The earliest known inhabitants of the Wright-Dunbar area were Native Americans, probably Miami Indians. This is evidenced by the since gone burial mound at the intersection of West Fifth and Mound Streets, the symbols of sun, rain and crop on the gables of several of the earliest existing homes and the proximity to the Miami River. Originally known as Mexico, by 1850 the area was called Miami City and was annexed into the City of Dayton in 1869. Connected to the City of Dayton by five streetcar lines, the area soon became populated by middle class residents moving from the old inner city to the new western suburb. Along with this wave of newcomers came businesses, shops, theatres and market places. West Third Street became business central of the community. As with any new community there was some ethnic diversity, many Europeans and Jewish businessmen in addition to the existing Native Americans and others who had ventured to the area. These folks and their decendants inhabited the area for about the next seventy years.
The next wave of newcomers came around 1900 to inhabit The West Side Colony, west of Broadway and north of West Third Streets. These folks were employed at Malleable Iron Company and contributed to the ethnic diversity, for the most part Hungarians and Romanians. New businesses, schools and churches were established to meet their needs.
By the mid 1940's African Americans migrating from southern states became the next inhabitants of the area. Black owned businesses including theatres, restaurants and grocery stores lined West Fifth Street and it became business central, West Third Street became the old business district. For the next thirty years this few blocks of West Fifth Street thrived as a business district and became the center of night life for the growing population of African Americans moving Dayton's city line constantly further to the west.
In the 1960's race riots that occurred nationally took place locally in the West Third Street business corridor. Dynamics of old family abandoning their businesses along West Third Street when they were no longer profitable and newer residents moving on as they became more successful left the area virtually abandoned. By 1979 West Third and West Fifth Streets were abandoned buildings along with the adjoining residential area, only Ben's Hamburger on West Fifth Street survived until 1984. The Palace Theatre on West Fifth Street was bulldozed in 2002.
The next group of inhabitants started arriving in 1997 and a new name for the area was coined, Wright-Dunbar Village. Rehabbing old homes, integrating with existing residents, building new homes on lots that had been vacant for many years, reclaiming the neighborhood and proudly continuing the heritage of diversity.
