Dayton, OH

Dayton is located in the southwestern part of Ohio in the Miami Valley region just north of Cincinnati. Dayton is known as the "birthplace of aviation" thanks to Wilbur and Orville Wright, who made significant achievements in sustainable flight out of their Dayton bicycle shop. With Wright-Patterson Air Force Base within city limits, Dayton remains deeply rooted in the aerospace and technological industry.

This Midwestern town is an urban community that is rich in history and has a diverse economic base. From historic neighborhoods to cultural attractions, Dayton is an active city in the process of rebuilding. After seeing a decline in population of almost 6 percent since 2000, city officials are attempting to revitalize the community with the help of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting current businesses in Dayton and attracting new ones to the area.

With the climate of a typical Midwestern city, Dayton gets around 175 days of sun and more than 100 days of measurable precipitation per year. The average U.S. city gets 37 inches of rain; Dayton gets 39. The average high in July is in the mid-80s, and the lows in January are in the mid-20s. The region is classified as a humid, continental climate, which translates into hot, sticky summers and cold, dry winters.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Dayton offers a wide variety of living options, from urban, downtown living to quiet, suburban neighborhoods:

• Downtown Dayton: More than 2,000 people live in Downtown Dayton. The downtown area offers both modern loft apartments and historic homes. Living in Downtown Dayton offers residents easy, walking access to area shops, restaurants, bars and businesses.
• Oregon Historic District: This 12-block area was one of Dayton's first communities. As an area with increasing affluence, it boasts primarily Victorian-style homes. More than 20 businesses are located in this neighborhood, including restaurants and contemporary coffee shops.
• Wright Dunbar: This historic district is famous for being home to renowned American poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar. This is a diverse part of town, with residents hailing from various ethnic groups. Many of the area homes were damaged during riots in the 1950s and '60s, but have since been restored.
• East Dayton: This is a lower-income, urban part of Dayton. Many laborers live here, and the area has two playgrounds.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Dayton has a fairly balanced economy, but the city is suffering because of the stagnant and aging population. The automotive industry especially has been hit hard by the reduction in jobs. Employers are trying to recruit highly skilled people, particularly in the high-tech field. The prosperity of Dayton's economy is dependent on the major manufacturing employers, such as Delphi Automotive, General Motors and Behr.

Another factor contributing toward the growth of the city's economy is the Miami Valley Research Park, which is supported by the Miami Valley Research Foundation. The Research Park facilitates a research facility for the corporate and government research firm. The aim of the research park is to promote research, technology and science in the city along with creating employment opportunities.

The major employers in Dayton are Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Premier Health Partners, Delphi Automotive Systems, AK Steel Corporation and Good Samaritan Hospital.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

With more than 10 historic districts, there is a variety of cultural activities in Dayton:

• Dayton Art Institute: Founded in 1919, the Institute is committed to collecting pieces of fine art and promoting the value of visual arts through educational experience. The Institute sponsors year-round special events and exhibitions.
• Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center: This performing-arts venue showcases local, regional, national and international performers. The Mead Theatre, inside the Center, seats more than 2,000, and the atrium accommodates up to 1,000 guests for special events.
• National Museum of the United States Air Force: Located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, this free museum is the world's oldest and largest military museum, with more than 400 aircraft and missiles on display. The museum houses several presidential aircraft, including those of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower.
• Dunbar House: This turn-of-the-century house was once home to poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar. The historic site displays many of his literary and personal items and family furnishings.

Dayton is also home to minor-league baseball's Dayton Dragons of the Midwest League; the Dayton Bombers, an East Coast Hockey League, mid-level, professional team and a National Women's Football Association team, the Dayton Diamonds. The community comes out in full force to support the University of Dayton's Dayton Flyers, in particular the men's NCAA basketball team. Fan attendance at these games is consistently highly-ranked among NCAA athletic programs. In 2000, a group of more than 1,000 UD undergrads organized a group called the "Red Scare," an energized and loyal presence at UD sporting events.

EDUCATION

University of Dayton: University of Dayton is the largest, private university in Ohio. With more than 70 programs in four accredited divisions, the preeminent Catholic university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Total student enrollment is around 11,000.

Wright State University: A public university with nearly 17,000 enrolled students, WSU offers more than 100 undergraduate programs and more than 50 graduate, Ph.D. and professional degrees.

Sinclair Community College: Located in Downtown Dayton, SCC has more than 24,000 students. This is one of the largest community colleges in the country, and it has the lowest tuition rate in Ohio.

The Dayton Public School District has six high schools, including Stivers School for the Arts. There are also two private high schools located in Dayton. In the 1990s, Dayton was one of the lowest-performing school districts in the state of Ohio, but starting with the appointment of a new superintendent and a restructuring of the district in 2000, the system has moved from "academic emergency" up to a status of "continuous improvement."

LOCAL MEDIA

Local media includes:

• The Dayton Daily News
• WDTN, Channel 2 (NBC)
• WHIO-TV, Channel 7 (CBS)
• WKEF, Channel 22 (ABC)
• WPTD, Channel 16 (PBS)
• WRGT-TV, Channel 45 (FOX)