The area's first recorded event took place in 1842 when Gen. E. H. Tarrant and the Republic of Texas army destroyed three Indian war villages and began a conflict with local Native Americans. The next year the parties signed a treaty wich designated lands west of Fort Worth as Indian Territory and lands east as White Settlement Territory.
Trading posts soon began to serve both territories along the boundary. The most notable was established by Col. Tate Johnson and shortly became known as Johnson Station is what is now Tarrant County.
Some years after the Civil War, the Teas & Racific Railway extended its tracks into the area. Soon residents and businesses from nearby settlements moved to the station which had been developed by the railroad. In July, 1876, the first train came through the new town which ahd by then been officially named Arlington.
The first newspaper was founded in 1883 and the town charter approved in 884. In 1902, the sale of alcohol was prohibited. Arlington is still dry today.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Arlington's population was 900. Currently, Arlington is home to more than 308,000 residents. Because of its proximity to both Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington has seen the development of numerous attractions in the Entertainment District along I-30. Nearly seven million visitors come to Arlington each year.