Dexter, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dexter, Maine
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Main Street in 1909
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 Dexter, Maine
Location in Maine
Dexter, Maine
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Penobscot |
| Incorporated | 1816 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 37.16 sq mi (96.24 km2) |
| • Land | 35.13 sq mi (90.99 km2) |
| • Water | 2.03 sq mi (5.26 km2) |
| Elevation | 509 ft (155 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,803 |
| • Density | 108/sq mi (41.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04930
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| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-17530 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582442 |
Dexter is a friendly town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. In 2020, about 3,803 people lived there. It is part of the bigger Bangor area. Dexter Regional High School, which serves Dexter and other nearby small towns, is located here.
Contents
Discovering Dexter: A Town's Story
Early Days and Naming the Town
Dexter was first settled in 1801 by people like Ebenezer Small and David Smith. They came from New Hampshire. The area was first called Elkinstown. In 1816, when it officially became a town, it was named after Judge Samuel Dexter. He was running to be the governor of Massachusetts at the time. Maine was still part of Massachusetts back then.
Interestingly, the town of Brooks was named the same year after Judge Dexter's opponent, John Brooks. Brooks won the election, but Dexter became the more successful town.
Growth and Industry in Dexter
Dexter grew because of its great location on the East Branch of the Sebasticook River. This river provided strong water power for mills. In 1818, Jonathan Farrar built a grist mill (a mill for grinding grain) at the falls. The building that replaced it in 1854 is now part of the Dexter Historical Society museum.
The river also powered five woolen mills. The oldest and largest was started by Amos and Jeremiah Abbott in 1836. Their company, Amos Abbott & Company, was special because it was the only textile mill in the United States owned by one family for such a long time. It closed in 1975.
In the 1960s, Dexter became famous for the Dexter Shoe Company. This company, started by Harold Alfond in 1958, made shoes and sold them in many log cabin-style stores across New England.
Important Buildings and Landmarks
Dexter's downtown area features the Memorial Building, designed by John Morrison. It has the town's largest clock at the top, named Nancy after the architect's wife. The tallest building in town is the Unitarian Universalist Church. It was built in 1829, making it Dexter's oldest church. It got a new steeple and entrance in 1869.
Several buildings in Dexter are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Dexter Grist Mill, the Universalist Church, and the Abbott Memorial Library. Also listed are the Bank Block and "Zion's Hill," which is the Ralph Owen Brewster house.
Past Events and Pop Culture
In 1848, a powerful tornado hit Dexter. It pulled large trees out of the ground and destroyed even strong buildings.
In 1987, parts of Dexter's downtown were used as a filming location. They appeared in the horror movie Creepshow 2, which was based on stories by Maine writer Stephen King.
Geography of Dexter
Location and Natural Features
Dexter covers about 37.16 square miles (96.24 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.13 square miles (90.99 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 2.03 square miles (5.26 square kilometers), is water.
The town is drained by the East Branch of the Sebasticook River. This river flows from Lake Wassookeag and eventually joins the Kennebec River.
Unique Positioning
Dexter is located almost exactly halfway between Bangor and Waterville. It also has a fun fact: it's nearly halfway between the geographic North Pole and the Equator!
Dexter's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 461 | — | |
| 1830 | 885 | 92.0% | |
| 1840 | 1,464 | 65.4% | |
| 1850 | 1,948 | 33.1% | |
| 1860 | 2,363 | 21.3% | |
| 1870 | 2,875 | 21.7% | |
| 1880 | 2,563 | −10.9% | |
| 1890 | 2,732 | 6.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,941 | 7.7% | |
| 1910 | 3,530 | 20.0% | |
| 1920 | 4,113 | 16.5% | |
| 1930 | 4,063 | −1.2% | |
| 1940 | 3,714 | −8.6% | |
| 1950 | 4,126 | 11.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,951 | −4.2% | |
| 1970 | 3,725 | −5.7% | |
| 1980 | 4,286 | 15.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,419 | 3.1% | |
| 2000 | 3,890 | −12.0% | |
| 2010 | 3,895 | 0.1% | |
| 2020 | 3,803 | −2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Details from 2010
In 2010, Dexter had 3,895 people living in 1,651 households. About 28.4% of these households had children under 18. The average age in town was 44.8 years. About 21.4% of residents were under 18 years old.
Places to Visit in Dexter
- Abbott Museum (built in 1836)
- Grist Mill Museum (built in 1854)
- Miller's House (built in 1825)
- Carr Schoolhouse (built in 1845)
Famous People from Dexter
- Jere Abbott, museum director
- Harold Alfond, businessman
- Justin Alfond, state senator
- James E. Bailey, military officer
- Ralph Owen Brewster, senator and former Governor of Maine
- William E. Brewster, banker and politician
- Dean Clukey, state senator
- Jeff Coffin, musician
- Joseph T. Copeland, judge
- Dean Cray, politician
- Harold J. Crosby, musician
- Josiah Crosby, politician
- Lysander Cutler, state senator and military officer
- Frances Lewis Brackett Damon, writer
- Paul Davis, state senator
- Holman Day, writer
- Steven D. Foster, state legislator
- Sterling Hayden, actor
- L. Isabel Heald, social leader and philanthropic worker
- Patricia Millett, judge
- F. F. Proctor, vaudeville impresario
- Otis O. Roberts, military officer
- Harry Orman Robinson, college football coach
- Charles Treat, military officer
- Hiram Tuttle, Olympian equestrian
- Hattie Whitten, criminal
Images for kids
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First Methodist Church c. 1910
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Town Hall in 1913
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Abbott Woolen Mill c. 1912
See also
In Spanish: Dexter (Maine) para niños
