Green Valley in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Friendly Cab Stand
Green Valley
Entrepreneur Ralph D. Collins recognized a critical need for transportation services to assist Black residents of the Green Valley neighborhood in accessing medical care. In the 1940s, Arlington County, Virginia, was deeply entrenched in Jim Crow laws, which imposed widespread discrimination against African Americans in restaurants, businesses, recreation facilities, and even hospitals. Arlington Hospitalnow known as VHC Healthwas no exception, with segregated wards and severely limited services for Black patients. African American mothers, for instance, were barred from the maternity ward and were forced to seek care in hospitals as far away as Alexandria, Baltimore, or Washington, D.C. For many Black Arlingtonians, accessing medical facilities was both difficult and costly.
In response to the dire lack of local transportation options, Collins founded the Friendly Cab Company in 1947, headquartered at 3022 2nd Street South in Green Valley. The company initially operated with Chryslers, driven by off-duty Black firemen from the local community. Over time, the company expanded its fleet to include various makes and
this page online
Today, the Friendly Cab Company remains a family-operated business, with the Collins family preserving its legacy into the 21st century. Despite changes in leadership and shifts in the taxicab industry, Friendly Cab continues to operate a fleet of over three dozen vehicles. Its local customer base is a testament to the company's enduring impact on serving Arlington's African American community during a challenging era of racial inequality.
"Back in '48, Black people couldn't be born [in a hospital] in Arlington County And Black people couldn't catch white cabs. So [Ralph Collins] started a transport service to transport any kind of medical transports to Howard University Hospital And once he started that, he understood thatBlack people couldn't take white cabs, so that's when the cab business started."
Darryl Collins, grandson of Ralph Collins and current owner of Friendly Cab
Erected 2025 by Green Valley Civic Association; Arlington County, Virginia.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1947.
Location. 38° 51.006′ N, 77° 5.055′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Green Valley. It is at the intersection of 22nd Street South and South Garfield Street, on the right on 22nd Street South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3022 22nd St S, Arlington VA 22206, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Arlington Lodge 58 (within shouting distance of this marker); Macedonia Baptist Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Veterans Memorial Y.M.C.A. (about 400 feet away); Drew School (about 600 feet away); FREED, 2021 (about 700 feet away); Origins of Green Valley (about 700 feet away); Community Businesses (about 700 feet away); Places of Worship (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Origins (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
