Geology and Neighborhood History
Geology plays a major role in determining the vegetation, birds, insects, and other life forms in Monticello Park. Most of Alexandria, including Monticello Park, overlies the Potomac Formation, which constitutes the base of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain.
The following links can help you to learn more about the geology of Alexandria, Beverley Hills, and Monticello Park:
- Geologic Atlas of the City of Alexandria, Virginia and Vicinity — Main Page
- Geologic Cross Sections City of Alexandria and Vicinity — Expanded Explanation, by Anthony H. Fleming, 2015 [PDF]
- Geologic Atlas of the City of Alexandria, Virginia and Vicinity — Glossary of Geological Terms [PDF]
- Geologic Atlas of the City of Alexandria, Virginia and Vicinity — References [PDF]
- Simplified Geologic Map of Arlington County, Virginia, and Vicinity (including Monticello Park) [PDF]
- A topographical map of the area from USGS can be viewed by scrolling down and clicking the large blue "MAP »" link on this page
- Wikipedia Entry about Skolithos, a fossil found in Monticello Park
This link provides information about the geology of Virginia and the Fall Line:
These links provide an introduction to geology principles:
- Some Geology Basics, Modesto Junior College Geology and Meteorology [PDF]
- Planetary Geology: Introduction to Basic Geology Principles, Brown University Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences [PDF]
The Beverley Hills area in which Monticello Park is located was occupied by thousands of Union soldiers during the Civil War to protect against attacks on Washington, DC. In the 1930s, a planned housing community was built in the area. A 1992 Washington Post article discusses the history of the area. A brochure from the 1930s describes the planned development of the Beverley Hills neighborhood.