Dayton

Dayton is a city in southwestern Ohio, United States, and the county seat of Montgomery County. It lies on the Great Miami River in the Miami Valley and is part of a metropolitan area that includes several adjacent communities. Dayton has a long history as an industrial and transportation hub and is closely associated with innovations in aviation.

The city’s development began in the late 18th century; it was named after Jonathan Dayton, a signer of the U.S. Constitution. In the 20th century Dayton became a center for aviation research and manufacturing, notably through the work of the Wright brothers. The Wright brothers established a bicycle shop in Dayton and conducted early aviation experiments in nearby fields, activities commemorated at local sites such as Carillon Historical Park. Today the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world, is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near the city.

Dayton is home to several higher education institutions, including the University of Dayton, a private Catholic research university, and Sinclair Community College. Wright State University and other colleges are located in the area, contributing to a varied economy that includes education, healthcare, manufacturing, and defense. The city features cultural districts such as the Oregon District and parks along the Great Miami River, and maintains a city-center redevelopment effort.

The climate is humid continental, with four distinct seasons. As of the latest estimates, Dayton’s population is around 140,000 in the city, with a broader metropolitan area of several hundred thousand residents.