Potomac, Virginia facts for kids
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Town of Potomac
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Commercial building on Mt. Vernon Ave.
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 Location in Alexandria
Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Commonwealth Ave., US 1, E. Bellefonte Ave. and Ashby St., Alexandria, Virginia |
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| Area | 184 acres (74 ha) |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001186 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1992 |
Potomac was once a small town in Virginia. It was located in what was then called Alexandria County. Today, this area is part of Arlington County, Virginia. Potomac is no longer a separate town. Its land became part of the City of Alexandria in 1930. This process is called annexation, which means one city takes over land from another area.
Potomac was a planned community. This means it was designed and built with a specific layout. It was close to Washington D.C.. This made it a popular place for people who worked for the U.S. government to live. The town was also right next to the very large Potomac Yard. This was a big railroad yard for the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.
History of Potomac Town
The area that became Potomac started to be developed in 1894. It grew into several communities. These included Del Ray, St. Elmo, Mt. Ida, and Hume. These communities were built using a grid plan. This means their streets were laid out in a pattern of squares. This plan was different from the older parts of Old Town Alexandria.
In 1908, Potomac officially became an incorporated town. This means it had its own local government. By 1928, about 2,355 people lived in the town.
Becoming Part of Alexandria
The Town of Potomac was annexed by the City of Alexandria in 1930. Alexandria is an independent city. This means it is not part of any county. When Potomac was annexed, it stopped being its own town. Its land and people became part of Alexandria.
Today, this historic part of the city is known as the Town of Potomac Historic District. This district covers about 184 acres. It includes 690 buildings that show the history of the area. The Town of Potomac was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.
Even today, the United States Postal Service still recognizes "Potomac, VA" as an acceptable address. You can use it for mail going to ZIP code 22301. However, "Alexandria, VA" is the more common and preferred address.
