A catastrophic flood in March 1913 , known as the Great Dayton Flood , led to the creation of the Miami Conservancy District , a series of dams and hydraulic jumps installed around Dayton , in 1914 . Like other cities across the country , Dayton was heavily involved in the war effort during World War II . Several locations around the city hosted the Dayton Project , a branch of the larger Manhattan Project , to develop polonium triggers used in early atomic bombs . The war efforts led to a manufacturing boom throughout the city , including high demand for housing and other services . At one point , emergency housing was put into place due to a housing shortage in the region , much of which is still in use today
Great Dayton Flood
Great Dayton Flood
Dayton, Ohio