1851History
American exploration of the area began in 1851, when prospector Samuel Hancock was led by Indian guides on a canoe up the Stillaguamish River.
1855Architecture
The area was opened to logging after the signing of the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855 between the federal government and various Puget Sound peoples.
1883Government
Haller, founded a settlement on the banks of the Stillaguamish River in 1883, naming it "Haller City".
1884Education
The area was once home to a Stillaguamish village, as well as Arlington's first schoolhouse, built in 1884.
1888Architecture
The area's first store was opened in 1888 by Nels K.
1890Infrastructure
The Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad chose to build its depot on higher ground to the south of Haller City, leading contractors Earl & McLeod to establish a new town at th...
1891History
The two towns were separated by a 40-acre (16 ha) tract claimed by two settlers in 1891, preventing either town from fully absorbing the other.
1892Infrastructure
In 1892, it was acquired by the Northern Pacific Railway, which was acquired by Burlington Northern in 1970.
1893History
Arlington and Haller City grew rapidly in their first years, reaching a combined population of 500 by 1893, relying on agriculture, dairy farming and the manufacturing of wood s...
1900Culture
Attempts to establish a library in Arlington date as far back as 1900 when a reading room acquired 55 books for public lending; another circulating library was organized in Dece...
1901Architecture
A Northern Pacific branch to Darrington, following the modern-day State Route 530, was built in 1901 and abandoned in 1990; the county government plans to use the right of way f...
1903Government
Haller City was absorbed by the larger Arlington, which was incorporated as a city in 1903.
1909Government
The hospital was established in 1909 and was the last independent hospital in Snohomish County at the time of its acquisition in 2016.
1912Government
An official public library was established in October 1912 with the formation of a library association; its first building was on Third Street and Railroad Avenue.
1922History
Arlington rarely receives significant snowfall, with an average of 7 inches (18 cm) per year since 1922.
1925Culture
The library moved in 1925 to the city hall; the library association continued to operate it until the city council passed ordinances to operate it in November 1955, with city-ba...
1934Government
The Works Progress Administration and Civil Works Administration funded the construction of the city's sidewalks, a high school, and a municipal airport that opened in 1934.
1939Culture
Arlington had a single-screen, 381-seat movie theater, the Olympic Theatre in downtown Arlington, that operated from 1939 to 2014.
1943Military
Navy to Arlington, resulting in the conversion of the municipal airport into a naval air station in 1943.
1946Government
The Navy constructed new runways and hangars and, beginning in 1946, the municipal government was allowed to operate civilian and commercial services.
1959Infrastructure
Ownership of the airport was formally transferred from the federal government back to the city of Arlington in 1959.
1961Civil Rights
Groundbreaking on the new library building at McLeod Avenue and Third Street was held in March 1961; it was finished the same year, with the dedication held on October 21.
1966Education
In 1966, the Smokey Point area was proposed as the location of a four-year public college, with 645 acres (261 ha) offered by the city of Arlington to the state government.
1969Culture
The Fly-In has operated annually since 1969 and is the third-largest event of its kind in the United States, with over 50,000 visitors and 1,600 planes participating.
1972Infrastructure
Burlington Northern abandoned the railroad in 1972, favoring a parallel route to the west through Marysville, and it was converted into the Centennial Trail in the 1990s and 2000s.
1976History
After attempts in the early 20th century, the tribe were granted federal recognition in 1976 and a reservation in 2014.
1980Government
== Demographics ==
From 1980 to 2010, Arlington's population increased by over 450 percent, fueled by the construction of suburban housing and annexations of outlying areas.
1981Architecture
A 5,055-square-foot (469.6 m2) library near downtown Arlington opened on June 28, 1981, and holds over 54,000 items.
1995Military
The Arlington Naval Auxiliary Air Station (part of the modern-day Arlington Municipal Airport) was listed as a historic place in 1995.
1996Architecture
The plan was ultimately abandoned by 1996, as the Puget Sound Regional Council instead chose to construct a third runway at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.
1997Architecture
=== Historical preservation ===
The volunteer-operated Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum, southwest of downtown Arlington, opened in 1997.
1999Military
In 1999, Arlington annexed the community of Smokey Point, located along Interstate 5 to the southwest of the city, after a lengthy court battle with Marysville, which instead wa...
2000Government
Arlington began suburbanizing in the 1980s, growing by more than 450 percent by 2000 and annexing the unincorporated area of Smokey Point to the southwest.
2003Government
The city began developing a large business park around the municipal airport in the 1990s, bringing the city's number of jobs to a total of 11,000 by 2003.
2004Government
The Arlington Arts Council, a volunteer organization established in 2004, has acquired 30 sculptures and murals that form the city's Sculpture Walk in downtown Arlington and alo...
2006Education
It was listed as a historic place in 2006, shortly before it was closed by the Arlington School District.
2007Architecture
Suburban housing developments began construction in the 1980s and 1990s, driving a 450 percent increase in Arlington's population to 15,000 by 2007.
2008Government
It was annexed by Arlington in 2008, and has been re-designated for commercial development.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
As of the 2010 census, there were 17,926 people, 6,563 households, and 4,520 families residing in the city.
2011Government
The West Arlington Subarea, designated in 2011, combines several neighborhoods annexed by Arlington in the 1990s and 2000s, including Smokey Point and Island Crossing.
2012Infrastructure
As of 2012, the airport has 130 on-site businesses that employ 590 people, with an annual economic output of $94.5 million.
2013Government
The municipal government applied to annex the area into the city's urban growth area in 2013, but withdrew the application in 2016.
2014Civil Rights
On March 22, 2014, a large landslide near Oso dammed the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, with mud and debris covering an area of one square mile (2.6 km2).
2015History
== Economy ==
As of 2015, Arlington has an estimated 9,481 residents who were in the workforce, either employed or unemployed.
2016History
During the 2016 U.S.
2017History
The city government switched to a biennial budget in 2017, after an ordinance was passed by the city council in 2016.
2018Architecture
A pilot library for Smokey Point opened in January 2018, using a leased retail space.
2019History
The Cascade Industrial Center, located on 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) between Arlington and Marysville, was designated by the Puget Sound Regional Council in 2019 and is planned to h...
2020History
During the 2020 U.S.
2021History
The highest recorded temperature, 103 °F (39 °C), occurred on June 28, 2021, amid a regional heat wave, and the lowest, 7 °F (−14 °C), occurred on January 1, 1979.
2022Culture
Prior to redistricting in 2022, the city was part of the 2nd congressional district alongside most of western Snohomish County.
2023Architecture
A five-story, $355 million Amazon distribution center opened near the airport in 2023.
2024Infrastructure
The agency's microtransit service, Zip Shuttle, expanded to Arlington and Smokey Point in December 2024.