Potomac, Virginia

This article is about the extinct town in Arlington County. For the renamed town in Prince William County, see Quantico, Virginia.

Potomac (/pəˈtoʊmək/ ^ⓘ) is an extinct incorporated town formerly located in Arlington County, Virginia (then called Alexandria County). Today the dissolved town's former territory is located within the City of Alexandria after municipal annexation in 1930. As a planned community, its proximity to Washington D.C. made it a popular place for employees of the U.S. government to live. Potomac was located adjacent to the massive Potomac Yard of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.

Town of Potomac
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Virginia Landmarks Register
Commercial building on Mt. Vernon Ave.
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Location	Roughly bounded by Commonwealth Ave., US 1, E. Bellefonte Ave. and Ashby St., Alexandria, Virginia
Coordinates	38°49′37″N 77°3′24″W
Area	184 acres (74 ha)
Built	1894
Architect	Multiple
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, Queen Anne
NRHP reference No.	92001186[1]
VLR No.	100-0136
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	September 10, 1992
Designated VLR	December 11, 1991[2]

History

The area was developed beginning in 1894 as the communities of Del Ray, St. Elmo, Mt. Ida, and Hume, following a grid plan independent of that of Old Town Alexandria. Potomac was incorporated as a town in 1908.^{[citation needed]} In 1928, the town had 2,355 residents.^{[citation needed]}

The Town of Potomac was annexed by the independent city of Alexandria in 1930. Today, the Town of Potomac Historic District in Alexandria designates this historic portion of the city, and includes 1,840 acres (7.4 km²) and 690 buildings. The Town of Potomac was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

As of 2016, the United States Postal Service still recognizes "Potomac, VA" as an acceptable alternate address for ZIP code 22301, although "Alexandria, VA" is preferred.

See also

• Former counties, cities, and towns of Virginia