As beautiful as the United States is, there are still forms of violence witnessed occasionally in different parts of the country.
In other words, there are cases where a person or a group of people acts in a manner that inflicts harm on others, particularly with a weapon.
While violent crimes can happen anywhere in the U.S. they are more frequent in certain cities than in others.
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Just like there are expensive cities that are most suitable for high-paying jobs, there are also some American cities that are more dangerous than others.
They are dangerous because of crimes such as gun violence, manslaughter, sexual assault, terrorism, homicide, rape, etc.
In another report by the FBI on crime in the United States, it became obvious that the crime rate differs from one city to another.
Prominent factors that are considered to make this list includes the population of the cities (only those with over 100,000 residents are considered) as well as economic factors like unemployment rate and poverty rate.
Here are the American cities with the highest rates of violent crimes:
1) Detroit
Located in Michigan and with a population that is around 700,000, Detroit has a high violent crime rate pegged at 2,007 per 100,000 people, making the city the most dangerous in the country.
Worthy of being mentioned is the fact that the unemployment rate in Detroit (which is a contributing factor to crime) is 7.00%, which is far above the national average (3.4%), while economic opportunities remain scarce in the city.
2) Memphis
Memphis is another dangerous American city with a violent crime rate of 1,943 per 100,000 people, though having a population of around 628,127 residents.
Also, the poverty rate here (22.6%) is higher than the national average of the country (11.6 percent), which is believed to be a contributing factor to frequent crimes in the state.
3) Birmingham
Birmingham in Alabama has witnessed some horrible crimes beyond imagination, including homicides, robberies, etc.
The city has a violent crime rate of 1,911 per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national rate of 369 per 100,000 people.
Like several other dangerous cities here, Birmingham, with a population of 1.149 million people, has limited economic opportunities. Hence, it is with a poverty rate that is as bad as 25.5%.
4) Baltimore
While the national violent crime rate is around 369 per 100,000 people, Baltimore’s is 1,833.4 per 100,000 people, making the city one of the most dangerous of its kind in the whole of the USA.
It features robberies, murders, as well as various other criminal activities. It was so bad here that some residents decided to take steps towards installing about 500 cameras in different parts of the city to help enhance good security.
5) St. Louis
Located in Missouri, St. Louis has a population of around 293,310 and its violent crime rate is 1,800 per 100,000 people.
Homicides in St. Louis are more deadly and frequent than in many other American cities. Hence, one of the things the authorities have been doing is utilizing an aerial surveillance system in a bid to reduce violence in the city.
6) Kansas City
Kansas City is one of the most dangerous cities in the country, with a nasty violent crime rate of 1,590 per 100,000 people. Murders are common in the city compared with several others in the USA.
Considering its poverty rate (which is 17.3%), Kansas City keeps witnessing certain crimes sponsored by a lack of economic opportunities amongst others.
Although a person’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Kansas City is one in 17, it still has a population that is around 508,394.
Like it was in some other dangerous cities, certain places in Kansas City are deadlier than other parts. Some of these include Shoal Creek and Downtown.
7) Cleveland
Cleveland has a violent crime rate that is pegged at 1,449 per 100,000 people, even with a population that is around 367,991.
As a matter of fact, an individual’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Cleveland is one in 18, which shows how delicate the city is. Some criminals keep carrying out robberies, rapes, murders, assaults, arson, burglaries, etc.
8) Little Rock
Located in Arkansas, Little Rock is among the most dangerous cities here. It has a population that is around 201,998 as well as a violent crime rate of 1,446 per 100,000 people (which is much more than the 369 per 100,000 national violent crime rate).
Aside from strong crimes like manslaughter and homicides, the likes of burglary and larceny are also common here.
9) Milwaukee
Milwaukee can be found in the state of Wisconsin is also filled with various degrees of crime. The violent crime rate here is 1,413 per 100,000 people.
However, the officials are bent on taking care of these issues via initiatives like Cure Violence. Certain people are empowered to contain violence before it breaks out on a large scale.
10) Stockton
Stockton is in California and is one of the most dangerous in the country (as well as the most dangerous city in the state).
It has a violent crime rate of 1,399 per 100,000 people. There are occasional cases of robberies, aggravated assaults, homicides, and other unpleasant activities.
We can also highlight the fact that economic factors are contributing to the nasty security issues here.
The poverty rate at Stockton is 22.4% and even economic opportunities are relatively limited. There are several residents here struggling to get a befitting job, and all these are adding up.
For instance, ABC News on February 24, 2023, reported that over 6,000 lost their lives because of gun violence in the U.S.
Conclusion
These are the most dangerous cities in the US as things stand now. Occasionally, criminals carry out mischievous activities that cause harm to others, mostly with a weapon.
These violent crimes find expression in unpleasant stuff like murder, aggravated assault, robbery, rape, etc.
Reference
- Samuel Stebbins (October 23, 2019). “America’s Most Dangerous Cities”. 247wallst.com