Arlington, Missouri facts for kids

Arlington is a small, unincorporated community in western Phelps County, Missouri, United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Arlington is located near where two rivers, Little Piney Creek and the Gasconade River, meet. A major highway, I-44, runs close by, and a railroad track passes just south of the community. Another community called Jerome is about three-quarters of a mile away, across the Gasconade River.

History of Arlington

Arlington has an interesting past. It was first known as Little Piney. During the American Civil War, soldiers from the 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry sometimes stayed there.

How Arlington Got Its Name

The community was first settled by Thomas and James Harrison. Later, around 1867, General Fremont helped establish it as a township. The town was renamed Arlington after a famous estate in Arlington, Virginia, which later became Arlington National Cemetery. Some people used to believe the name came from a local merchant's wife named Arlie, but that's just a folk story.

Arlington as a Resort Town

Arlington was once a popular place for people to visit. It was easy to reach by the Pacific Railroad. In 1931, the last part of U.S. Route 66 in Missouri was paved through Arlington. This made the tiny community a great spot for fishermen who wanted to visit the Gasconade and Little Piney Rivers.

Stony Dell Resort

The Stony Dell Resort was a big part of Arlington's popularity. It grew a lot in the 1930s and early 1940s. This was thanks to Route 66 and the nearby Fort Leonard Wood military base. The resort started with just a few tourist cabins. Soon, it became a popular spot with a swimming pool fed by a stream. It also had a restaurant, a gas station, and a bus stop. Visitors could enjoy tennis, dancing, boating, and fishing.

Changes and Decline

By 1946, Arlington started to decline. This happened because the main road, US 66, was changed and made wider. The town site was bought by R. E. Carney that year.

The original 1923 US 66 road bridge was no longer used when the road was widened in 1952. Then, when Interstate 44 was built around the town in 1966-1967, the old bridge was taken down. This left the original two-lane US 66 as a dead end.

Most of the Stony Dell Resort was destroyed when the freeway was built. However, some parts still remain, like the restaurant, an archway, the fish pond, and some classic stone work. A few cabins are also left, but they are now abandoned. Even the newer 1952 four-lane bridge was replaced in 2005 as part of I-44's changes.

Arlington Today

Today, there are no businesses left in Arlington. The caravan park (Arlington River Resort) closed permanently in 2008. The only way to get to the town site is by taking I-44 to Newburg. From there, you can get onto what's left of the original two-lane US 66 roadway, which is now a dead-end road.

Arlington is no longer easy to reach by train or road. It is now just a small group of private homes. More than 20 people live there. It is no longer its own township and is now part of Newburg.