Southwest No. 4 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
Also known as: SW4,Jurisdiction Stone; DHR File No. 00-22
Why it's listed
Beside King Street near Wakefield Street, a weathered fragment of Aquia sandstone marks the fourth mile of the southwest boundary of the original District of Columbia. Placed in 1791-1792, it stands four miles from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. Its top has been missing since the surveys of 1894-1897 and 1906, and plow scratches mark what remains. In 1906 a local farmer helped surveyors find it, saying he had hit it with his plow many times. The stone later nearly disappeared under fill when Route 7 was regraded, then was moved close to its original spot. A wrought iron fence surrounds it, and a bronze plaque placed in 1916 by the Daughters of the American Revolution identifies it as an original federal boundary stone. It lies near three Civil War forts of the District's defenses. It was listed for its role in the creation of the Federal city, as one of a rare surviving group of markers.
Significance in brief: It marked the fourth mile on the southwest side of the District, four miles from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. It is one of a rare group of surviving boundary markers tied to the development of the Federal city. Criteria Consideration B applies because the marker was moved when Route 7 (King Street) was built.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91000009, listed February 1, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | King St. N of jct. with Wakefield St., Alexandria |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | February 1, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000009 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1791-1916 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Only a small portion of the Aquia sandstone remains, with the top missing and plow scratches. It sits inside a wrought iron fence that needs repainting, and a 1916 bronze plaque is attached. The property is owned by the Virginia Department of Transportation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Fairlington Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.83170, -77.09197 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91000009.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.