Pentagon City facts for kids
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Pentagon City is a busy area in Arlington County, Virginia. It's not a separate city, but a part of Arlington. This neighborhood is very close to famous places like The Pentagon building and Arlington National Cemetery.
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Where is Pentagon City?
Pentagon City is located less than a mile from the Potomac River. This river creates the border between Virginia and Washington, D.C.. It's easy to get around from here! The area has its own Metro station. This station is on the Blue and Yellow Lines of the Washington Metro. It's one of the busiest stations in the whole system.
Pentagon City is only about two miles from the National Mall in downtown Washington, D.C. Many hotels and businesses are located here because it's such a central spot.
Nearby Areas
The Pentagon building has large parking lots right next to Pentagon City. To the east, you'll find Crystal City. This area is along U.S. Route 1 and is close to National Airport. South of Pentagon City is the Aurora Highlands neighborhood and Virginia Highlands Park. To the west is the Arlington Ridge neighborhood. Many major roads like Washington Boulevard and Arlington Boulevard are also nearby.
History of Pentagon City
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Pentagon City started in 1946. Two developers, Morris Cafritz and Charles H. Tompkins, bought a large piece of land. It was mostly empty fields and old warehouses.
Growing in the 20th Century
In the 1950s, a Western Electric factory opened here. It made telephone equipment. Later, this factory became a small shopping mall called "Pentagon Centre." In the 1960s, tall apartment buildings were built on streets like Hayes and Fern.
A big change happened on July 1, 1977. The Pentagon City Metrorail station opened. At first, the station was next to a large empty field. But over the next 10 years, the station helped the area grow a lot. Many new buildings were constructed.
In the 1990s, a company called MCI Communications had a big office in Pentagon City. Their main consumer office was in Washington Tower. This 12-story building is located above the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall. The mall itself opened in 1989. MCI also had offices in other nearby buildings.
Pentagon City in the 21st Century
In 2003, there was a plan to bring a professional baseball team to Northern Virginia. The Montreal Expos team was looking for a new home. Pentagon City was one of the suggested places. Some people in Pentagon City did not want a stadium built there. They started a campaign against it. In the end, the baseball team, now called the Washington Nationals, moved to Washington, D.C. instead.
Shopping and Businesses
Pentagon City is a great place for shopping! It has a large indoor mall called the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Many people call it the Pentagon City Mall.
On the west side of the mall is an area called Pentagon Row. This outdoor area has a grocery store, smaller shops, and restaurants. It's surrounded by fancy apartments. In the winter, Pentagon Row has an outdoor ice rink. In the summer, they host free outdoor concerts. Another shopping area, Pentagon Centre, is located across Hayes Street from the Fashion Centre.
Pentagon City is also home to important government offices. The DEA and the TSA have their headquarters here. Many other businesses are also in the area. Because it's so close to The Pentagon, many of these businesses work with the Defense Department. You can also visit the Drug Enforcement Administration Museum and Visitors Center nearby.
Living in Pentagon City
Pentagon City has many tall, modern apartment buildings and condos. Near the Fashion Centre Mall, you'll find buildings like The Metropolitan at Pentagon Row and Park View. There are also townhouse communities like Southampton Condominium. Other buildings, like Claridge House, provide homes for retired or disabled residents.
A new development called Metropolitan Park is being built next to Costco. This project is turning old warehouses into new homes. The first parts of Metropolitan Park, The Gramercy and The Millennium, opened in 2007 and 2009. They are high-end apartment buildings with shops on the ground floor. A new park with art is also being built in the center of this project.
Virginia Highlands Park is just south of the main shopping area. It's a large green space where you can play basketball, tennis, soccer, and baseball. Next to the park are a library branch and a fire station. The Aurora Highlands neighborhood, which has mostly single-family homes, is located south of Pentagon City.
