User:DeknMike/Main Street Dayton, Ohio

Main Street Dayton, Ohio Main Street is a key thread holding the city of Dayton, Ohio together as a place unique in America. From the University of Dayton in the south to the James M. Cox Airport on the north, this street threads through the heart of the city and ties it together. Nearby are 5 city parks that flank two of the city's rivers, the Stillwater and the Miami.

History
Main Street is rich in history, but is also a victim of its past. With the outward migration of the 50s, 60s and 70s, the zip codes that include Main Street have lost more than a third of the residents. In the North Main Street district, a third of the homes stand empty. Downtown has a surplus of office spaces. South Main is bolstered by the presence of the University, but has also seen a downturn in its fortunes.

Five Rivers Oaks Communities (FROC)
The historic north section of town is a cluster of historic housing. Within the region are mansions, bungalows, cottage style, and a cluster in the Mid-Century Modernist style. This region includes Wyrtzgen Gardens, the Boonshoft Museum of Science, Triangle Island recreation park and Deeds Point, with Wright Brothers history and a 24-hour dog park.

On the South end of the district is Grandview Hospital and Dayton Art Institute.

Downtown
The downtown has two historic districts: Second Street and the Oregon District. It contains historic churches and the Dayton Peace Museum, where President Jimmy Carter brokered the Arab-Israeli Dayton Peace Accords. Downtown is also home of Sinclair Community College.

South Dayton
South of US 35 is the location of Miami Valley Hospital, the University of Dayton and the Carillon Historical Park.

History and Decline
"In 1940, 71% of the population of Montgomery County resided in Dayton.  Although both the city and county grew significantly in the 1940s, the percentage of the county population living in Dayton had dropped to 61% by 1950.  In 1950, there was approximately one vehicle for every three county residents.    By 1960, only 49.7% of the county’s residents lived in Dayton, and there was one vehicle per 2.6 people.  By 1970, the number of registered autos in the county was 302,677, which was 3½ times the number in 1944.   Only 40% of the county population resided in Dayton, and there was one vehicle for every two county resident."

City Improvements
The City of Dayton has embarked on a series of initiatives to rebuild and restore the communities. Downtown has seen significant investment by creating Technology Development hubs, modern urban housing and shops, restaurants and brewpubs that add vitality to the south Downtown district.

North Main Street district has yet to see impovements