Dayton History
The City of Dayton is located in the heart of the beautiful Willamette Valley. It is situated just off Hwy 18 between McMinnville and Newberg and is centrally located 55 miles from the Pacific Ocean, 24 miles from the State Capital and 60 miles from Mt Hood. 


Rich in history, Dayton was founded in 1850 by General Joel Palmer and Andrew Smith. Incorporated in 1880, the history of Dayton dates back to Oregon's beginning.  The current population is 2635.


Dayton was the first city in the State of Oregon to be designated as a national historic resource.  The numerous homes and buildings on the National Historic Register are easily viewed on a walking tour within the city. For walking tour brochures contact the City of Dayton at 503-864-2221 or stop by City Hall at 416 Ferry St any time - to grab one from the container outside of our front door.

Publications Available to Read Online

  • Brookside Cemetery
    Brookside Cemetery is located on Third Street just off Mill Street, it is the resting ground of many Dayton Pioneers including Joel Palmer, founder of Dayton.

  • Courthouse Square Park
    Sometimes known as the Dayton City Park, Courthouse Square Park is the home of several historical items, including the Fort Yamhill Blockhouse, Bandstand and Fountain, a World War II Cannon and a replica of the old Fire Bell.

  • Blockhouse
    The Fort Yamhill Blockhouse is located in the NW corner of Courthouse Square Park and was originally moved from Grand Ronde Valley in 1911 to honor Joel Palmer founder of Dayton and Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

Walking Tour

Dayton's Historic Walking Tour
In 1987 Dayton was the first city in the State of Oregon to be designated as a national historic resource. The numerous homes and buildings on the National Historic Register are easily viewed on this walking tour within the city.

 

Click here to visit our interactive online tour of Dayton's historic resources.

The Yamhill County Historical Society is a fantastic resource for researching more about local history.

 

The Ruth Stoller Research Library is open to visitors and has over 5000 photos of historic Yamhill County (including Dayton) and many books and other written resources than the City of Dayton is able to house and display.

 

There is also a museum on their site, admission is a suggested donation of $5.00. Click here for more information, and for their current hours of operation.

 

They Historical Society may be reached at 503-472-2842.

Odd Fellows Cemetery (IOOF)

This cemetery is outside of our city limits, so we have very little information about it. Please click on the link above for a listing of those buried in the International Order of the Odd Fellows Cemetery, located on Thompson Lane just outside of Dayton off highway 221.

If you have historic pictures of the Dayton area or past residents or you have a historic story or information and you would like to share them on this website, please contact the City of Dayton at 503-864-2221 or stop by City Hall at 416 Ferry Street, Dayton, OR.