In 1860, Dayton was called Chinatown, and by the start of 1861 it was known as Nevada or Nevada City. The name Nevada appeared on the schedules of the United States Postmaster General and the Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company, also known as the Pony Express Company. The original Pony Express route passed through here, but this was not one of its original stops. By July 1, 1861, this site was being used by the Pony Express and the Overland Stagecoach, and an original rock wall of the station can still be seen directly across the street. On November 20, 1861, the Pony Express made its last mail delivery because the transcontinental telegraph line, which also passed here, had been completed. At a meeting on November 8, 1861, the town's citizens adopted the name Dayton.