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Virginia Square |
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About Virginia Square
Virginia Square is an urban village that, upon first glance, might not be as easily recognizable as some of the other neighborhoods in Arlington. It isn't dominated by towering office buildings or crawling with big-time nightlife destinations, but Virginia Square still has plenty to offer. Like many of the other urban villages in Arlington, Virginia Square can be defined as a residential community, a 9-to-5 working center, an educational and cultural hub, and a neighborhood with some history, all at the same time. It does in fact have a little bit of everything, and this dynamic area is continuing to grow today while still hanging on to its unique personality. Virginia Square originally derived its name from the Virginia Square Shopping Center, which now houses a Giant supermarket. There are still some local business stalwarts from this era here today. Mario's Pizza has been serving slices to the community since 1957. Casual Adventure, an outdoor clothing and shoe store, dates from the same period and has thrived in one incarnation or another for 45 years.
Along with Ballston, Clarendon, Court House, and Rosslyn, Virginia Square is located on the Wilson Boulevard-Clarendon Boulevard corridor, which was named one of 10 "Great Streets" in the U.S. by the American Planning Association in 2008. |
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Arlington's urban villages are walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods well served by public transportation. People who live in these neighborhoods are able to walk to shopping or to restaurants and hop on Metrorail, Metrobus or ART when they need to go anywhere else in the Washington Metro area. More about Arlington's urban villages. |
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While these older businesses continue to prosper, the area has also seen a lot of development in the more recent past. In 1991, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, opened a building right across from the Virginia Square-GMU Metro station, and now employs 500 people here. In 1996, the Arlington campus of 
Fortunately, Virginia Square still retains its eclectic identity. A few blocks away from the Metro, we find residential neighborhoods, highlighted by single-family homes with grassy front yards. Quincy Park, the largest of four parks within walking distance of the Metro station, features picnic areas, a playground, and baseball fields, and is a favorite destination for brown-bag lunchers in the summertime. The presence of Arlington Central Library and two nearby churches accentuate the small-town feel.