The Town of Arlington is over 375 years old, though its name has changed on two occasions. Originally called Menotomy, an Algonquin word meaning “swift running water.”
A stream called Mill Brook flows through the town, which historically figured largely into Arlington’s economy. In 1637, Captain George Cooke built the first mill in this area. Subsequently, seven mills were built along the stream, including the Old Schwamb Mill, which survives to this day.
This town became West Cambridge in the early 19th Century and Arlington just after the Civil War. Arlington is also the site of the first free public library in the Commonwealth, the birthplace of Uncle Sam, and home to the Cyrus Dallin Museum. Arlington covers 5.5 square miles, of which 0.4 square miles, are covered by water. There are 210.52 acres of parkland. Arlington borders on the Mystic lakes, Mystic River and Alewife Brook. Within its borders are Spy Pond, the Arlington Reservoir, Mill Brook, and Hills Pond, which makes it a very green and pleasant area to live. Arlington is very close to Alewife Station, which is the northbound terminus of the Red Line.
