Town file
St. Robert, Missouri
St. Robert, Missouri (Pulaski County, Missouri) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 343, "Good ... Vs Bad John" (8 December 2022).
- Town
- St. Robert
- County
- Pulaski County
- State
- Missouri
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 343
- Approximate location
- 37.825, -92.152
Episode 343 / 8 December 2022 / 164 min / full
Good Vs Bad John
"We're going to St. Robert, Missouri. This is south central Missouri... This is in Pulaski County." about 0:04:58
The case: The Fort Leonard Wood MP murders (January 13th, 1977); Disappearances of Al Marshall and TC Gossage (October 1976). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2022
- Population
- 6,358
- Median age
- 32.8
- Median household income
- $47,000
- Median home value
- $159,200
- Two-bedroom rent
- $821 a month
- Cost of living
- 78
- Religious
- 38%
- Property crime
- ▲ almost three times the national average
- Violent crime
- ▲ slightly high, but not too high
History, in brief
- St. Robert's motto is 'home to our military heroes'; the town is built around the fort. about 0:05:23
- It is known as a gateway community to the army installation at Fort Leonard Wood. about 0:05:45
- Before Fort Leonard Wood was established, its name was briefly used to rename Fort Meade in central Maryland, then changed back after Pennsylvania legislators complained; George G. Meade was a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg. about 0:05:52
- In 1939, Congress approved the purchase of a 40,000 acre tract of land for a military installation. about 0:07:06
- There was a critical shortage of ground water at the site. about 0:07:30
- St. Robert is about two hours from St. Louis, an hour and fifty minutes from Columbia, and an hour and fifty minutes from Fenton, Missouri. about 0:05:04
The reviews read out
5 stars
"A small town right outside Fort Leonard Wood with not much entertainment, but a great place to raise a family, get an education and worship God; plenty of hunting and camping, though the family has to travel an hour for decent shopping."about 0:08:20
4 stars
"Great people; the reviewer shops, eats and wanders with friends there, recommends climbing the watch tower on the outskirts and the Superman ice cream at I Love Ice Cream, and likes ending a night out at the McDonald's down the road."about 0:09:24
4 stars
"A military resident of five years likes the small city and old town feel and the outdoor activities, clubs and town events, but wants more big business and more variety in food, such as Italian restaurants."about 0:12:34
3 stars
"A former Route 66 town kept alive mainly by the nearby army post; highlights are the Walmart Super Center and an intensely mediocre Buffalo Wild Wings."about 0:13:43
2 stars
"One of the worst cities the reviewer has lived in in the United States and Europe; tattoo parlours and pawn shops line Missouri Avenue to the fort's main entrance and the bars are full of new army graduates, though the hunting is good."about 0:14:24
1 star
"Living on post sucks; housing, army wives, trash and the hospital are all complained about, and there is nothing to do but the same repetitive things, with Springfield or St. Louis the only escape, although the reviewer still gives St. Robert three stars."about 0:15:32
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Climax Springs, Missouri53 miles
- Elkland, Missouri55 miles
- Willard, Missouri78 miles
- New Florence, Missouri84 miles
- Bonne Terre, Missouri88 miles
- Festus, Missouri99 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.