In 1867 two Northern Kentucky communities, Jamestown and Brooklyn, merged to create the city of Dayton. Back then, before the Army Corps of Engineers raised the level of the Ohio River, Dayton's swimmers and sunbathers took advantage of the natural sand bar and gently curving coastline of what was then known as Manhattan Beach.
 
Today's Dayton is committed to revitalizing its historic core while making way for profile-boosting projects. Major developments include extending the city’s riverfront presence eastward by adding residential and commercial opportunities at Manhattan Harbour.