Why visit Dexter
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 3 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Dexter Twin Cinema and Dexter Gymnasium.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 27°F.
Weather in Dexter
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Dexter
Dexter is a city in Stoddard County, Missouri, United States, founded in 1873. The population was 7,927 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Dexter, Missouri (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks3
Dexter Gymnasium
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic gymnasium located at Dexter, Missouri
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes3
History
Dexter was platted in 1873. Mr. Dex, an early settler, gave the community the name of his horse, Dexter. Dexter experienced rapid growth with the arrival of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway. A post office called Dexter City was established in 1873, and the name was changed to Dexter in 1887.
The Dexter Gymnasium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
On July 10, 2021, an EF2 tornado hit the town with at least 150 homes reported damaged.
From the History section of Dexter, Missouri on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Healthcare1
Map of Dexter
29 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 27°F | 3.2 in |
| Feb | 51°F | 30°F | 3.7 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 38°F | 4.5 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 48°F | 5.4 in |
| May | 81°F | 58°F | 5.2 in |
| Jun | 90°F | 68°F | 3.6 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 71°F | 4.2 in |
| Aug | 91°F | 69°F | 3.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 61°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 74°F | 49°F | 3.5 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 38°F | 4.5 in |
| Dec | 49°F | 30°F | 4.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Malden Muni Ap (13 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Stoddard County has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2025-05-21: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires (Severe Storm)
- 2025-05-21: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-07-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-07-09: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Malden Municipal Airport (MAW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Bloomfield 7 mi north, about 11 min by car
- Sikeston 22 mi east, about 35 min by car
- Campbell 22 mi south, about 35 min by car
- Poplar Bluff 25 mi west, about 40 min by car
- New Madrid 27 mi southeast, about 43 min by car
- Portageville 29 mi southeast, about 47 min by car
- Piggott 31 mi southwest, about 50 min by car
- East Prairie 32 mi east, about 52 min by car
- Charleston 36 mi east, about 58 min by car
- Kennett 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Dexter Vistor center and grain towers, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dexter Gymnasium, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.