The Story
Del Ray is a charming neighborhood with an artsy ambiance. Let's go into its history!
In 1669, John Alexander bought the land that would become Alexandria, including Del Ray, from the King of England. His descendants built a grand home named Mount Ida on a hill that overlooked their eastern property. The two Lloyd brothers and Frank Hume, eventually owned and farmed the area.
A growing population and open land motivated development around Old Town Alexandria.
Once the electric streetcar arrived, expansion into Del Ray became more possible. The first streetcars helped tourists in DC visit Mt Vernon. Once the commuter potential to DC was realized, more lines were built. The land for Del Ray and St Elmo was purchased in 1894.
The communities were laid out on grids and served by a light railway.
When Potomac Yard opened in 1906, the population grew rapidly. Two years later, Del Ray and St. Elmo formed the Town of Potomac. The City of Alexandria annexed the town in 1930.
