Phoneton, Ohio

Phoneton (also known as Phonetown) is an unincorporated community in southwestern Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. At one time, it was the center of telephone communications in America. The AT&T Company (Bell System) placed a three-story brick building on the National Road in Phoneton to house the switchboards and operators to relay calls moving over its lines across the country. The town grew to supply the AT&T workers by providing housing, food and shopping for sundry items. A general store existed until the 1960s and also housed the local post office, though the telephone switching ceased to operate early in the twentieth century due to automated call switching.