Arlington, a community that today ranks among the 50 most populous cities in the country, but which began life as a struggling and besieged frontier fort established when Texas was still a republic. Fifteen U.S. cities, towns and villages across the nation bear the name "Arlington," the largest of which in both area and population— as befits the bigger-in-Texas mode — resides in the Lone Star state.
With a population of more than 365,000 and spread across 100 square miles, Arlington is located precisely midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. In both population and area it has a unique distinction other than its 49-in-population standing. It is the largest "mid" city in America.
Arlington’s history is complex, its identity evolving over more than 150 years. It has been a frontier outpost, an agricultural center, a site of Indian battles and a mecca for horse racing and gambling. It once was famed for its mineral waters, has long been a college town (it has three colleges), and it hosts major industrial entities such as the Arlington General Motors Assembly Plant. Today it is famed for Major League Baseball and amusement attractions that feature giant roller coasters, but it also has a high tech component that includes nanotechnology research, computer chip manufacturing and a technology incubator designed to introduce leading edge university research into the world of commerce.