The outlines illustrate the changes of appearance of the town of Dalton over the period from 1815 to 2015.
On the whole, Dalton underwent a substantial transformation, evolving from a sparsely rural settlement into an urbanized town with modern infrastructure. While the western side of River Dal experienced the most dramatic development, the eastern side also saw considerable urban growth.
In 1815, the western side of Dalton was largely covered by forest and without signs of industrial civilization. The only crossing over the River Dal was a ford located at the southwest, linking with the bridleway on the opposite bank. By 2015, the woodland was almost replaced by a large residential neighbourhood while a hospital emerged at the northwest close to the flow of the river. In addition, people established an industrial zone at the southwestern corner and transformed the ford into a modern bridge to meet the colossal demand of transportation between the two sites.
Moving on to the eastern side, despite the remarkable development compared with the western side, its population density remained relatively low in 1815. Over the duration, the Dalton Hall had not changed its position but was repurposed into a hotel. Shifting focus to other considerations, the farmland was cleared to make the way for organized rows of housing coupled with the appearance of well-completed road systems. To create a high-quality academic environment for future local generations, a school was built at the centre of this side. Furthermore, the southeastern corner witnessed the development of an airport, marking an exceptional step in the expansion of tourism and connection with outside areas of the town.