Dayton is a city in Hennepin and Wright counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota.

[2] On January 15, 2003, the city's most recent geographical expanse extended its boundaries.

Interstate 94 and County Road 81 pass briefly through the southwest corner of Dayton.

Brockton Lane (County 13) runs north-south along Dayton's western boundary line with adjacent city of Rogers.

The neighboring cities are Champlin, Rogers, Maple Grove, Anoka, Ramsey, Elk River, and Otsego.

Dayton is a small town in regard to the economy scale with few retail outlets.

Dayton's economy comes from mostly small business operations such as its' golf course, various car repair shops, famous local manor, and custom home builders.

Its one mall, Raintree Plaza, has Marathon gas station and convenience store as well as several other small businesses.

In 2011, the city was forced to lay off several staff members and reduce services due to budget cuts.

From 1960 to 1996, Dayton was a Democratic stronghold, having voted Democrat in every election except for 1984 when it voted narrowly for then-incumbent Ronald Reagan, who won in a landslide over Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale.

However, in 2024, partially due to its increase in suburban development, Dayton returned to its Democratic roots when Kamala Harris won the city in 2024.