The City of Arlington is a diverse metropolitan area located approximately 20 miles west of downtown Dallas and 12 miles east of downtown Fort Worth . What started as a small rural farming community in 1884 is now the nation ’ s 50th largest city with more than 400,000 residents . Arlington is a community where civic organizations , educational institutions , businesses and city government work together to ensure the community retains its hometown identity , high quality of life and natural beauty . From shopping , dining and entertainment , Arlington continues to prove it really is 99 square miles of culture and excellence . Arlington is known for being a travel destination , boasting some of the top family-friendly attractions in both the region and nation , including AT & T Stadium ( home of the Dallas Cowboys ), Globe Life Field ( home of the Texas Rangers ), Six Flags Over Texas , Six Flags Hurricane Harbor , International Bowling

* North Central Texas Council of Governments population estimates