Dexter, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Dexter is a city in Dallas County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 689 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines
–West Des Moines
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. Dexter was named after the famous trotting horse Dexter.
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.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
The community is immediately north of Interstate 80
.
of 2000, there were 689 people, 259 households, and 190 families residing in the city. The population density
was 578.2 people per square mile (223.5/km²). There were 270 housing units at an average density of 226.6 per square mile (87.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.82% White, 0.29% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.29% from other races
, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.
There were 259 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,375, and the median income for a family was $44,861. Males had a median income of $30,395 versus $22,361 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,990. About 4.3% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Dallas County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 66,135 in the county, with a population density of . There were 27,260 housing units, of which 25,240 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 689 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
–West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Des Moines metropolitan area
The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines-West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area , consists of five counties in central Iowa, United States: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, and Guthrie...
. Dexter was named after the famous trotting horse Dexter.
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
Barrow Gang
The Barrow Gang was an American criminal organization of the 1930s active between 1932 and 1934. They were well known outlaws, robbers, and criminals who as a gang traveled the Central United States during the Great Depression. Their exploits were known nationwide...
and police from as far away as Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. 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
Dexter is located at 41°30′56"N 94°13′38"W (41.515617, -94.227115).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
The community is immediately north of Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 689 people, 259 households, and 190 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 578.2 people per square mile (223.5/km²). There were 270 housing units at an average density of 226.6 per square mile (87.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.82% White, 0.29% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.29% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.
There were 259 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,375, and the median income for a family was $44,861. Males had a median income of $30,395 versus $22,361 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,990. About 4.3% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives and residents
- Edwin H. CongerEdwin H. CongerEdwin Hurd Conger was an Civil War soldier, lawyer, banker, Iowa congressman, and United States diplomat. As the United States' minister to China during the Boxer Rebellion, Conger, his family, and other western diplomatic legations were under siege in Beijing until rescued by the China Relief...
(1843–1907), United States Ambassador to ChinaUnited States Ambassador to ChinaThe United States Ambassador to China is the chief American diplomat to People's Republic of China . The United States has sent diplomatic representatives to China since 1844, when Caleb Cushing, as Commissioner, negotiated the Treaty of Wanghia. Commissioners represented the United States in...
during the Boxer RebellionBoxer RebellionThe Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, United States Ambassador to BrazilUnited States Ambassador to BrazilThe following is a list of Ambassadors of the United States, or other chiefs of mission, to Brazil. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-See also:...
, and United States Ambassador to MexicoUnited States Ambassador to MexicoThe United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Mexico since 1823, when Andrew Jackson was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to that country. Jackson declined the appointment, however, and Joel R. Poinsett became the first U.S. envoy to Mexico in 1825. The rank...
.