Town file
Pierre, South Dakota
Pierre, South Dakota (Hughes County, South Dakota) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 650, "A Deadly Blame Game" (22 November 2025). Tamara Donell Burns, known as Tammy, was born on June 15th, 1964 in Lander, Wyoming, the oldest of Donald and Bonnie's three daughters.
- Town
- Pierre
- County
- Hughes County
- State
- South Dakota
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 650
- Approximate location
- 44.375, -100.320
Episode 650 / 22 November 2025 / 72 min / express
A Deadly Blame Game
"We're going to South Dakota and we're going to the capital of South Dakota, which is called Pierre; this is in Hughes County." about 0:03:10
The case: Murder of Tamara 'Tammy' Rie (February 2006). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2025
- Population
- 14,126
- Median household income
- $73,787
- Median home value
- $265,400
History, in brief
- Fort Pierre developed earlier, with a permanent settlement there since 1817; it began as a fur trading post. about 0:05:22
- Fort Pierre Chouteau was named after Pierre Chouteau, an American fur trader from St Louis of colonial French origin. about 0:05:34
- The town itself was founded in 1880 on the east bank of the Missouri River, opposite Fort Pierre. about 0:05:55
- Pierre was selected as the state capital because it sits dead centre, the same distance for everybody. about 0:06:04
- It is one of four state capitals not served by the interstate highway system. about 0:06:24
The reviews read out
5 stars
"Best place to grow up, with a small country-town feel and the needed commodities to be comfortable thanks to the local state government."about 0:07:03
3 stars
"Likes the smaller town because it is easier to get around, but there is not much to do; great if you are very interested in fishing and hunting."about 0:07:20
3 stars
"A very average community of hard-working people; asks for more patrols by animal control units."about 0:08:09
1 star
"If you don't like fishing, hunting, drinking or bowling, this town is not for you; everyone is in each other's business, it is very cliquey, shopping means driving two and a half hours, there is no culture and it goes straight from summer to winter."about 0:08:22
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Highmore, South Dakota45 miles
- Wolsey, South Dakota91 miles
- Aberdeen, South Dakota118 miles
- Lemmon, South Dakota140 miles
- Canistota, South Dakota160 miles
- Whitewood, South Dakota164 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.