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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Dexter (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Dexter. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Dexter is located in Stoddard County.

To see how the shape of Missouri's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Stoddard County: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, New Madrid, Scott & Wayne.

Below are the counties that are near Dexter. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dexter:

  • Stoddard County     (The home county of Dexter)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Essex
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Essex is located in Stoddard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Bloomfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Penermon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Penermon is located in Stoddard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penermon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
    • Dudley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Dudley is located in Stoddard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Bernie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Grayridge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Grayridge is located in Stoddard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayridge
    • Circle City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Circle City is located in Stoddard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Circle City
    • Baker
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Baker is located in Stoddard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3 people
    • Guam ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • LaValle
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Leora
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Puxico
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Bollinger County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Sturdivant
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Greenbrier
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Zalma
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Zalma is located in Bollinger County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zalma
      • Estimated population in 2016: 89 people
    • Gipsy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Gipsy is located in Bollinger County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gipsy
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Fisk
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Broseley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rombauer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Qulin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Qulin is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Qulin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
    • Oglesville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Kelly Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Kelly Town is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly Town
    • Fagus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Fagus is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagus
    • Poplar Bluff
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Harviell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Cape Girardeau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Green Cox
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Green Cox is located in Cape Girardeau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cox
    • Randles
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cliff ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Delta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Delta is located in Cape Girardeau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delta <1>
  • Dunklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Malden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Campbell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Wrightsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Clarkton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Gibson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Gibson is located in Dunklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
    • Holcomb
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Pine City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Pine City is located in Dunklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine City
  • Mississippi County
    • Bertrand
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Bertrand is located in Mississippi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertrand
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
  • New Madrid County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Parma
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Parma is located in New Madrid County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 602 people
    • Canalou
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Canalou is located in New Madrid County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canalou
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
    • Morehouse
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Catron
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Catron is located in New Madrid County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Risco
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Risco is located in New Madrid County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Risco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Risco <1>
    • Matthews
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Sikeston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Tallapoosa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Tallapoosa is located in New Madrid County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Kewanee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Ogden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Ogden is located in New Madrid County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden
    • North Lilbourn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • North Lilbourn is located in New Madrid County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lilbourn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
    • Gideon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
  • Pemiscot County
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Crowder
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Vanduser
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Vanduser is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanduser
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Perkins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Perkins is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
    • Miner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Miner is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 939 people
    • Haywood City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Haywood City is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haywood City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Morley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Morley is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
    • Oran
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Oran is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oran <1>
    • Blodgett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Blodgett is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
    • Caney Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Benton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lambert
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lambert is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambert
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 34 people
    • New Hamburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Wappapello
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • McGee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • McGee is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGee
    • Shook
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Shook is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shook
    • Lowndes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Clay County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Saint Francis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pollard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dexter, see our County-by-County Page for Dexter.

Cemeteries Near Dexter ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dexter.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Dexter - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dexter covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.

  • Miller Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Dexter Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hagy Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Dowdy Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Old Bethel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Ezell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Sadler Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Memorial Gardens
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Armstead Dowdy Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Kinder Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • West Antioch Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (233 more) ...
    • Lick Creek Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Cravins Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cravins Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Dexter had a population of 792 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Dexter had a population of 7,839 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.

  • Essex
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Essex is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
  • Bloomfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Idalia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Idalia is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idalia
  • Dudley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Dudley is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Bernie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Grayridge
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Grayridge is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayridge
  • Acorn Ridge
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Acorn Ridge is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acorn Ridge
  • Avert
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Avert is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avert
  • Buffington
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Buffington is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffington
  • Zadock
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Zadock is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zadock
  • Leora
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Asherville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Asherville is located in Stoddard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asherville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dexter. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dexter.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Dexter ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dexter.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Dexter. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Dexter and those printed in the larger area surrounding Dexter.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<3> of Dexter.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Dexter:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Dexter, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Dexter) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.