Dexter

Dexter, Michigan
—  Village  —
Location of Dexter, Michigan
Coordinates: 42°20′2″N 83°52′54″W / 42.33389°N 83.88167°W / 42.33389; -83.88167
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Washtenaw
Area
- Total	1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2)
- Land	1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	869 ft (265 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,338
- Density	1,236.7/sq mi (477.5/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	48130
Area code(s)	734
FIPS code	26-22160[1]
GNIS feature ID	0624624[2]

Dexter is a village in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The majority of the village is in the northwest corner of Scio Township with a small portion (approximately 200 homes) in Webster Township. The population was 2,338 at the 2000 census. There is no political connection between the Village of Dexter and the nearby Township of Dexter, which is located to the northwest of the municipality. The township was named for Judge Samuel William Dexter , but he named the village for his father Samuel Dexter, the early American statesman)^[3]. In 1824 Samuel W. Dexter became the first person to purchase land in what is now Dexter village.

Dexter is the birthplace of biologist, women's suffragette, and philanthropist Katharine Dexter McCormick and Dr. Royal S. Copeland, US Senator from New York.

Dexter is also the home to the high school boys cross country team that tied the state record for most consecutive Michigan High School Athletic Association state championship titles with five; winning from the years 2002-2006.

History

The area was first settled in 1824, 13 years before the state of Michigan, when land speculator Samuel W. Dexter purchased a large tract of land and originated the village. It was known as "Mill Creek Settlement" until the Village was platted in 1830 and the name officially changed to Dexter.

The nearby Mill Creek and Huron River (Michigan) have long been valuable resources to Dexter. A sawmill was built in 1827, a woolen mill in 1838, a grist mill in 1844, and a cider mill in 1886. After being appointed County Court Justice in 1826, Judge Dexter reportedly established a post office in his home shuttling mail between there and Ann Arbor, MI on horseback.

The village founder Samuel W. Dexter served as the chief justice of the Washtenaw County Court as well as being elected a University of Michigan Regent. His home just southwest of the village overlooking the Huron River was built in the early 1840s in Greek Revival architecture and is a recognizable landmark in the area. Samuel Dexter called it Gordon Hall to honor his mother's family. It and 70 acres of surrounding property was gifted to the University of Michigan in 1950 by Katherine Dexter McCormick. It is said that Gordon Hall served as a refuge for slaves on the Underground Railroad.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²). None of this area is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,338 people, 1,013 households, and 641 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,236.7 per square mile (477.6/km²). There were 1,106 housing units at an average density of 585.0/sq mi (225.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.58% White, 0.43% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 1,013 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% 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 2.92.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,510, and the median income for a family was $62,697. Males had a median income of $49,375 versus $30,213 for females. The per capita income for the village was $27,974. About 2.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over. The Dexter Leader is a weekly newspaper that covers events in Washtenaw County, including Dexter.

Notable natives and residents

• Harrison Jeffords, colonel in the Union Army and a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg^[4]
• Arthur Hills, golf course architect^{[citation needed]}
• Milo Radulovich^[5]
• Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers third baseman ^[6]
• Brian Rooney (politician), candidate for Michigan's 7th congressional district ^[7]

References

External links

• Dexter District Library
• Village of Dexter
• Dexter Community Schools
• Chamber of Commerce
• Dexter Area Historical Society & Museum
• Historical Record of Gordon Hall

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Washtenaw County, Michigan County seat: Ann Arbor Cities Ann Arbor | Chelsea | Milan‡ | Saline | Ypsilanti Villages Barton Hills | Dexter | Manchester Charter townships Ann Arbor | Augusta | Pittsfield | Superior | York | Ypsilanti Civil townships Bridgewater | Dexter | Freedom | Lima | Lodi | Lyndon | Manchester | Northfield | Salem | Saline | Scio | Sharon | Sylvan | Webster Unincorporated communities Delhi Mills | Dixboro | Whittaker | Whitmore Lake‡ | Willis Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Coordinates: 42°20′18″N 83°53′19″W / 42.33833°N 83.88861°W / 42.33833; -83.88861