[5] On March 20, 1966, the Dexter area experienced "one of the most infamous of all UFO sightings in history" when local truck driver Frank Mannor spotted a glowing object near his home.

Hynek's swamp gas theory prompted then-Michigan Congressman (and future president) Gerald R. Ford to call for a thorough Congressional investigation of "the rash of reported sightings of unidentified flying objects in southern Michigan".

[6][7] On March 15, 2012, Dexter was struck by a large EF3 tornado causing substantial damage to local houses and businesses, yet no injuries were reported.

[8] On November 4, 2014, Dexter residents voted to adopt a new charter, officially turning the former village into a city.

[10] The WAVE Community Connector Bus[11] stops at several Dexter locations daily and on weekends.

Its regular route travels between Chelsea and Ann Arbor, where it transfers to AATA bus #30.

Washtenaw County's Border-to-Border Trail links downtown Dexter to Hudson Mills Metropark.

100% of residents in Dexter are high school graduates, and 54.5% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

In 2008 the Encore Musical Theatre Company was founded at 3126 Broad Street by Broadway veteran and Michigan native Dan Cooney and Anne & Paul Koch.

Their stated mission is to create quality, original theatrical productions with an emphasis on musical theatre, utilizing a unique mixture of Broadway and local talent of all levels, while engaging and entertaining a wide spectrum of the surrounding communities.

[20][failed verification] In 2020 the company purchased the Copeland Building, at 7714 Ann Arbor Street, from Dexter Schools where they will resume productions once renovations are completed.

[failed verification][needs update] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company got creative and offered performances on an outdoor stage at their new location.

The Sun Times News[22] is a weekly newspaper with a free mailed distribution that covers events in Dexter, Chelsea, and surrounding rural areas.

The Ann Arbor News (and its Mlive[23] online component) regularly includes coverage of events and stories in Dexter.

Dexter is 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 2002 through 2006.

The public park is located on Edison Street and features twelve horseshoe pits.

It later became the Dexter Little League (DLL)[34] and has 400–500 boys and girls aged 6 to 14 playing on 40+ baseball and softball teams each year.