Arlington sits across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., forming the western edge of the nation's capital region in Northern Virginia. The county spans from Rosslyn and Clarendon through Ballston and Pentagon City to Crystal City, with neighborhoods like Shirlington and Columbia Pike serving as major commercial corridors. The federal government anchors the local economy—the Pentagon alone employs over 23,000 people—alongside defense contractors, consulting firms, and nonprofits that cluster near Metro stations. Arlington's dense, transit-oriented development and high concentration of young professionals create demand for services ranging from legal expertise to home maintenance in high-rise buildings.