Dexter, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dexter, Kansas
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Location within Cowley County and Kansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Cowley |
| Founded | 1870 |
| Platted | 1875 |
| Incorporated | 1884 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.28 sq mi (0.72 km2) |
| • Land | 0.28 sq mi (0.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,188 ft (362 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 224 |
| • Density | 800/sq mi (311.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
67038
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| Area code | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-17925 |
| GNIS ID | 2394531 |
Dexter is a small city located in Cowley County, Kansas, in the United States. It's a quiet place with a population of 224 people, according to the 2020 census. Dexter is known for its interesting history, especially a discovery about helium, and some local attractions.
Contents
History of Dexter, Kansas
The first post office in Dexter opened in July 1870. The city itself was officially planned out in 1875. It was named after a famous trotting horse called Dexter. This horse belonged to a man named Robert Bonner from New York.
The Helium Discovery
In the early 1900s, Dexter became very important for science. In May 1903, a new natural gas well was drilled. People found that the gas coming out was not flammable. This was very unusual for natural gas.
Researchers from the University of Kansas studied this "Dexter gas." They found it contained only 15 percent methane (which is flammable) and a lot of nitrogen (72 percent). This explained why it didn't burn. Even more exciting, they discovered helium in the gas. Helium is a very light gas that doesn't react with other elements.
After studying other gas wells in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, the scientists published their findings in 1907. They announced that helium could be taken out of natural gas. At first, helium didn't have many uses. But by 1917, the U.S. government started researching how to use helium in airships, like blimps and zeppelins. This was safer than using flammable hydrogen.
Geography and Climate
Dexter covers a total area of about 0.29 square miles (0.72 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Dexter's Climate
The weather in Dexter has hot and humid summers. The winters are generally mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dexter has a humid subtropical climate. This type of climate is often shown as "Cfa" on climate maps.
Fun Things to Do in Dexter
Local Events
- Blackdog Festival: This festival celebrates the historic Black Dog Trail. This trail was an important path created by the Osage Indian natives long ago.
Area Attractions
- Henry's Candies: The famous "Oh Henry!" candy bar was invented by Tom Henry. His family now runs a candy factory in Dexter, Kansas, on route K-15. It's called "Henry's Candies." They sell "Momma Henry" bars, which are very similar to the original "Oh Henry!" candy bar.
- Cowley Lake Waterfall: You can also visit the beautiful Cowley Lake Waterfall nearby.
Population of Dexter
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 146 | — | |
| 1890 | 371 | 154.1% | |
| 1900 | 380 | 2.4% | |
| 1910 | 512 | 34.7% | |
| 1920 | 497 | −2.9% | |
| 1930 | 484 | −2.6% | |
| 1940 | 424 | −12.4% | |
| 1950 | 354 | −16.5% | |
| 1960 | 291 | −17.8% | |
| 1970 | 286 | −1.7% | |
| 1980 | 366 | 28.0% | |
| 1990 | 320 | −12.6% | |
| 2000 | 364 | 13.8% | |
| 2010 | 278 | −23.6% | |
| 2020 | 224 | −19.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 United States census, Dexter had 224 people living there. There were 94 households and 63 families. The population density was about 808 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Dexter are white.
About 25% of the population was under 18 years old. About 21% of the population was 65 years or older. The average age in Dexter was 48 years old.
Education
The public schools in Dexter are part of the Dexter USD 471 school district.
See also
In Spanish: Dexter (Kansas) para niños
