Dexter is the retail and employment hub of Stoddard County
Dexter is both the largest city in southern Missouri’s Stoddard County and a regional hub for shopping and restaurants. “It’s a very active community with several industry jobs, lots of shopping and downtown activities and a good school system,” says Carol Hatchel, a broker with Heartland Town & Country Real Estate. “They’ve got their own radio station there that’s been going for years, and they have what they call the Bootheel Planning Commission as well as a chamber of commerce.” Dexter’s growing population of nearly 8,000 people primarily works in manufacturing, health care and retail, which have replaced the historical railroad and logging industries. Newcomers can access an abundance of restaurant options, diverse employment opportunities and major highways without having to pay a big-city housing prices.
A robust small business scene sits along major highways
Even as Dexter grows in size and residents, small businesses help maintain a strong sense of community. “There’s a lot of mom and pop stores in Dexter, and it’s also well-known for its 18 FORE Life fundraisers for the American Cancer Society,” Hatchel says. “They donate to anybody who has cancer. It’s not a large amount, but it’s enough to help with travel expenses. Dexter is a very loving community.”
Though historic Main Street was once the city’s retail center, many storefronts have become vacant as business shifted to nearby thoroughfares like Business Highway 60. Dexter Queen has served traditional barbecue and ice cream from its drive-thru and vintage interior since 1949. The Hickory Log Restaurant is known for its extravagant Christmas décor and its protein-heavy menu, which includes steaks and ribs. The Corner Stop Café is one of downtown’s few remaining eateries, and it offers an old-school café feel through its wooden chairs and colorful mural. The Dexter Pizza Company has been the city’s go-to for pizza since the 1970s. Grocery options include Harps, Walmart and Dollar Tree, while stores like Bomgaars supply the local farming industry.
Brand-new homes add diversity to a vintage housing stock
Residential streets often feature spacious front yards, plenty of tree shade and ranch-style homes. Homes smaller than 1,500 square feet go for $80,000 to $280,000, while those between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet sell for $100,000 to $350,000. The largest properties, between 2,500 and 5,400 square feet in size, sell for $190,000 to $620,000. While the rest of Southeast Missouri is experiencing population decline, Dexter is a growing city experiencing continued homebuilding. 2020s-built ranch-style homes surround Dexter and are coming to fill former vacant lots. The city’s abundance of new homes has little effect on Dexter’s regionally competitive home prices. Dexter’s median sale price of $170,000 is below Poplar Bluff’s median of $185,000 and Sikeston’s $225,000.
Large and small parks are dotted throughout Dexter
Dexter is surrounded by outdoor recreation. East Park includes a disc golf course, baseball fields, a recreation center and the Stoddard County Fairgrounds. The annual county fair held in late September, includes rollercoasters, a “War on Wheels” demolition derby and live music. Dexter’s interior is home to small community spaces like Lucy’s Dog Park, the Dexter Community Garden and the Dexter Fishing Lake. Pocket parks like Boon Park and West Park put playgrounds, tennis courts and other play areas in nearly every part of the city. Along Dexter’s western outskirts, the Hidden Trails Country Club and its 18-hole golf course are open to the public.
Dexter High has several business-oriented extracurriculars
Students can start at Southwest Elementary School, which receives a B-minus from Niche, from kindergarten through second grade. Central Elementary School, which serves grades 3 to 5, receives a B, while T.S. Hill Middle School scores a B-minus. The C-plus-rated Dexter High School offers several student organizations geared towards career development, from the marketing-oriented DECA club to Future Business Leaders of America.
Dexter includes several health care outlets
U.S. Route 60 connects Dexter to Poplar Bluff and Sikeston around 25 miles away and Cape Girardeau 50 miles to the northeast. “They’ve got two different hospitals in Dexter as well as an urgent care, emergency room and several doctor and dentist offices,” Hatchel says. Mercy Hospital Stoddard serves as the main hospital for Dexter and the surrounding region.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
