Source: Flickr user Mrguilt
Ohio is considered at the heart of "fly-over" country, and those jet-setters should be quick to blow a kiss down to Dayton as they fly by, thanking the Wright brothers for the gift of flight.
But that distinction isn't just license plate fodder-Daytonians take aviation super seriously, both at work and on their off time. Wright-Patterson AFB, the nation's largest Air Force Base, accounts for nearly 30,000 military and civilian jobs, and the Vectren Dayton Air Show draws a staggering 80,000 avid spectators every year.
These people are seriously flighty. Get it?
Source: Wikipedia user National Security Agency
The utter lack of a "scene" in Dayton has had an unexpected advantage. It's given some of the greatest tinkerers in history time to focus on what makes Dayton such a great place-innovation.
To say Dayton is a hotbed of invention is an outright understatement. Forget the airplane for a moment (although that is a HUGE one), and consider that every time someone turns a key to start an engine, they owe it to Charles Kettering and the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co. (Delco), which first put an electric engine system into cars back in 1912. Just try to imagine life without engines. You can't, right?
Now take into account that National Cash Register (NCR) got its start in Dayton in 1884-and started cranking out major patents on things you take for granted every day, like the electric cash register, barcode scanners, point-of-sale systems and the ATM.
While everyone else is out making a "scene," Daytonians are making the future, people.
St. Patrick's Day at the University of Dayton isn't just a place to get drunk-it's truly like no other party in the country. It consistently ranks at the top of college party lists-number one in 2013 according to Brobible.com. And no wonder, since the people apparently kind of lose their minds.
In the past streets have been painted green, mobs have been formed and riots have ensued. Last year the Dayton police broke up the festivities after some serious property damage was done, and seven people were arrested (none of whom actually attended the university). It's estimated that the number of people on the campus more than doubles during the party, making it as much a part of the city as it is the college. You can bet the cops won't be taking any chances this year.
So raise your glass and make sure you're wearing green-you never know what these people might do if they think you're not in the St. Patty's spirit.
Source: Flickr user Sonnett
The University of Dayton Arena is widely considered one of the absolute best college basketball facilities, due in no small part to the insane enthusiasm of its fans.
From 2011 to 2010 the University of Dayton Arena hosted the opening round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament every year, and has hosted more men's NCAA Division I basketball tournament games than any other venue in the entire country!
Meanwhile, The Dayton Dragons-the single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds-holds the longest sell-out streak in American professional sports history, closing in on 1,000 consecutive sell-outs in the 2013 season. That's loyalty, people.
Source: Flickr user Drabikrr
Daytonians are so proud of the brothers Wright (see stereotype number 1) that they actually ignore the other notable natives from their homeland.
Orville and Wilbur had a classmate named Paul Laurence Dunbar, credited as the first African American writer to establish a national reputation for his poetry. But most students would look at you like you're from outer space if you asked them about him. Or what about Erma Bombeck-maybe you've heard of her? Probably not. The American author, humorist and national treasure is a Dayton native whose name seems to elude loyal Daytonians.
Clearly people in Dayton would rather just stare out of the window on long flights contemplating the awesomeness of the plane, instead of cracking open a new book.
Source: Flickr user jenthang
Daytonians have known the bicycle is a great method of transportation for centuries, since George P. Huffman oversaw the manufacturing of the first Davis Sewing Machine Company bicycle right here in 1892. They were basically the original bike hipsters.
In (much) more recent years, the people still champion the bike community with an extensive network of more than 300 miles of bike trails throughout the city, plus all of the roadway bike lanes. In fact, Dayton was the only Ohio city selected as a Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in 2010.
So don't be surprised to get a few snobby looks from cyclists as you're driving around in your car that you wouldn't even have without Dayton.
Source: Wikipedia user Dayton141
Since the flood of 1913, Dayton had a rather sordid relationship with the Great Miami River. Recently, however, Daytonians have embraced their resident waterway and made it a prominent part of the city-scape. From offering bike rentals to paddle boats, there's been a huge collective effort to draw visitors to the riverfront, including constructing one of the world's largest fountains nearby.
And the work has been pretty successful, since people flock to the riverfront now-nearly 80,000 people made it out for the annual Celtic Festival last year alone.
Late, great funny man (and Dayton native) Jonathan Winters once said, "The most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning-it's a man or a woman without a sense of humor."
There can't be much to fear in Dayton, what with ties to the likes of Cathy Guisewite (the genius behind the Cathy comic strip), Chip Bok (another nationally syndicated political cartoonist) and Nancy Cartwright (the unmistakable voice of Bart Simpson).
And no wonder, considering the city is home to two beloved comedy clubs, the Funny Bone and Wiley's Comedy Club-the state's first and oldest club of its kind, by the way.
Source: Flickr user Skakerman
In 2008, when GM announced the closing of its Moraine truck plant, Dayton was declared one of the nation's fastest dying cities, and Daytonians wept.
Recently, however, a Chinese auto-glass company announced plans to take over parts of the abandoned plant, and now Daytonians are gratefully rejoicing. Since the happy announcement breweries and other businesses have also sprouted up and people in the Rust Belt are looking to follow Dayton's lead.
At least, until the plant is threatened again and everyone freaks out.
Source: Flickr user bobosh_t
Not everything in Dayton is about engines and watching the big game-its citizens have an impressive cultural side too. More than 140,000 people visited the Dayton Art Institute in 2012 (its highest number of visitors ever) undoubtedly to kick the dirt off their boots and prove just how cultured they truly are.
As if that wasn't enough, the Victoria Theatre (which opened in 1866 as the Turner Opera House) is one of the longest continually running theaters on the entire continent, proving that Daytonians have been showing their artsy side for longer than just about anyone.
Feature Image Source: Victoria Theatre Association
