Incorporated in 1867 when two separate communities — Brooklyn and Jamestown — were merged, Dayton, Kentucky is a historic community on the Ohio River directly across from Cincinnati, Ohio.  Learn more about the city’s history.

A walkable community of about two square miles, the city was once served as the eastern “end of the line” of the Northern Kentucky streetcar system. Dayton is just three miles from Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati and is conveniently located on Ky. 8 near I-471 and the cities of Bellevue, Newport, Covington, and Fort Thomas.

Celebrating its past while embracing its promise of a bright future, Dayton is seeing a surge of new housing and commercial developments that are reconnecting the city to the Ohio River and bringing a renewed vibrancy to the city. Learn more about the city’s recent development projects in the city.

The city offers a diversity of housing, neighborhoods, businesses, and parks. No matter your taste in homes or your station in life, Dayton has a home for you — from historic homes and condominiums on the hills overlooking the Ohio River to more contemporary housing, such as large, suburban homes the city’s Grant Park subdivision or luxury homes and multi-family developments like Manhattan on the River and Gateway Flats that are perched along the banks of the river. Dayton also offers affordable homes for first-time homebuyers and young couples looking to start a family.

Dayton Independent Schools has earned the Kentucky Department of Education’s highest rating: Distinguished School District. Lincoln Elementary School has 650 students and approximately 350 students attend the Dayton Middle/High School. Learn more about Dayton Independent Schools.

Restaurants and catering businesses, entertainment and event centers, recording studios, retail outlets, and professional offices, including financial and medical services, are found on Sixth Avenue in the city’s Central Business District. A number of industries operate in the city’s industrial park and three marinas are located in the city.

The city maintains six public parks, including a vast trail system that includes Riverfront Commons along the river and Sergeant Park in south Dayton on Covert Run Pike.