The Naming of Dayton

Dayton was originally called Jamestown, and Brooklyn (the two earlier towns that merged to form Dayton) but couldn't have the name Jamestown permanently because the folks at the Post Office already recognized another Jamestown elsewhere in Kentucky. 

Mr. Charlie Tharp tells me he believes it's named for a Newport Barracks soldier - Lt. Leonard Dayton.

www.northern-kentucky.com (a now defunct website) said:

“A vote for the merger of the communities was a landslide with the community Brooklyn voting 51-6 in favor, and Jamestown voting 97-5 in favor also. Suggested names for the new city included Crescent, Berryville, North Point & Campbleton among others. A newspaper account in 1866 stated the name selected was "Dayton" after Dayton, OH that was founded in 1803.”

The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, on July 4, 1866, says this  “Dayton – The citizens of Jamestown and Brooklyn, which places were recently, by a vote of the people consolidated, have named their town “Dayton.”  A contract has been given out by the trustees for grading and paving the wharf in front of the place.  Success to Dayton, Ky.  We predict at some future date she will rival the beautiful city in Ohio after which she was named.”