Dayton, Newark facts for kids

Dayton is a neighborhood located in the city of Newark, which is in Essex County, New Jersey. It's part of Newark's south side.

History of Dayton

This neighborhood gets its name from Jonathan Dayton (born October 16, 1760 – died October 9, 1824). He was an important American politician from New Jersey and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the youngest person to sign the United States Constitution.

Jonathan Dayton also served in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was the fourth Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Later, he became a member of the U.S. Senate.

Dayton was also known for a fun place called Twin City. This was a skating rink right on the border between Newark and Elizabeth, near Virginia Street. St. Thomas Aquinas RC Church is also located on Ludlow Street in the area.

Exploring Dayton's Geography

Dayton is surrounded by several important areas. To the north, you'll find Peddie Street. The Newark Liberty International Airport is to the east. The city of Elizabeth is to the south. And Elizabeth Avenue forms the western boundary.

The main road that goes through Dayton is Frelinghuysen Avenue. Other major roads nearby include U.S. Route 1/9, Interstate 78, and U.S. Route 22. On the eastern side of Dayton, you can find the Newark City Cemetery and Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Weequahic Park: A Green Space

Weequahic Park is on the western side of the neighborhood. It's the second largest park in Newark. The park has a big lake, about 80 acres in size. There's also the Weequahic Golf Course and an old racetrack. This racetrack is now used by people who enjoy jogging. A part of US 22 goes through the park, but the larger southern section, including Weequahic Lake, is easy to reach from Dayton.

Getting Around: Transportation in Dayton

Dayton has one train station called Newark Liberty International Airport Station. You can catch trains from New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line and North Jersey Coast Line here. Amtrak's Northeast Regional and Keystone Service trains also stop at this station.

The station was built in 2001. Its main purpose was to connect NJ Transit's commuter trains and Amtrak's services with the airport's AirTrain system. The AirTrain had started running between airport terminals four years earlier.

Currently, this station is mainly for transferring between trains and the AirTrain. You can't get to it directly by car or public roads. However, in 2024, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced plans to expand the station. This expansion will include street access from New Jersey Route 27 (Frelinghuysen Avenue). It will also add facilities for bus service, parking, and a drop-off area.

There's also a plan to extend the PATH train service to the airport. This plan might include a new PATH station in the Dayton area.

Lionsgate Newark: A New Film Studio

In 2022, the city announced exciting news for Dayton. A big new studio for making movies and TV shows is being built. It's called Lionsgate Newark Studios. This studio will open in 2024. It's located on a 15-acre site at 101 Center Terrace, near Evergreen Cemetery. The studio will overlook Weequahic Park and Weequahic Golf Course.

Lionsgate Newark will work with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on public relations and community activities.