Dayton is a city in Liberty County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,777 at the 2020 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which all but is land.

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.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Dayton had a population of 8,777, with 3,113 households and 2,115 families residing in the city. The median age was 35.3 years, with 25.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 13.0% of residents aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 77.9 males age 18 and over.

78.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 21.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,113 households in Dayton, of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.2% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 5,511 || 62.8%

|-

| Black or African American || 1,328 || 15.1%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 58 || 0.7%

|-

| Asian || 135 || 1.5%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 3 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 812 || 9.3%

|-

| Two or more races || 930 || 10.6%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,852 || 21.1%

|}

2000 census

As of the census Dayton voted to reincorporated on November 28, 1925.

Government and infrastructure

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Dayton District Parole Office in Dayton. In addition, the TDCJ operates some correctional facilities near the City limits of Dayton. The L.V. Hightower Unit prison and the Dempsie Henley Unit and Lucille G. Plane Unit prisons are north of the downtown area of Dayton.

The United States Postal Service operates the Dayton Post Office.

The District 18 seat in the Texas House of Representatives is currently held by republican Ernest Bailes.

The city of Dayton operates under a typical council–manager government with five elected members, and a mayor elected at-large. All six are non-partisan and unpaid, elected for two and three year terms, staggered so three positions are up for election each year. The current mayor is Martin Mudd elected in 2023. His current term will expire in 2026. Executive power is vested in the council-appointed city manager, currently City Manager Kimberly Judge. City Administration also includes a Deputy City Manager Derek Woods.

The Dayton Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), a type B Economic Development entity, provides economic development and community development services to the greater Dayton, Texas region. DEDC has invested over $3 Million in the local business community since its creation in 1996.

Transportation

Highways

The major route passing through Dayton is U.S. Highway 90, traveling west towards Crosby and Houston and east into East Texas to Beaumont and onward to Louisiana.

SH 321 connects Dayton to Cleveland. Within the city of Dayton, SH 321 is referred to as North Cleveland Street, passing through residential Dayton as a four-lane urban highway, before narrowing back down to a two-lane rural State Highway going north to Cleveland.

SH 146 provides Dayton with a connection to Baytown.

FM 1960 connects Dayton to the northern reaches of Houston as well as Humble and Huffman. FM 1409 connects Dayton to Old River-Winfree.

Grand Parkway (SH 99) is a loop toll road that intersects with US 90 and connects Dayton with other outer areas of Greater Houston.

Railroads

Dayton is the meeting point of two rail lines. One is a north/south Union Pacific (UP) line that comes out of the UP Baytown Subdivision. The other is the east/west UP Lafayette Subdivision line that roughly follows US 90. The BNSF has authority to operate its trains on the Baytown Subdivision from Dayton to just west of Baytown and has a rail yard just south of Dayton. Another rail line runs through the northern edge of the city, called the UP Beaumont Subdivision. A study was performed by the Texas Department of Transportation concerning a Dayton-to-Cleveland single mainline rail corridor consisting of approximately 40 miles of track connecting the UP Lufkin Subdivision and the BNSF Conroe Subdivision near Cleveland to the UPRR Baytown Subdivision south of Dayton.

Education

The city of Dayton is served by the Dayton Independent School District. Dayton has a high school called Dayton High School (Texas)

Dayton ISD students are zoned to Lee College.

The community is served by the Jones Public Library. The Jones Library Board is an advisory board appointed by the Dayton City Council.

Notable people

  • Don Brown, football player
  • Bill Daniel, governor of the United States Territory of Guam
  • Julie Kocurek, attorney and judge
  • Mike Mabry, American football center
  • John Otto, American politician
  • Aaron Ripkowski, football player

References

  • www.dayton-online.com – Dayton's Online Community.