Dayton, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dayton, Virginia
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Main Street, Dayton
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Location of Dayton within the Rockingham County
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 Dayton, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Dayton, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Virginia | |
| County | Rockingham | |
| Incorporated | 1879 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor and Town Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,204 ft (367 m) | |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,530 | |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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1,637 | |
| • Density | 1,587.78/sq mi (612.82/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
22821
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| Area code(s) | 540 | |
| FIPS code | 51-21648 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1492844 | |
| Website | www.daytonva.us/ | |
Dayton is a small town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. In 2010, about 1,530 people lived here. It is part of the larger Harrisonburg area.
Contents
Geography of Dayton
Dayton is located in Virginia at 38°24′59″N 78°56′22″W / 38.41639°N 78.93944°W. It is about two miles southwest of Harrisonburg. It is also two miles northeast of Bridgewater.
The town covers about 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
History of Dayton
Dayton is one of the oldest settled places in Rockingham County. It is the second oldest town in the county to become an official town, after Bridgewater.
Early Settlers
The first person to settle in Dayton was Daniel Harrison. He arrived around 1702–1770. His family settled near Cooks Creek, north of the town center. Daniel was the oldest son of Isaiah Harrison. Daniel's brother, Thomas Harrison, later founded Harrisonburg. The Harrison brothers moved from New York to Delaware, then to Orange County, Virginia. Finally, they settled in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
The old family home, a two-story stone house, is still cared for today. A group called Fort Harrison, Inc. has owned it since 1977. The town was known as Rifeville or Rifetown until 1833.
Shenandoah University's Roots
Shenandoah University actually started in Dayton. It was first known as the Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music. The college began in 1875. Rev. A.P. Funkhouser led its creation. This college was a very important part of Dayton until 1960. That year, it moved to Winchester. College Street in Dayton was named after the school. Many buildings on that street were once part of the campus.
Historic Places
Several places in Dayton are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Dayton Historic District, the Daniel Harrison House, and the Peter Paul House. These places are important because they show the history of the town.
Transportation in Dayton
The main road that goes through Dayton is Virginia State Route 42. This road goes southwest to Bridgewater. It also goes northeast to Harrisonburg. In Harrisonburg, it connects with U.S. Route 33.
Virginia State Route 257 also serves Dayton. Part of SR 257 runs with SR 42. But from Dayton, SR 257 heads west into the countryside. Other important roads in Dayton include Virginia State Route 42 Business and Virginia State Route 290.
_just_north_of_Virginia_State_Route_290_(Huffman_Drive)_in_Dayton,_Rockingham_County,_Virginia.jpg)
People of Dayton
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 258 | — | |
| 1900 | 425 | — | |
| 1910 | 516 | 21.4% | |
| 1920 | 482 | −6.6% | |
| 1930 | 537 | 11.4% | |
| 1940 | 632 | 17.7% | |
| 1950 | 788 | 24.7% | |
| 1960 | 930 | 18.0% | |
| 1970 | 978 | 5.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,017 | 4.0% | |
| 1990 | 921 | −9.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,344 | 45.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,530 | 13.8% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 1,637 | 7.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, about 1,344 people lived in Dayton. There were 542 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people were White (94.20%). A smaller number were African American (0.67%) or Asian (0.37%). Some people were from other races (2.90%) or two or more races (1.86%). About 6.62% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 31.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.48 people. The average family had about 2.97 people.
The town's population included 24.1% under 18 years old. About 15.6% were 65 years or older. The average age in Dayton was 37 years.
Old Order Mennonites
Around Dayton, there are two groups of Old Order Mennonites. These are people who live a traditional, simple lifestyle. They are members of the Virginia Old Order Mennonite Conference and the John Dan Wenger Mennonites. The John Dan Wenger Mennonites are more traditional. These two groups separated in 1952 or 1953. Together, about 1,000 Old Order Mennonites live in the Dayton area.
Climate in Dayton
Dayton has a climate with hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
See also
In Spanish: Dayton (Virginia) para niños
