Here’s a highly scientific poll: which of these two cities do you have more personal connection with? Define personal connection however you like. These two cities (and their metropolitan areas) have comparably sized populations, for what it’s worth.
I’m looking to support my far-out theory that a totally disproportionate number of people have some connection to Dayton. Or maybe I’m just trying to make myself feel less alone.
My father spent his career at Mead Paper, which had its headquarters in Dayton.
A good friend of mine moved to Dayton after high school.
I have been to Dayton.
All I know about Birmingham, on the other hand, is that they loved the governor.
Personally I would say Dayton because I have been there and never even been Alabama.
But, let me add this is the most random IMHO thread I have ever seen.
Dayton. My folks and a sister live in a suburb of Dayton. I lived there myself for about nine months a couple years ago.
My only connection with Birmingham is to have hitch-hiked through it.
My former boss worked at one time for a company based in Dayton.
I grew up in a town with the same name as Birmingham, but in a northern state.
Dayton - my aunt lives down there, and I grew up only about four hours away from Dayton.
I used to live in Columbus, OH. I have more connection with Dayton. I remember my Netflix discs used to ship from Dayton. I’ve driven through Dayton a few times. I’ve watched some of their basketball games on tv.
I’ve driven through southern Alabama, but have no connection with it.
Birmingham, because I live 100 miles from there. My SO’s brother lives there, I’m a member of a canoe club there, etc.
But I suspect you’re right about more people having connections with Dayton. I further suspect more people have a personal connection with Huntsville, AL than Birmingham, AL, despite Huntsville having only 2/3 the population of Birmingham.
My husband’s mother was born and raised in Dayton and we visited her old neighborhood once. My boyfriend in high school was from Birmingham, but I’ve never been there as far as I recall.
So I guess Dayton wins.
I graduated from high school in Dayton, while my dad was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB.
Ah, the Wright-Patterson connection. It’s my connection as well. I suspect for a fair number of other posters, it’s the same.
My mom was born in Birmingham so that’s a connection of sorts.
On the other hand, one of my best friends is from Dayton, recently moved back, and I attended her wedding as a bridesmaid at the Dayton Art Institue.
I think, as scr4 suggested, Brimingham is a poor choice for comparison. Dayton has a decent amount of industry, isn’t too far from a much larger city (Cincinatti), and so would naturally have more people with more of a connection to it than Birmingham.
I grew up in Dayton. Well, not actually in Dayton, but in Washington Township, which is adjacent to Centerville (a southern suburb).
I went to college at the University of Cincinnati, and then afterwards I moved back to live in a suburb of Dayton (Kettering). Today we live about 45 minutes north of Dayton.
Oh, and I work at Catholic university located in Dayton. I won’t tell you which one. 
I spent a month living in Dayton when I was working at the nitrate film vaults for the Library of Congress, located on Wright-Patterson AFB.
I’ve never stepped foot in Alabama.
My family moved to Dayton when I was a year old and I lived there until I finished college.
A girl I went to high school with and never thought was all that hot, even though objectively she was quite attractive – squat and busty, long blonde Farrah Fawcett hair, blue eyes – went to the University of Dayton.
My daughter had a friend (from ages 3-8) whose parents were quite nice…we had dinner with them several times, socialized, swapped recipes with the Mom, jammed on flute and guitar with the Dad, they invited us out to their place in Fire Island once, they all moved up to Boston several years ago and we haven’t spoken since. The Dad had family in Birmingham.
I used to have to travel to Indiana one week a month for work. I flew into Dayton and drove from there. OTOH, my stepbrother lives in Birmingham but I haven’t spent much time there myself.
Well, my wife’s family is all from (right-around) Dayton. OTOH, have a few good buddies who live (right-around) Birmingham.
So I guess I’ve got a pretty solid connection to both.
My brother lives in Dayton, I’ve been to/through Dayton too many times to count, I had several friends in college from Dayton. But everyone from Dayton knows that you really aren’t from Dayton, you’re from Beavercreek or Kettering. No one actually lives in Dayton.
Got a wife got a family
Earn my livin’ with my hand
I’m a roller in a steel mill
In downtown Birmingham
Birmingham Birmingham
The greatest city in Alabam
You can travel 'cross this entire land
But there’s no place like Birmingham
Get 'em Dan
[/Randy Newman]
I lived in Birmingham once, for nine months. Worked in a steel mill, recharging the bank account and paying off debts in order to finish college.
I’ve never been to Dayton
But I kinda like the Flyers…
I’ve got more ties to “The Ham”.