It is situated along Route 7, midway between Interstate Route 95 in Newport and the Moosehead Lake area. Transit time to Bangor and its international airport as well as the University of Maine at Orono is less than an hour. Maine's other primary service center communities can be conveniently accessed via Route 95. Dexter is home to approximately 4,000 year-round residents, it's numbers swell to over 5,000 during the summer months with tourists and the return of the summer camp owners.

The total land area contained within the Dexter corporate limits is 33.5 square miles. Approximately 73 percent of the land area of the Town of Dexter is forested, approximately 19 percent is agricultural or open space, and 8 percent is urban. Development in the Town is heaviest in and around its business core at the outlet of Lake Wassookeag, and along the shorelines of Lake Wassookeag and Echo Lake.

Lake Wassookeag (from the Penobscot Indian word for "shining lake" ), located to the north and west of the urban area of Dexter, is the Town's largest water body, covering 1,062 acres. The lake is divided into two bodies ("Big Wassookeag" and "Little Wassookeag") by a causeway and bridge. The lake is navigable by most boats during the summer season, and in 2000 the Town received a grant from the Maine Department of Conservation and installed a new boat launch in Little Wassookeag.

Lake Wassookeag is a favorite spot for fishermen during both the summer and winter (ice fishing) months. While the use of Lake Wassookeag for sporting activities is an attractive recreation feature, the lake also serves as the Town's public water supply, and as such several local ordinances are in place to protect the quality of the lake's water.

Local Government & Services
• Functions under a Council/ Manager form of government
• 7 member Town Council
• Public Works Department
• Water and Sewer district
• Police Department
• Fire Department
• Public Library
• Transfer Station and Recycling Center to handle solid waste

Availability - Local & Regional Education & Training
Maine School Administrative District #46 provides public school for grades K-12. The district includes a regional high school, middle school and elementary school.

The Tri-County Technical Center is also located in Dexter, providing a wide variety of technical training programs for area students and adults. Within a convenient travel distance is the Eastern Maine Technical College, Husson College, and University of Maine at Orono.

Dexter's Economy
Dexter serves as the urban service center for the surrounding towns and villages - the towns of Sangerville to the north, Dover-Foxcroft to the northeast, Garland to the east, Exeter to the southeast, Corinna to the south, St. Albans to the southwest, Ripley and Cambridge to the west, and Parkman to the northwest. The smaller towns in the area have long depended on Dexter for employment and accessibility to commerce.

Dexter's labor force has predominately been devoted to the manufacture of shoes and machinery, with craftsmen and machine operators being the more common occupations. During the last several years, with the impact of technology in the manufacturing sector, there has been a substantial increase in the local workforce skilled in leading edge technology.

Dexter Shoe Company and the Fayscott Company have been long-time residents in Dexter; however, recent downturns in the manufacturing sector have resulted in a substantial reduction of jobs in the area. This turn of events presents an opportunity for new industry to take advantage of the availability of a substantial labor force, as well as access to excellent manufacturing facilities being vacated by Dexter Shoe.

Recreation
Dexter has been endowed with a beautiful lake, scenic valley, and an abundance of recreational opportunities. Popular activities include snowmobiling on the numerous area traits, fishing and water sports, hunting, horseback riding, golf, and cross country skiing. The Town also sponsors a highly lauded recreation program which offers year-round activities for all ages.

• Dexter Municipal Golf Course. Open from April through October, this nine hole course also offers a driving range, rental carts, a club house, and pro shop.
• Recreation Area on Lake Wassookeag includes a public beach, campground, the public boat launch and a popular playground area.
• Dexter Regional Airport has a lighted and paved 3,000 foot runway. The Town has leased sites for 17 privately owned hangars and there is space available for additional hangars. An airport manager and Airport Advisory Committee oversee the facility's operation. In addition to being a great source of recreation, the airport offers exceptional potential for future development and has the capability to accomodate operations to support local business and industry
• Wassookeag Snowmobile Club and more than 24 miles of well maintained trails that link to trails throughout New England and eastern Canada.
• North Country Riding Club, is a 160+ member equine riding club that hosts 4 show each season, in addition to winter sled rides, trails rides and other horse event.