The community was platted in 1856, and the name was officially approved on May 11, 1858, the same date that Minnesota became a state. German settlers came to the area to homestead beginning in the 1860s and 1870s. The population of Arlington continues to be of predominately German descent. In 1948, the community was incorporated as a city.
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,233 people, 911 households, and 549 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 1,018 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 94.1% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 3.6% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.4% of the population. There were 911 households, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couplesliving together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.7% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 21.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,048 people, 828 households, and 523 families living in the city. The population density was 1,395.1 people per square mile. There were 859 housing units at an average density of 585.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 95.02% White, 0.24% African American, 0.39% Asian, 3.91% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.05% of the population. There were 828 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.06. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $37,632, and the median income for a family was $49,231. Males had a median income of $31,603 versus $20,888 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,458. About 3.7% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
