User:Cuchullain/Arlington

Arlington is a large neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Located across the St. Johns River from downtown Jacksonville, it generally said to include all of Duval County east and south of the river and north of Atlantic Boulevard (Florida State Road 10), stretching east toward the Intracoastal Waterway. Greater Arlington includes an even wider area, ranging from the St. Johns as far south as Beach Boulevard (Florida State Road 212). The area grew substantially in the latter part of the 20th century, and now includes many smaller neighborhoods and developments.

The short-lived French colony of Fort Caroline was established in present-day Arlington in 1562. However, there was little further settlement in the area until the 19th century, when sawmills and plantations were established along the St. Johns River. After the American Civil War these gave way to towns and residential developments, which were gradually absorbed into the Arlington community as it grew. The construction of the Matthews Bridge in 1953 opened the area up to significantly increased development, and over the next two decades Arlington became fastest growing part of the Jacksonville area.