Historic Timelines

  • 1787Prince Hall petitioned and received a Warrant for African Lodge No. 459

  • 1861Fort Barnard was constructed

  • 1866Mount Zion Baptist Church was built.

  • 1876John D. Nauck subdivided 69acres to establish the "Town of Nauck, Alexandria County, Virginia"

  • 1911Macedonia Baptist Church was built

  • 1930Jennie Dean Park became a major hub for Black baseball clubs in the region

  • 1934Dr. Roland Burner and his wife opened a private practice specializing obstetrics

  • 1942Chinn Funeral Service was established

  • 1945The Dunbar Mutual Apartments were built

    The Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church was established
  • 1946The Veteran's Memorial Branch YMCA was initiated

  • 1947The Friendly Cab Company was founded

  • 1952Kemper Annex was renamed to Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School

    The Green Valley Pharmacy was established
  • 1974The first opening of Nova Parks

  • 2020John Robinson Jr Town Square was officially named by the Arlington County Board

  • 2022FREED Sculpture was installed

Arlington’s Black Neighborhoods in 1900

Arlington history tells the story of how the suburb’s Black neighborhoods developed under segregation and Jim Crow discrimination. I have been researching Arlington’s segregation walls for a project and the institutional racism the Black community faced beginning in the late 1800s was successful in its goal to rid the community of Black residents. At the turn of the 20th century, Black people comprised over 35 percent of Arlington County’s population. Today, we number less than 9 percent of the community.

Resource(s):

Green Valley Archive Halls Hill