Dexter, Maine | |
|---|---|
 Main Street in 1909 | |
  Dexter  Dexter | |
| Coordinates:45°1′44″N69°17′12″W / 45.02889°N 69.28667°W /45.02889; -69.28667 | |
| 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) | |
• Total | 3,803 |
| • Density | 108/sq mi (41.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 04930 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-17530 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582442 |
| Website | www |
Dexter is atown inPenobscot County,Maine, United States. The population was 3,803 at the2020 census.[2] The town contains acensus-designated place of the same name.. It is part of theBangormetropolitan statistical area.Dexter Regional High School, which serves Dexter as well as other nearby small towns, is located in the town.
Dexter was settled beginning in 1801 by Ebenezer Small, David Smith, and others fromNew Hampshire, and was originally called Elkinstown. When incorporated as a town in 1816, it named itself after JudgeSamuel Dexter,[3] who was then running forgovernor of Massachusetts (of which Maine was still a part). The town ofBrooks in nearbyWaldo County was incorporated the same year and named for the opposing candidate,John Brooks. Brooks won the election. The town of Dexter, however, achieved the greater prosperity.[4]
The town grew because of its location on theEast Branch of theSebasticook River, which provided excellentwater power for mills. In 1818, Jonathan Farrar constructed agrist mill at the falls. The Dexter Historical Society today uses the building which replaced it in 1854 as part of its museum complex. The stream would also power five woolen mills, the oldest and largest of which was established by Amos and Jeremiah Abbott in 1836. Amos Abbott & Company, which closed in 1975, was the onlytextile mill in the United States owned by one family for such a long period.[5] In the 1960s, the town's name became familiar throughoutNew England because of the pervasivelog cabin stylefactory outlets of theDexter Shoe Company, founded in a vacant Dexter woolen mill in 1958 byHarold Alfond.[6]
Dexter's downtown is dominated by the Memorial Building, designed by John Morrison. At its top is the community's largest clock, named Nancy after the architect's wife. The tallest building in town is theUnitarian Universalist Church. It is also Dexter's oldest house of worship, built in 1829, but given a new steeple and vestibule byBoston architectThomas W. Silloway in 1869. Five buildings in Dexter are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, including theDexter Grist Mill;Universalist Church;Abbott Memorial Library byBoston architectJ. Williams Beal; theBank Block byBangor architectGeorge W. Orff; and "Zion's Hill", theRalph Owen Brewster house byPortland architectural firmJ. C. & J. H. Stevens.[7]
In 1848, the town was struck by atornado which tore large trees out by their roots and destroyed even the strongest buildings.
In 1987, parts of Dexter's downtown area were used as backdrops for the filmCreepshow 2, a horror anthology film based on stories written by Maine nativeStephen King.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.16 square miles (96.24 km2), of which 35.13 square miles (90.99 km2) is land and 2.03 square miles (5.26 km2) is water.[1] Dexter is drained by theEast Branch of theSebasticook River, which flows from Lake Wassookeag and is part of theKennebec River watershed.
Dexter is almost exactly half-way betweenBangor andWaterville. It is also almost exactly half-way between the geographicNorth Pole and theEquator.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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[8] | |||
As of thecensus[9] of 2010, there were 3,895 people, 1,651 households, and 1,064 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 110.9 inhabitants per square mile (42.8/km2). There were 2,141 housing units at an average density of 60.9 per square mile (23.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.2%White, 0.3%African American, 0.7%Native American, 0.5%Asian, and 1.3% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.1% of the population.
There were 1,651 households, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% weremarried couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.6% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.77.
The median age in the town was 44.8 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.6% were from 25 to 44; 31.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
As of thecensus[10] of 2000, there were 3,890 people, 1,615 households, and 1,106 families living in the town. The population density was 110.6 inhabitants per square mile (42.7/km2). There were 2,054 housing units at an average density of 58.4 per square mile (22.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.56%White, 0.31%Black orAfrican American, 0.23%Native American, 0.10%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.03% fromother races, and 0.75% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 1,615 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% weremarried couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,000, and the median income for a family was $31,204. Males had a median income of $27,130 versus $18,805 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $14,197. About 15.4% of families and 17.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
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