Saturday, October 5, 2024
Small Town Vibe
Population 1000-2999

Dayton, OR: 3 Great ways to have a less crowded Wine Country Experience!

Small Town Vibe

June 2024: We had a fantastic early summer day for wine tasting in Oregon! While visiting wineries in the Willamette Valley, we stopped in the small town of Dayton (pop.2,678*). We were impressed by its amenities. As we walked around and admired the town center park surrounded by vibrant businesses, we realized that Dayton would be a great option for staying in a less crowded historic town while visiting the Yamhill Winery region!

Dayton is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, about 30 minutes southwest of Portland along Highway 99W exit for local Hwy 233.

Dayton – A Brief History

The city was founded in 1850 by Joel Palmer and his son-in-law Andrew Smith. Palmer, who also served as superintendent of Indian affairs for Oregon, built a flour mill there. Dayton was named for Andrew Smith’s hometown, Dayton, Ohio. Dayton post office was opened in 1851 and the town was incorporated in 1880.

There are many historic landmarks throughout the city. The oldest standing structure is the Joel Palmer House, built in 1852 or 1857. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since March 16, 1987, and has been painstakingly restored. Since 1996, it has been home to a four-star restaurant of the same name as the historic house.

Nearby, in Courthouse Square Park, is the Fort Yamhill Block House, which was brought to Dayton in 1911 to prevent its demolition. The structure had been built by Willamette Valley settlers in 1855 and 1856 as a military fortification. John G. Lewis, a citizen of Dayton, secured permission from authorities to move the logs to Dayton, where they were reassembled in the park.

Dayton moving forward as they build on their agricultural history

Today Dayton is a rural community, with many people involved in agriculture such as vegetable, berry, nut, nursery plants, wheat production and dairy farming. The vineyards and wineries located in the Willamette Valley AVA (American Viticulture Area) and the Dundee Hills AVA are an increasing source of direct economic activity as well as a source of visitors to the city.

3 Reasons to include Dayton in your Wine Country plans and avoid the crowds

Our Sunday afternoon visit was not conducive to trying out the places below for ourselves, but we liked their outside appearance and then learned online that their customers highly value them.

#1. Top Notch Winery and Food Options

#2. Unique places to stay

We did not stay overnight in Dayton, but there are 2 particularly cool options for those who stay!

#3. Historic walking tour sights, starting with Courthouse Square Park

Courthouse Square is a beautiful and historic town plaza with many historic and natural attributes! Start here and then continue on the Dayton Historic Walking Tour!

More to Explore!

It was fun to explore online to see how much effort the people of Dayton have put into understanding their history and making it available and relevant today in the forms of their park, their library, their restored homes and businesses and the walking tour information! How cool that their town government literally has a Preservation Committee :).

Community Annual Events

  • Summer: Friday Nights – “Gather downtown for a free, family-friendly celebration every Friday night this summer that includes live musical performances, activities for kids and a market in the park, and wine, dining & shopping at downtown businesses, and a Cruise In for unique and antique cars on Fourth Street (no registration required), and an end of summer Lantern Festival including a lantern parade around the park“
  • July: Old Timers Weekend
  • August: National Night Out
  • October: Community Scarecrow Contest

Organizations that support Community in Dayton

  • Dayton Community Development Association (DCDA) – “The mission of the Dayton Community Development Association (DCDA) is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Dayton by helping to revitalize, improve, and maintain the economic, physical, social, aesthetic and cultural environment of Dayton’s Downtown area.”
    • Downtown Dayton – much like a Chamber of Commerce for the town of Dayton
    • Dayton Forward |A Vision of the Future – Love the vision! “Now, in 2012, Dayton’s citizens have redefined their small town to prosper in the 21st Century. The four roles described below are designed to support each other and revitalize future Dayton as a unique community within Yamhill County“
  • Mary Gilkey City Library – The Dayton Public Library, also known as the “Mary Gilkey City Library” was founded in 1923.
    • The library was moved to City Hall in June of 1935. 
    • In 1996, the old Fire Hall bays adjacent to the City Hall were remodeled and the Library was moved out of City Hall to the space it currently occupies.
    • The library was named at a dedicatory service for Mary Ann Robinson Gilkey, who was the first girl child born in Yamhill County of pioneers.
  • Dayton Historic Preservation Committee – “The Dayton Historic Preservation Committee is comprised of five community members, who are appointed by the Dayton City Council.  The Preservation Committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month as necessary to review and make recommendations to the Dayton Planning Commission, regarding applications pertaining to alterations of Historical property and buildings within the Dayton Historical District.”

Map of Dayton

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