Browse / United States / Iowa / Dexter
Dexter
Iowacity
Dexter
Total population
620
Median home value
$163,500
Bachelor's+
Median income
$87,250
Founded
1868
Demographic figures from US Census Bureau · ACS 5-year estimates. Overview below cites Wikipedia and may reference a different year.
City facts
Facts from Wikidata (CC0).
Overview
Dexter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 640 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Read more on WikipediaHistory & geography
History
Dexter was founded in 1868. The city is famous for being the site of a July 23, 1933, shootout between members of the Barrow gang and police from as far away as Des Moines. On September 18, 1948, Dexter was the site of a national plowing match at which President Harry Truman delivered a speech attacking the 80th Congress for its record in regard to the American farmer. This speech is considered one of the most important of his 1948 Whistle Stop campaign that turned the tide of the election and returned him to the White House.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The community is immediately north of Interstate 80.
Excerpted from the corresponding Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA).
Demographics & economy
Race & ethnicity
Source: US Census Bureau — American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.
Geography
Coordinates & boundaries from the US Census TIGER/Line shapefiles.
Climate
Current forecast
Forecast for Dexter, IA from NOAA NWS API.
Air quality
Industrial & pollution facilities
Natural hazard risk
Health (adults)
Age-adjusted prevalence estimates from CDC PLACES (latest release).
Walkability
Amenities nearby
Wildlife & biodiversity
Most-observed species
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves735
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves704
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves632
- Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves627
- Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves618
- Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves591
- American RobinTurdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves585
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves562
Citizen-science & research observations from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
Schools
Largest nearby schools
- West Central Valley Middle SchoolMiddle · Redfield · 184 students · 14.2:1 ratio
- Dexter Elementary SchoolElementary · Dexter · 181 students · 13.9:1 ratio
Public K–12 schools within ~10 mi from Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES Common Core of Data, 2022).
Earthquake history
Most recent
- M 3 — 2025-06-255 km S of Knoxville, Iowa
Events from the USGS Earthquake Catalog (global) (FDSN Event Web Service).
Photos
Sights & places nearby
Notable people from here
Nearby places in Iowa
Geography & sun
Elevation, sunrise/sunset and daylight from Open-Meteo. Solar climatology from NASA POWER.
Nearby airports
Public attention
Pageview totals from the Wikimedia Pageviews API.
Books about Dexter
Search results from Open Library.
Recent natural events nearby
Ground air-quality sensors
Recently spotted species
Research-grade observations from iNaturalist (within ~15 mi).
Nearest stream gauge
Events
Gallery
Sources
- • Wikipedia
- • US Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates)
- • NOAA National Weather Service
- • Wikidata
- • USGS Earthquake Catalog (global feed)
- • NCES via Urban Institute Education Data Portal
- • GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
- • iNaturalist
- • CDC PLACES
- • Open-Meteo / sunrise-sunset.org
- • Wikipedia Pageviews API
- • Open Library