Dayton, Virginia

Dayton, Virginia
Town
Main Street, Dayton
Seal
Location of Dayton, Virginia
Coordinates: 38°24′59″N 78°56′22″W / 38.41639°N 78.93944°W / 38.41639; -78.93944Coordinates: 38°24′59″N 78°56′22″W / 38.41639°N 78.93944°W / 38.41639; -78.93944
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Rockingham
Incorporated	1879
Government
• Type	Mayor and Town Council
• Mayor	Charles T. Long
• Vice Mayor	Josh O. Lyons
Area
• Total	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
• Land	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,204 ft (367 m)
Population (2009 U.S. Census estimate)
• Total	1,360
• Density	1,700/sq mi (647.6/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	22821
Area code(s)	540
FIPS code	51-21648[1]
GNIS feature ID	1492844[2]
Website	www.daytonva.us/

Dayton is a town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. The population is 1,530 as of the 2010 census. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Dayton is located at 38°24′59″N 78°56′22″W / 38.41639°N 78.93944°W / 38.41639; -78.93944 (38.416323, -78.939440).^[3] The town is approximately two miles southwest of Harrisonburg and two miles northeast of Bridgewater.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.

History

The town of Dayton is one of the oldest settled communities in Rockingham County, and is the county's second oldest incorporated town, after Bridgewater. The first settler in Dayton was Daniel Harrison (c. 1702-1770), whose family settled along Cooks Creek, north of downtown. Daniel was the eldest son of Isaiah Harrison and second wife Abigail and was born in Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY.. Daniel's brother Thomas Harrison founded Harrisonburg several miles to the northeast. They and their three brothers had migrated from New York to Delaware and then to Orange County Virginia before settling in the Shenandoah Valley.^[4]

The family homestead, a two-story stone house, as been owned and maintained since 1977 by a private, non-profit organization, Fort Harrison, Inc.^[5] The town was known as Rifeville or Rifetown^[6] until 1833.^[7]

Shenandoah University has its roots in Dayton, when it was known as the Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music. The college was organized in 1875 under the leadership of Rev. A.P. Funkhouser. This was a major institution in Dayton until 1960, when it moved to Winchester. College Street was named after the school and many of the street's buildings served as part of the campus.^[7]

The Dayton Historic District, Daniel Harrison House, and Peter Paul House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[8]

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, 1,344 people, 542 households, and 383 families resided in the town. The population density was 1,657.2 people per square mile (640.6/km²). There were 565 housing units at an average density of 696.6 per square mile (269.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.20% White, 0.67% African American, 0.37% Asian, 2.90% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.62% of the population.

Of 542 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were not families. About 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town, the population was distributed as 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,958, and the median income for a family was $44,732. Males had a median income of $30,109 versus $23,906 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,600. About 3.5% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dayton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.^[11]

In Popular Culture

The city is a setting in the music video for "Cheer Up" by the Korean pop group Twice.^[12] The video depicts a member of the group performing outside of Dayton while dressed as a cowgirl.

References

1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
4. ↑ Harrison, J. Houston (1975), Settlers by the Long Grey Trail, Genealogical Publ. Co.
5. ↑ http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?attrid=33160
6. ↑ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~varockbr/vatown.htm#Virginiatowns
7. 1 2 http://www.daytonva.us/history.htm
8. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 
9. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016. 
10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015. 
11. ↑ Climate Summary for Dayton, Virginia
12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7rCyll5AeY

Towns in Virginia
Abingdon Accomac Alberta Altavista Amherst Appalachia Appomattox Ashland Bedford Belle Haven Berryville Big Stone Gap Blacksburg Blackstone Bloxom Bluefield Boones Mill Bowling Green Boyce Boydton Boykins Branchville Bridgewater Broadway Brodnax Brookneal Buchanan Burkeville Cape Charles Capron Cedar Bluff Charlotte Court House Chase City Chatham Cheriton Chilhowie Chincoteague Christiansburg Claremont Clarksville Cleveland Clifton Clifton Forge Clinchco Clinchport Clintwood Coeburn Colonial Beach Columbia Courtland Craigsville Crewe Culpeper Damascus Dayton Dendron Dillwyn Drakes Branch Dublin Duffield Dumfries Dungannon Eastville Edinburg Elkton Exmore Farmville Fincastle Floyd Fries Front Royal Gate City Glade Spring Glasgow Glen Lyn Gordonsville Goshen Gretna Grottoes Grundy Halifax Hallwood Hamilton Haymarket Haysi Herndon Hillsboro Hillsville Honaker Hurt Independence Iron Gate Irvington Ivor Jarratt Jonesville Keller Kenbridge Keysville Kilmarnock La Crosse Lawrenceville Lebanon Leesburg Louisa Lovettsville Luray Madison Marion McKenney Melfa Middleburg Middletown Mineral Monterey Montross Mount Crawford Mount Jackson Narrows Nassawadox New Castle New Market Newsoms Nickelsville Occoquan Onancock Onley Orange Painter Pamplin City Parksley Pearisburg Pembroke Pennington Gap Phenix Pocahontas Port Royal Pound Pulaski Purcellville Quantico Remington Rich Creek Richlands Ridgeway Rocky Mount Round Hill Rural Retreat St. Charles St. Paul Saltville Saxis Scottsburg Scottsville Shenandoah Smithfield South Boston South Hill Stanardsville Stanley Stephens City Stony Creek Strasburg Stuart Surry Tangier Tappahannock Tazewell The Plains Timberville Toms Brook Troutdale Troutville Urbanna Victoria Vienna Vinton Virgilina Wachapreague Wakefield Warrenton Warsaw Washington Waverly Weber City West Point White Stone Windsor Wise Woodstock Wytheville

Municipalities and communities of Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
County seat: Harrisonburg
Towns	Bridgewater Broadway Dayton Elkton Grottoes‡ Mount Crawford Timberville
CDPs	Belmont Estates Massanetta Springs Massanutten
Unincorporated communities	Bergton Berrytown Briery Branch Clover Hill Cootes Store Criders Cross Keys Dale Enterprise Edom Fulks Run Hinton Inglewood Keezletown Lacey Spring Linville Lilly Mauzy Mayland McGaheysville Mechanicsville Montezuma Mount Clinton New Erection Ottobine Penn Laird Pleasant Valley Port Republic Rawley Springs Singers Glen Stemphleytown Tenth Legion Turleytown Yankeetown
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties