Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Contact: Diana Sun 703-228-3247 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Arlington County Board Approves Updated County Seal
Acts to protect, refresh official seal originally adopted in 1983
Arlington, VA -- The Arlington County Board today approved a new graphic file for the official Arlington County seal, and authorized the County Manager to pursue trademark protection for this official symbol of the County.
The action will help ensure that the seal is used as a bold, clear, graphically crisp symbol, true to the spirit of the official seal originally adopted in 1983. The seal is used for all items related to the Arlington County Board. It is also used to mark all items of a permanent and lasting nature.
A few changes were made to correct several problems with the existing graphic file that had made reproduction difficult, particularly at small sizes.
The County Manager researched the original seal design -- approved by the County Board in 1983 – and 
found that the existing graphic file did not reflect the Board’s original intent. For example, the Board had specified a particular color of “Arlington blue,” Pantone 307, which was not used. The County Manager proposed a new graphic file in December 2006 and opened it for public comment for 60 days.
Following the public comment, the County Manager proposed a revised graphic file -- reflecting comments received -- which was approved by the County Board.
Today’s action enables the County to apply for trademark protection, which had not been possible with the previous graphic file. To avoid unnecessary cost, staff will be asked to use existing printed materials, etc. and to use the new graphic file when producing/printing new materials.
BACKGROUND
The Arlington County Board adopted the official Arlington County seal on June 6, 1983, choosing resident Harvey Wilcox’s
winning design that was submitted in a County flag design contest.
Over the years, a number of defiled seals cropped up, as specific graphic standards for the seal were not put into place until 2004. Those standards are part of the graphic standards manual created for Arlington’s visual identity, which includes an Arlington logo.
Since 2004, the number of incorrect uses has dropped dramatically, although tainted examples can still be easily found. Now, an effort is underway to set stronger graphic standards in place, to further protect Arlington’s ”great seal” of government, as well as improve the seal’s graphic digital file.
To view a slide presentation that explains much of this background, click here. To read about the "controversy" over the official date of Arlington's founding, click here. The graphic file previously used appears below.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.