Straddling the best of both rural and small town city life, Eaton is in Preble County, about 30 minutes west of downtown Dayton near the Indiana border. Perhaps best known for its agricultural presence, Eaton was settled by farmers who used the powerful water sources nearby to build gristmills. Agriculture remains an important factor in the economy still today, but Eaton has begun to expand into a thriving business community. From a lake development community to new housing construction, the wide variety of housing ranging from magnificent older homes to modest starter homes fit all tastes and budgets.
Transportation
Eaton is located along U.S.127 and 35, east of the Indiana border.
Hospitals
Many of the downtown Dayton hospitals provide outpatient services at clinics near Eaton.
Shopping
Two shopping malls on Eaton's north side, March Mall and Junction Valley Mall fill residents' needs with anchor and specialty stores. Local merchants, especially downtown, offer choices from arts and crafts to hardware, clothing, photography, furniture and much more. Restaurants and theatres are nearby. Just minutes outside of town, the area around Fairhaven is attracting antique buffs to the many local shops. Individual shops and fast food restaurants line U.S. 127.
Recreation
Just south of Eaton is Hueston Woods State Park which offers miles of scenic hiking trails, fishing and boating on 625 acre Acton Lake, an 18 hole golf course, naturalist programs, a nature center with a display of live animals and much more. 12 golf courses are in the vicinity for those who like to tee off, and other community sports are plentiful for both children and adults. The Eaton Fine Arts Center provides classes in fine arts and crafts and hosts art exhibitions throughout the year. The Eaton Community Arts Council is active in promoting performing arts such as drama, theatre, musicals, plays and films. The museum at the Preble County Historical Society's Farm Center is a constantly growing collection of antiques, memorabilia and artifacts from the area's past for those who like to explore.
Lifestyle
Check out these local highlights by area experts!
Explore Nearby Communities
Dayton, OH
Arts & Entertainment
Dayton Cultural Center - Find out news and information on events being held throughout town and on the Dayton scene.
Dayton Playhouse - Become a part of the playhouse tradition and experience the talent and craft of this community theatre.
Schuster Performing Arts Center - Visit the home of Dayton’s Opera, Philharmonic Orchestra and other local performing arts treasures at one of the nation’s most remarkable performing arts centers.
Dayton Ballet - Treat yourself to performances by the second oldest dance company in the country.
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company - The DCDC was founded in 1968 with the belief that dance transcends the boundaries of race and culture.
Dayton Opera - Providing the best in opera experience for over 40 years.
Dayton Theatre Guild - The Theatre Guild’s performances are nearing 400 total productions of live theater. Anyone with a passion for theater is welcome either as a spectator or participant regardless of prior experience.
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra - Inspire your imagination with musical sounds from one of the city’s most distinguished cultural institutions.
Fraze Pavilion - Come and celebrate 16 years of premiere outdoor entertainment held in this 4,300 seat amphitheater.
Muse Machine - This nationally recognized arts education organization serves 70,000 students annually in 13 counties of southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky.
Nutter Center - Don’t miss an opportunity to visit Ohio’s premier spot for sports, concerts and family events.
Human Race Theatre - In its 20th season the Human Race Theatre Company brings the beauty, drama and excitement of professional live theatre to Dayton and southwestern Ohio.
Victoria Theatre Association - Located in the historic Victoria Theatre, the Victoria Theatre Association is Dayton’s premier arts organization for audiences of all ages.
Museums & Attractions
Attractions List from Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau
Wright Patterson Air Force Museum - Visit the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum for FREE.
Dayton Air Show - Enjoy a day full of aviation fun held every July.
RiverScape - As one of the Five Rivers MetroParks, Riverscape is dedicated to protecting and inspiring appreciation in Dayton’s natural heritage.
Dayton Art Institute - Visit the art institute often to enjoy world-class special exhibitions, educational programs, special events and their diverse permanent collection.
Dayton Visual Arts Center - The Visual Arts Center is a group of artists and art lovers who believe that a vital visuals arts community is essential to the life of the community.
Fifth Street Gallery - Home to Stivers School for the Arts which offers programs in music, dance, theater, and visual arts as well as quality academics for grades 7-12.
High Street Gallery - This historic gallery is the site of many art shows held either privately or by the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors.
K12 Gallery for Young People - The K12 gallery, a vibrant organization aimed toward stretching the creative minds of Dayton’s youth, provides them with a true sense of community belonging and respect.
Rutledge Gallery - Located in downtown Dayton, the Rutledge Gallery features an assortment of diverse, original art by talented artists in all mediums.
Sunwatch Indian Village />Archaeological Park - A partially-reconstructed American Indian Village which occupied the Middle Ohio River Valley between about AD 1000 and AD 1650; and the Heilman-Kettering Interpretive Center featuring exhibits with artifacts recovered from the site.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery - Children and adults can explore the wonders of the world with a live animal zoo, the region’s only Planetarium, interactive science and technology exhibits, and more under one roof!
Sports & Recreation
Sports
Dayton Dragons - Visit Day Air Park Ballpark and watch the baseball stars of tomorrow as they play on this minor league team for the Cincinnati Reds.
University of Dayton Athletics - Ranked among the top 10 in the academic performance of athletes in the country, the university’s Flyer teams win both on the field and in the classroom.
Wright State University Athletics - These NCAA Division I student-athletes post outstanding successes in the classroom with almost half honored each year with academic recognition.
Parks and Recreation
U.S. Air Force Museum - The National Museum of the United States Air Force, located near Dayton, Ohio, is the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world.
Five Rivers Metro Parks - MetroParks is leading the protection and stewardship of Greater Dayton’s open spaces and natural heritage through conservation efforts, recreation and education.
Woodland Arboretum and Cemetery - Founded in 1841 the Woodland Cemetery is one of America’s first and most historic cemeteries.
Carillon Historical Park - Carillon Historical Park celebrates the history of invention, transportation, and pioneer life in Dayton and the Miami Valley.
Dayton Aviation Heritage - Stop by and hear the stories of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Whatever your time frame - Dayton Aviation is sure to have something for you to see and do.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery - Visit a museum full of interactive science learning that enriches the lives of both children and adults.
The Packard Museum - Come and see the world's only restored Packard Dealership operating as a museum, and only full-time museum dedicated exclusively to the products and philosophies of the Packard Motor Car Company.
Business & Media
Business Organizations
www.daytonregion.com - Find out everything you need to know about starting, growing or moving a business to the Dayton area.
Dayton Chamber Of Commerce - This 5 Star Accredited Chamber represents over 3,000 organizations in the Dayton region and provides advice on starting and growing business.
Dayton Convention And Visitors Bureau - See what Dayton’s big city amenities, midwestern charm and hospitality have to offer.
Newspapers
Dayton Daily News - Follow all of the news in Dayton either in black and white or on the web.
Radio & TV
WHIO - TV - Dayton Daily News reports bulletins and broadcasts each and every day in its newspapers, cable TV and the internet.
WKEF - TV - Dayton’s source for news, weather, traffic, sports, entertainment and more.
WDTN - TV - Get your news from the only station awarded the Edward R. Murrow award for Overall Excellence for the past two consecutive years.
WMMX 107.7 - Dayton’s best source for modern music and news on the radio.
Weather Channel (Dayton) - Provides the greater Dayton area with up to the minute weather reports and severe weather updates.