Dayton, Oregon

On the banks of the beautiful Yamhill River, and adjacent to the mighty Willamette River lies the small, Americana-rich city of Dayton.

Dayton was founded by General Joel Palmer, a farmer who moved his family out to Oregon from Indiana in 1845.  Nearing the end of the Oregon Trail, Palmer climbed to the 9,000 ft. level of Mt. Hood in an effort to scout the way for the wagon train he was leading.  He later established several businesses and served in the Oregon State Senate for 20 years.

The lofty slopes north of Dayton are covered in vineyards, and are liberally dotted with some of Oregon’s most premium wineries, such as Domaine Drouhin, Archery Summit, De Ponte Cellars and Stoller Vineyards.  

In town, a charming square is surrounded by rich history and the buildings that stood witness to her: the Baptist Church, (one of the oldest structures in Yamhill County), the original post office, and farther down the road, the home of Joel Palmer, now a legendary gourmet restaurant.  Chef Chris Czarnecki, owner of the Joel Palmer House, recently opened a second restaurant named after Palmer’s fellow pioneer, Sam Barlow.

Dayton prides itself on its cohesive and engaged City Council, City Staff, Planning Commission and Community Development Association.  All of these entities are dedicated to expanding the economy of Dayton and increasing its business opportunities, while maintaining a high standard of livability and sustainability.  

The rebirth of downtown Dayton is fueled not only by its growing wine sector, but also the promise of greater connectivity via the region’s new bypass.

In addition to many wineries and food-producing farms, Dayton is also home to Monrovia – one of the largest nurseries in the U.S., with over 1,200 acres of high quality horticulture products, and tended to by over 500 employees.

Yamhill County City Contact information