Subject: Re: [BoundaryPoint] DC Border Marker Problematic<br/>
Date: Nov 25, 2002 @ 12:16<br/>
Author: Kevin Meynell (Kevin Meynell &lt;kevin@...&gt;)<br/>
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<div id="ygrps-yiv-265568734"><blockquote><span title="ireply">&gt;how did dc get arlington county, va?<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>I&#39;m not sure whether this is an explanation, but the District of Columbia <br/>
originally included land on the western bank of the Potomac donated by <br/>
Virginia (as per the plans for a 10 x 10 mile federal territory). This area <br/>
was designated &#39;Alexandria County&#39;, whilst the land on the eastern bank <br/>
donated by Maryland, was designated &#39;Washington County&#39;.<br/>
<br/>
In 1846, a citizen&#39;s referendum returned Alexandria County to Virginia for <br/>
reasons which I&#39;ve never been clear about (maybe because, rather bizarrely, <br/>
DC citizens didn&#39;t get a presidential vote until 1961, and don&#39;t have full <br/>
Congressional representation to this day). At a later date, the City of <br/>
Alexandria established its own jurisdiction, and the surrounding county <br/>
became known as &#39;Arlington County&#39; to avoid confusion.<br/>
<br/>
As an aside, I believe Washington DC does not exist as an official entity. <br/>
You either reside in the City of Washington or Washington County, both of <br/>
which are located in the District of Columbia!<br/>
<br/>
Regards,<br/>
<br/>
Kevin Meynell</div>