Dayton, Colorado

Dayton is an extinct town in Lake County, Colorado, located on the site of what is now Twin Lakes. Like the larger nearby towns of Granite and Oro City, Dayton formed rapidly during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush and failed quickly when the local mining industry collapsed. The Dayton post office operated from October 16, 1866, until November 30, 1868. Dayton was made the Lake County seat from 1868 to 1868. At its peak, it had hotels, a general store, a courthouse, and a post office and served as the county seat. Dayton's courthouse was taken down and moved to Granite by early 1869. In the decade after Dayton's demise, the area became a vacation destination appreciated for its scenery, hunting, and fishing.

Prior to European exploration and colonization, the land was inhabited by the Ute people.