Region, Division II, and is a member of the Association of Christian College Athletics. The sports Arlington Baptist competes in range from: basketball (men and women's), golf (men and women's), cross country (men and women's), Track & Field (men), volleyball (women), softball (women), and baseball (men).

Arlington is the home of several notable athletes. 1998 American League Rookie of the Year Ben Grieve graduated from Martin High School in 1994. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Vernon Wells grew up in Arlington and attended Bowie High School, San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence attended Arlington High School and played collegiate baseball at The University of Texas at Arlington, and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher John Lackey also played for UTA. Lamar High School alumnus Jeremy Wariner won two gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics, and the 2005 world championship in the 400 meters in Rome.

UTA also produced Doug Russell, who won two gold medals in swimming at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 and for whom a park on campus is named. Champion bodybuilder (Mr. Olympia 1998–2005) Ronnie Coleman resides in Arlington. Houston Comets Guard Erin Grant grew up in Arlington and attended Mansfield high school. NFL wide receiver Mark Clayton, now with the St. Louis Rams, graduated from Sam Houston High School in 2000 and was part of the University of Oklahoma's 2001 national championship team. Jared Connaughton, sprinter for the 2008 Canada Olympic team, was a sprinter for the UT Arlington team. Myles Garrett, defensive end for the Cleveland Browns and 1st overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, graduated from Martin High School in 2014.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 2026, IndyCar will contest the first ever Grand Prix of Arlington around the AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, in collaboration with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-07 |title=IndyCar GP of Arlington confirmed for 2026 |url=https://racer.com/2024/10/07/indycar-gp-of-arlington-confirmed-for-2026/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=RACER |language=en-US}}

File:Arlington April 2019 17 (Arlington City Council Chamber).jpg

The Arlington City Council has been presided over by Mayor Jim Ross since June 2021, following the 6-year incumbency of Mayor Jeff Williams.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/mayor |title=Mayor Jeff Williams | City of Arlington, Texas |publisher=arlingtontx.gov |date=June 1, 2019|access-date=November 23, 2015}} The Arlington City Council is composed of the Mayor and eight City Council members.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/district_map |title=District Map|website=arlingtontx.gov}} Elections are conducted every May with runoffs in June, with an exception for a November and December election and runoff in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City Officials are officially elected non-partisan, although many are affiliated with political parties outside of official capacity. The Mayor/Council Members are subject to a combined maximum of three 2-year terms.{{cite web|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/arlington/article220920010.html|title=Arlington City Council term limits approved, meaning 3 seats will be open in May|publisher=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=November 6, 2018|last=Hanna|first=Bill|access-date=January 6, 2021}}

City Council Members {{As of|2024|August|lc=y}}:{{cite web |date=September 4, 2022 |title=City Council Members |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members |access-date=June 13, 2019 |website=arlingtontx.gov}}

• District 1: Mauricio Galante; first elected May 2024; term ends May 2027{{Cite web |title=Council Member Mauricio Galante District 1 |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members/council_member_district_1 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.arlingtontx.gov |language=en-US}}
• District 2: Raul H. Gonzalez; first elected November 2020; term ends May 2027{{Cite web |title=Council Member Raul H. Gonzalez District 2 |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members/council_member_district_2 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.arlingtontx.gov |language=en-US}}
• District 3: Nikkie Hunter; first elected June 2021; term ends May 2026{{Cite web |title=Council Member Nikkie Hunter District 3 |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members/council_member_district_3 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.arlingtontx.gov |language=en-US}}
• District 4: Andrew Piel; first elected May 2019; term ends May 2026{{Cite web |title=Council Member Andrew Piel District 4 |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members/council_member_district_4 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.arlingtontx.gov |language=en-US}}
• District 5: Rebecca Boxall; first elected May 2021; term ends May 2026{{Cite web |title=Council Member Rebecca Boxall District 5 |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members/council_member_district_5 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.arlingtontx.gov |language=en-US}}
• District 6: Long Pham (at-large); first elected June 2022; term ends May 2027{{Cite web |title=Council Member Long Pham District 6 |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members/council_member_district_6 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.arlingtontx.gov |language=en-US}}
• District 7: Dr. Bowie Hogg (at-large); first elected May 2022; term ends May 2027{{Cite web |title=Council Member Bowie Hogg District 7 |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members/council_member_district_7 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.arlingtontx.gov |language=en-US}}
• District 8: Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley (at-large); first elected May 2019; term ends May 2026{{Cite web |title=Council Member Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley District 8 |url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/government/city_council/members/council_member_district_8 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.arlingtontx.gov |language=en-US}}

According to Arlington's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended in September 2022, the city's various funds had $731.306 million in revenues, $678.643 million in expenditures, $4.995 billion in total assets, $1.970 billion in total liabilities, and $528.568 million in cash in investments.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/departments/finance/financial_transparency/traditional_finances/comprehensive_annual_financial_reports |title=City of Arlington Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports |date=June 24, 2023}}

The Arlington Police Department had 871 employees and a budget of $118 million as of 2020.{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Carl |last2=Baranauckas |first2=Carla |title=Here's how much money goes to police departments in largest cities across the U.S. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/06/26/how-much-money-goes-to-police-departments-in-americas-largest-cities/112004904/ |work=USA Today |date=June 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714185818/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/06/26/how-much-money-goes-to-police-departments-in-americas-largest-cities/112004904/ |archive-date=July 14, 2020}}

Fire protection is provided by the Arlington Fire Department, and emergency medical services are provided by American Medical Response, which also provides medical support to AT&T Stadium.

The city of Arlington is a voluntary member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.

Arlington is home to the following State House districts: the 92nd represented by Salman Bhojani (D), the 94th represented by Tony Tinderholt (R), the 95th represented by Nicole Collier (D), the 96th represented by David Cook (R), and the 101st represented by Chris Turner (D).

Arlington is also represented in the following State Senate districts: Kelly Hancock (R) of the 9th, Phil King (R) of the 10th, Brian Birdwell (R) of the 22nd, and Royce West (D) of the 23rd.

It is represented in the Texas State Board of Education by Patricia Hardy (R) and Aicha Davis (D) of the 11th and 13th districts.

Four US House of Representatives districts go through Arlington: Texas' 6th represented by Jake Ellzey (R), Texas’ 25th represented by Roger Williams (R), Texas’ 30th represented by Jasmine Crockett (D), and Texas' 33rd represented by Marc Veasey (D).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains the Arlington Ecological Services Field Office (ARLES) on Northeast Green Oaks Boulevard in far northeastern Arlington. While it is one of the oldest Ecological Services Field Stations in the United States, today its activities are focused primarily on the illegal trafficking of exotic species through Dallas/Fort-Worth International Airport. The office is not staffed or funded for nor active on the protection and enhancement of local urban-area endangered species habitat, nor on the enforcement of the related provisions of the Endangered Species Act.{{cite web|title=Welcome to the Arlington Ecological Services Field Office|url=http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arlingtontexas/|publisher=U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service|access-date=January 8, 2013}}; personal conversations

The United States Postal Service (USPS) operates the Arlington Main Post Office."[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/arlington-main-ofc-delivery-300-e-south-st-arlington-tx-1442300 Post Office Location – ARLINGTON MAIN OFC DELIVERY] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612095435/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/arlington-main-ofc-delivery-300-e-south-st-arlington-tx-1442300 |date=June 12, 2010 }}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2010."[https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall Arlington Municipal Building] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510022742/http://www.arlingtontx.gov/cityhall/faq.html |date=May 10, 2010 }}." City of Arlington. Retrieved May 15, 2010. "Arlington's main Post Office is located at 300 E. South St. in Arlington." Other post offices operated by the USPS include Bardin Road,[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/bardin-road-1301-e-bardin-rd-arlington-tx-1354032 Post Office Location – BARDIN ROAD] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406080848/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/bardin-road-1301-e-bardin-rd-arlington-tx-1354032 |date=April 6, 2010 }}. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2010. East Arlington,[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/east-arlington-1828-e-park-row-dr-ste-b-arlington-tx-1361643 Post Office Location – EAST ARLINGTON] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605212924/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/east-arlington-1828-e-park-row-dr-ste-b-arlington-tx-1361643 |date=June 5, 2010 }}. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2010. Great Southwest,[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/great-southwest-711-106th-st-arlington-tx-1365511 Post Office Location – OAKWOOD] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423073418/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/great-southwest-711-106th-st-arlington-tx-1365511 |date=April 23, 2010 }}. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2010. Oakwood,[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/oakwood-1009-oakwood-ln-arlington-tx-1375827 Post Office Location – OAKWOOD] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509001908/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/oakwood-1009-oakwood-ln-arlington-tx-1375827 |date=May 9, 2010 }}. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2010. Pantego,[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/pantego-1114-s-bowen-rd-arlington-tx-1376729 Post Office Location – PANTEGO] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301020653/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/pantego-1114-s-bowen-rd-arlington-tx-1376729 |date=March 1, 2010 }}. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2010. and Watson Community.[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/watson-community-1975-ballpark-way-arlington-tx-1386644 Post Office Location – WATSON COMMUNITY] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509001933/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/watson-community-1975-ballpark-way-arlington-tx-1386644 |date=May 9, 2010 }}. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2010.

The National Transportation Safety Board operates the Arlington Aviation field office in Arlington."[https://www.ntsb.gov/abt_ntsb/regions/aviation.htm Regional Offices: Aviation]." National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved May 15, 2010.

Arlington is home to several public and private colleges and universities.

File:University of Texas at Arlington March 2021 103 (Gateway Tower).jpg

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA or UT Arlington) is one of the largest universities in Texas. The university has over 40,000 students{{cite web |url=https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2018/09/17/fall-2018-enrollment |title=Fall 2018 Enrollment Sets New Records at UTA |date=September 17, 2018 |access-date=April 15, 2020}} and is a valuable asset to the city of Arlington and its economy. Buildings within the academic core of the UT Arlington campus are among the oldest structures in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, including Preston Hall, Ransom Hall, College Hall, and the original Arlington High School.{{cite web |url=https://fortworth.uta.edu/ |title=Home – UTA Fort Worth |website=fortworthu.uta.edu }}

The Southeast Campus of Tarrant County College is located in Arlington.

Arlington Baptist University (ABU) is a private 4-year Bible college affiliated with the World Baptist Fellowship that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. ABU traces its founding to J. Frank Norris, the controversial Independent Baptist minister.

A branch of University of Phoenix is located in Arlington, as well as the flagship campus of Ogle School, a cosmetology school.

Arlington's residents live in five independent school districts (ISDs): Arlington ISD, Mansfield ISD, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Kennedale ISD, and Fort Worth ISD.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/departments/economic_development/community_profile/education|title=Education|publisher=City of Arlington|accessdate=2021-12-29}} - [https://www.arlingtontx.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/File/City%20Hall/Depts/Economic%20Development/Data%20Center/Education/School-District-Map.pdf Direct map of school districts] - See also: {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48439_tarrant/DC20SD_C48439.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902053338/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48439_tarrant/DC20SD_C48439.pdf |archive-date=2021-09-02 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Tarrant County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2021-12-29}} In Texas, school district boundaries do not always follow city and county boundaries because all aspects of school district government apparatus, including district boundaries, are separated from city and county governments. Not all city of Arlington residents is in the AISD, and not all AISD students are residents of Arlington.

There are currently ten AISD high schools.{{cite web|title=School Directory|url=http://www.aisd.net/information/School_Directory.aspx|website=Arlington Independent School District|access-date=April 12, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411065854/http://www.aisd.net/information/School_Directory.aspx|archive-date=April 11, 2015}}

Arlington has dozens of private and public charter schools not affiliated with any ISDs.{{cite web|url=https://www.privateschoolreview.com/texas/arlington|title=Arlington, TX Private Schools - PrivateSchoolReview.com|website=Privateschoolreview.com|access-date=August 27, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.greatschools.org/texas/arlington/schools/?st=charter|title=Arlington Public Charter Schools, 1–12 – Arlington, TX – GreatSchools|website=greatschools.org}}

File:Meeting regarding proposed mass transit for Arlington (10006338).jpg, circa 1972]]

File:RonaldReaganMemorialHwy ArlingtonTX.jpg in Arlington was dedicated as 'Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway' (signs are visible at mile markers 447 and 452)]]

On July 2, 1902, the first Dallas/Fort-Worth "Interurban" electric trolley came to Arlington; this popular service ran between those three cities and points in between until Christmas Eve, 1934, providing easy transportation for both business and pleasure. The track ran through Arlington along what is now Abram Street.

In the era of private operation of passenger trains prior to the Amtrak era, Texas and Pacific Railway trains such as the Texas Eagle and the Louisiana Eagle made stops in Arlington, on trips between Fort Worth and Dallas.[http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track9/texeagle196706.html 1967 schedule of the Texas Eagle] Streamliner Schedules, from the Official Guide of the Railways[http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track9/louisianaeagle195208.html 1952 schedule of the Louisiana Eagle], Streamliner Schedules, from the Official Guide of the Railways{{cite journal |title=Missouri Pacific Lines, Table 1 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways|publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=102 |issue=12 |date=May 1970}} Amtrak's Texas Eagle (Chicago-San Antonio) makes stops at Fort Worth Central Station 14 miles to the west and Dallas Union Station 18 miles to the east.

Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY) is located entirely within Arlington and is a public use airport owned by the City of Arlington. It serves as a reliever airport for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field. Several companies operate aircraft services on the airport property, including the Bell Helicopter division of Textron.

For many years, Arlington had the distinction of being the largest city in the United States that was not served by a public transportation system.{{cite web|author=Keith Barry |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/08/arlington-texas-bus/ |title=Biggest American Town Without Public Transportation Finally Catches the Bus |publisher=WIRED |date=August 2, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2016}} Between 1980 and 2013, voters rejected three separate ballot proposals to bring public transportation to the city, though certain political and economic realities particular to North Texas made successful passage of those measures arguably more difficult in Arlington than in other parts of the state or country.{{cite news|last=Tahir |first=Rabeea |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2014/04/07/arlington-monitors-success-first-ever-commuter-bus/ |title=Afraid It Was Missing the Boat, Arlington Tries the Bus |work=The Texas Tribune |access-date=June 24, 2016}} On August 19, 2013, the two-year pilot project known as the Metro Arlington Xpress (MAX) bus began offering weekday bus service between College Park Center (on the campus of The University of Texas at Arlington) and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) CentrePort Station near DFW Airport, with a single stop near the Arlington Entertainment District. From the TRE station, riders could take the TRE to Fort Worth, Dallas and points in between, all of which are served by comprehensive public transit systems.{{cite web|title=Arlington Gets Public Transportation Service|date=August 19, 2013 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/arlington-gets-public-transportation-service/|publisher=CBS DFW|access-date=August 21, 2013}}

On its first year, the MAX program logged 64,600 one-way rides and cost $1.4 million.{{cite news|last=Schrock |first=Susan |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/news/traffic/your-commute/article3869864.html |title=Arlington's pilot bus program is catching on |newspaper=The Star-Telegram |date=August 1, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2016|quote=64,600 one-way trips have been logged on MAX buses since the service rolled out last August [...] The pilot program, operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Fort Worth Transportation, costs $1.4 million}} The service was run through a tri-party agreement between the City of Arlington, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit. City Council extended the MAX bus service beyond the original two-year pilot timeframe through annual contracts until December 31, 2017. The MAX was officially shut down on December 29, 2017, a few weeks after Via debuted in Arlington.{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Kyle |date=December 29, 2017 |title=Arlington calls it quits on MAX bus route, opting for ride-sharing vans instead |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/arlington/2017/12/29/arlington-calls-quits-max-bus-route-opts-ride-sharing-instead |work=Dallas Morning News |access-date=February 25, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230031429/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/arlington/2017/12/29/arlington-calls-quits-max-bus-route-opts-ride-sharing-instead |archive-date=December 30, 2017 }} The City of Arlington has a lower than average percentage of households without a car. In 2015, just 4.7 percent of Arlington households lacked a car, which dropped to 3.7 percent in 2016. The national average is 8.7 percent in 2016. Arlington averaged 1.89 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.{{cite journal|title=Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map|journal=Governing|url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511162014/http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|url-status=dead}}{{update inline|date=February 2025}}

In January 2017, Arlington was part of a Texas state-wide designation as an Automated Vehicle Proving Ground by the U.S. Department of Transportation.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_archive/2017_archived_news/january_2017/arlington_among_texas_communities_chosen |title=Arlington Among Texas Communities Chosen as Testing Grounds for Automated Vehicles – City of Arlington, TX|date=January 25, 2017}} In August 2017, Arlington launched the first autonomous vehicle shuttle service in the United States offered by a municipal government to the general public on a continuous basis.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_archive/2017_archived_news/august_2017/arlington_to_roll_out_milo_autonomous_august_26/ |title=Arlington to Roll Out Milo Autonomous Shuttle Pilot Program August 26 – City of Arlington, TX|date=August 11, 2017}} Named Milo, the autonomous electric shuttles provide service during major events at Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium, connecting remote parking areas to the stadiums.

File:Via Arlington.png

Arlington also offers Via Arlington, a public, on-demand, shared transportation service in partnership with the TransitTech company Via, which began in December 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_archive/2017_archived_news/december_2017/via__city_of_arlington_launch_innovative/ |title=Via, City of Arlington Launch Innovative, On-Demand Rideshare Pilot Program – City of Arlington, TX|date=December 11, 2017}} Riders can request a pickup from a six-passenger van within a designated service area, which covers key destinations within Arlington as well as connecting to the Trinity Railway Express CentrePort Station.{{Cite web|title=Arlington Via Rideshare|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/departments/office_of_strategic_initiatives/transportation_planning/Arlington_Via_Rideshare|access-date=2022-02-02|website=www.arlingtontx.gov|language=en-US}} Beginning January 19, 2021, this service was expanded citywide.{{Cite web|title=Via Rideshare|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/departments/office_of_strategic_initiatives/transportation_planning/via_rideshare|access-date=2021-03-11|website=www.arlingtontx.gov|language=en-US}} Arlington also partners with Via and autonomous vehicles provider May Mobility to operate Arlington RAPID, which provides on-demand autonomous vehicle rides in Downtown Arlington and on the University of Texas at Arlington's campus and is one of the first services of its kind in the United States.{{Cite web|title=RAPID|url=https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/departments/office_of_strategic_initiatives/rapid|access-date=2022-02-02|website=www.arlingtontx.gov|language=en-US}}

Additionally, Arlington has four transit services targeting individual demographic groups: "Handitran" serves senior citizens and disabled people; Arlington hotels pay for a tourist-oriented shuttle-bus system for their guests; The University of Texas at Arlington runs a limited shuttle service for college students; and lastly Mission Arlington, an Arlington-run charity serving the severely indigent, has a bus service that circulates people needing social services or transportation to employment.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

The city is served by two Interstate Highways, I-20, also known as Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, and I-30, also named Tom Landry Memorial Highway. Other limited-access freeways include State Highway 360, which is named for the founder of Six Flags Over Texas, Angus G. Wynne, running along the eastern border, and U.S. Highway 287, which traverses the southwestern portion of the city. In most cases, the memorial names are not used in reference to these roadways. The city also has a tollway, The 360 Tollway, which connects Mansfield to Arlington and Grand Prairie. The tollway is also known as the Rosa Parks Memorial Parkway, named after the civil rights activist. Near US-287, where the tollway ends, the tollway is also named "Senator Chris Harris Memorial Highway" after the local legislator who aided the extension.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

The Union Pacific Railroad now owns and operates the original Texas and Pacific (later Missouri Pacific) transcontinental right-of-way and rail route through Arlington (parallel to which the Interurban originally ran); it offers no passenger stops in Arlington, its Arlington freight service is primarily to the local General Motors assembly plant, and most of its lengthy and numerous freight trains are merely passing through town to and from points far away.{{Handbook of Texas|id=eqt08|name=Texas and Pacific Railway}}{{Handbook of Texas|id=eqm06|name=Missouri Pacific System}}

{{Main|List of people from Arlington, Texas}}

{{See also|List of University of Texas at Arlington people}}

{{Notelist}}

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{{See also|Timeline of Arlington, Texas#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Arlington, Texas}}

{{Sister project links|voy=Arlington, Texas}}

• [http://www.arlingtontx.gov/ City's Homepage]
• {{Handbook of Texas|id=hja13|name=Arlington}}

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{{Arlington Independent School District}}{{Mansfield Independent School District}}{{Tarrant County, Texas}}

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Category:Cities in Texas

Category:Cities in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex

Category:Cities in Tarrant County, Texas

Category:Populated places established in 1876

Category:1876 establishments in Texas