The Columbia Forest neighborhood [†] is located in southern Arlington County, bordered by Columbia Pike between Four Mile Run and the Fairfax County line, and extending back to South George Mason Drive. The original community, established in 1941, was a planned development of single-family homes built to serve as housing for wartime Pentagon work- ers. Soon after Workd War II, more single-family homes were built, continuing the original plan. Starting in the 1950’s, apartments and condominiums were built along Columbia Pike adding more housing options. The ownership of the houses in the original development subsequently passed to new residents who would like to preserve the character of the community.
In 1669, a sea captain, Robert Howson, was given a grant of 6000 acres of land for bring- ing 120 passengers to Virginia. The captain immediately sold the land to John Alexander, a member of the family for which the City of Alexandria is named. Subsequently, the land was divided into smaller parcels and sold. Two such parcels include what is now Columbia Forest and were sold to Stephan Gray and Gabriel Adams. In 1774, this land, equal to 1200 acres, was sold to George Washington.
At Washington’s death, the land was willed to his relative, George Custis, who combined it with other family land to form the Arlington Plantation, from which the present name of the county is derived. Arlington Plantation was part of the 34 square miles of land granted by the State of Virginia to form the District of Columbia. In 1847, after almost 50 years, the land was returned to Virginia. The land was ultimately divided between the City of Alexan- dria and a new county named Alexandria County. In 1920, because of confusion in the names between the City of Alexandria, which was not in the County of Alexandria, the name of the county was changed to Arlington County.
† Adapted from: Arlington County, Lloyd Iddings et. al, Columbia Forest Neighborhood Conservation Plan, 2000, www.arlingtonva.us.
Street Names
10th Place South • 11th Street South • 12th Street South • Columbia Pike • Columbus Street South • Forest Drive South • Four Mile Run • Frederick Street South • George Mason Drive South • Harrison Street South