Dixon was platted in 1869 at the time the railroad was extended to through the neighborhood. A post office called Dixon has been in operation since 1869. The community takes its name from Dixon, Illinois, the native home of a share of the railway builders.
Geography
The city is in the northeast corner of the county one mile south of the Pulaski-Maries county line. The headwaters of the north flowing Maries River are located along the northwest edge of the community. Streams along the south and east sides of the city flow into the Gasconade River, which is approximately five miles to the southeast. State highways 28 and 133 serve the community. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land.
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,549 people, 645 households, and 363 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 738 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 94.5% White, 0.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.7% of the population. There were 645 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.7% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.10. The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,570 people, 667 households, and 414 families living in the city. The population density was 1,545.8 people per square mile. There were 751 housing units at an average density of 739.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 96.05% White, 0.06% African American, 0.57% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.45% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.04% of the population. There were 667 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91. In the city the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $21,821, and the median income for a family was $28,693. Males had a median income of $21,667 versus $17,115 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,405. About 21.3% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.6% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
