The two maps compare the development of Dalton town between 1815 and 2015. Overall, Dalton transformed from a small rural settlement into a modern urban area, with new infrastructure and facilities replacing farmland and forested land.
In 1815, the western part of the town was dominated by Dalton Forest, and a ford across the River Dal provided access to the area. At the centre stood Hall Farm, surrounded by a few fields with cattle and horses. Several houses were scattered nearby, while Dalton Hall and a small residential area were located to the east. The southern side of the map remained mostly undeveloped, except for a narrow bridleway running parallel to the river.
By 2015, Dalton had undergone substantial modernization. The forest in the west had been cleared to make way for a hospital and new residential buildings. The area once occupied by Hall Farm had been redeveloped into a school and hotel, surrounded by additional housing. Moreover, major transport infrastructure appeared, including a bridge over the River Dal that connected the main town to an airport and an industrial zone on the southern bank.