Dayton is a city located in southwest Ohio in the Miami Valley region. As of 2021, the population of Dayton was 138,333 making it the sixth largest city in Ohio. Once a major manufacturing hub, Dayton has undergone an economic transformation in recent decades. While manufacturing is still important, the city’s economy today relies heavily on healthcare, education, aviation and aerospace.
Population
The 2021 population estimate for Dayton was 138,333 residents, down from 141,003 in 2010. The peak population was in 1960 when the city had 262,300 residents. Like many Midwest cities, Dayton experienced a decline in population in the second half of the 20th century as manufacturing jobs moved overseas or to the southern U.S. However, Dayton has stabilized in recent years and the population decline has slowed significantly.
Dayton is the core city of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area which had a population of 799,232 as of 2021 making it Ohio’s fourth largest metropolitan area. Nearly half of the metro area population resides outside of Dayton in surrounding suburban communities.
Economy
For most of the 20th century, Dayton was a manufacturing powerhouse and an epicenter for innovation. Several major companies and inventions came out of Dayton, including the Wright Brothers’ airplane and Charles F. Kettering’s automobile self-starter. Companies such as NCR, Frigidaire and National Cash Register were founded and thrived in Dayton.
While manufacturing is still an important part of the local economy, health care has emerged as the largest industry sector in Dayton. The two major hospital systems in the area are Premier Health and Kettering Health Network. Premier Health operates several hospitals and clinics employing over 14,000 people in the Dayton region.
Higher education is another major component of Dayton’s economy. The city is home to two major universities: University of Dayton (UD), a private Catholic university and Wright State University, a public university. UD is the region’s largest private sector employer.
While no longer the manufacturing hub it once was, manufacturing still employs over 50,000 workers in the Dayton area. Major manufacturing employers include General Motors, GE Aviation, Emerson Climate Technologies, Honeywell and CareSource. Growth in advanced manufacturing, logistics and aerospace are key areas of focus for the region’s economy.
The Dayton region is also home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base which employs nearly 30,000 military and civilian personnel and has an estimated annual economic impact of $15.5 billion on the region.
Major initiatives underway to support economic growth and revitalization in Dayton include the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association, Downtown Dayton Partnership, Chamber of Commerce, and CityWide Development Corporation.
Attractions and Tourism
Despite its small size, Dayton offers some great cultural attractions and destinations for visitors to enjoy. Some of the top attractions in Dayton include:
- The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park celebrating Dayton’s role in aviation history and innovation.
- The Dayton Air Show, one of North America’s premier air shows held each July.
- The Dayton Art Institute, which houses an impressive collection of art.
- The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery children’s museum.
- The Wright Brothers National Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
- SunWatch Indian Village, a reconstructed 800-year-old American Indian village.
- RiverScape MetroPark, a popular riverfront park in downtown Dayton.
- Dayton Dragons minor league baseball at Fifth Third Field downtown.
The city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau provides additional tourism information and resources. Popular events that draw visitors include the Dayton Air Show, United States Air and Trade Show, Dayton Hamvention and the Dayton Jazz Festival.
Sports
While Dayton does not have any major professional sports teams, some minor league teams help provide sports entertainment in the city. The Dayton Dragons minor league baseball team is one of the most popular attractions in the area, with over 8,000 fans on average attending each game. The team has sold out 1,385 consecutive home games, the longest sellout streak across all professional sports in the U.S.
Dayton is also home to the University of Dayton Flyers, with 19 Division 1 sports programs. Basketball is particularly popular, and the UD Arena ranks among college basketball’s largest arenas. The Wright State University Raiders also field 15 Division 1 sports teams in Dayton.
While the city has never had an NFL franchise, the Dayton Triangles were an original member of the league from 1920-1929 prior to relocating to become the Brooklyn Dodgers and then eventually the Pittsburgh Steelers. Football fans in Dayton these days tend to support nearby NFL teams in Cincinnati or Cleveland.
Famous Daytonians
A number of famous Americans over the years have called Dayton home, including:
- The Wright Brothers – Wilbur and Orville Wright developed, built and flew some of the earliest successful airplanes.
- Charles F. Kettering – Prolific inventor and businessman, held over 140 patents. Developed first electric cash register and modern car self-starter.
- Erma Bombeck – Popular humorist and newspaper columnist.
- Paul Laurence Dunbar – Noted poet and author.
- John Legend – Musician and Grammy-award winner.
- Dan Patrick – ESPN sportscaster.
- Martin Sheen – Renowned actor of stage and screen.
The city of Dayton takes great pride in its innovative and creative spirit, from the Wright Brothers first flight to a variety of inventions and pop culture contributions.