Settlers built log cabins in the area in the first half of the 19th century, naming their settlement Chilletecaux in honor of a Delaware Indian chief who lived there.

Due to mail delivery problems because of other jurisdictions named the same, the settlement was renamed Kennett, in honor of the mayor of the city of St. Louis, Luther M.

In that same period, the state began construction of a massive drainage program in the St. Francis River basin, which was floodplain and wetlands.

In the 20th century, after timber clearing, the area was developed for cultivation of cotton and other commodity crops.

[2] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.96 square miles (18.03 km2), all land.

[6] As part of the southern extremity of Missouri, Kennett has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with cool winters and hot, humid summers, ample precipitation through much of the year, and is part of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7.

[7] The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 35.3 °F (1.8 °C) in January to 80.7 °F (27.1 °C) in July.

The Kennett Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Dunklin County.

The 2020 United States census[10] counted 10,515 people, 4,252 households, and 2,662 families in Kennett.

[31] Kennett High School's baseball team won the class 4 state championship in 2021.

Southeast Missouri State University at Kennett is a branch of the Cape Girardeau main campus and Three Rivers College (Missouri) is a branch of the Poplar Bluff main campus.

[35][36] The Delta Dunklin Democrat serves as the area's local newspaper.