Dayton has continued to progress in a growth of industrial power, in its blossoming as a center of high technology, research and information services, and in its development as a service and distribution center. In transportation, Dayton is the hub of one of the largest "90-Minute" markets in the nation.

Brief History: Dayton was founded April 1, 1796. The city was named after Revolutionary War hero General Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer of the U.S. Constitution and one of the first investors in the new town. The city was Incorporated February 12, 1805. TheCommission-Manager Plan was established by charter, adopted on August 12, 1913. Dayton was the first large city in America to adopt the Commission-Manager form of government. The City Charter established a five-member, non-partisan City Commission, elected at large for four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor is a separately elected, voting member of the City Commission. The City Manager is appointed by the City Commission. The City of Dayton has been rated as an "All-America City" three times - 1951, 1978 and 1991.

Cultural Diversity: White -- 58 percent African-American -- 40 percent Other -- 2 percent

Top Twenty Employers* Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, NCR Corp. Miami Valley Hospital, Delphi Automotive/General, Reynolds & Reynolds, University of Dayton, Veterans Administration, Good Samaritan Hospital, United States Postal Service, Daimler Chrysler Corp., Emery Air Freight, Sinclair Community College, Mead/Westvaco Corp., Dayton Osteopathic Hospital (Grandview), Childrens' Medical Center, Standard Register Co., Dayton Newspapers, Inc., Greater Dayton Regional Transit (RTA), National City Bank, Emery Worldwide Airlines