The community proclaims itself the "Home of the White Squirrel", owing to the presence of the unusually-coloured mammals.

He described the area as having "excellent soil" with the trees "being chiefly maple, elm, oak, ironwood and black ash".

Incorporated in 1871, it was leased to the Great Western Railway in 1873, which also provided financial guarantees for its construction costs.

Completed in 1876, it was built northward from a junction near London, crossing the original Grand Trunk Railway mainline (later the CN Forest Subdivision) at Lucan Crossing, the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway (later the CN Goderich Subdivision) at Clinton Junction, and terminating at Wingham Junction with the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway.

The closest local airfield is at Centralia/James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome, south of Exeter in Huron Park.

Health and wellness facilities in the Exeter area include the South Huron Hospital, South Huron Medical Centre/Walk-In Clinic, and the Grand Bend and Area Community Health Centre.

The Exeter Villa and One Care Home & Community Support Services offers help seniors in all capacities.