America is home to an extremely diverse landscape. Almost every city that you are going to visit is going to have its own styles and cultures. With this diversity also exists varying safety levels with each different city. While some cities are going to be perfectly safe for you visit, there are others that are extremely dangerous. Below is a list of the 9 most dangerous cities that you are going to find in the United States.
9. Birmingham Alabama
Birmingham Alabama has been seeing an increase in poverty levels over these few years. This increase has many thinking the poverty has been adding to the violent crime that has been happening all over the city since 2013. Birmingham Alabama is ranked as having the 10th highest crime rate in the whole country. More than half of the crimes that are reported in Birmingham are violent crimes.
8. St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis has one of the highest murder rates in the United States. The murder rate that exists within St. Louis makes up the majority of the violent crime that happens within the city. While the last few years, overall violent crime has been declining, the murder rate is still at troubling levels. Reports vary from outlet to outlet, but the highest rates of murder seem to be happening during the fall than during other seasons.
7. Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock has been seeing different problems with crime. Some sources have put the blame on the overcrowding of prisons or the releasing of inmates too early. The crime in Little Rock puts it at 49 for cities with the highest murder rates with some of the highest levels of property related crime. Little Rock is above the national average for both violent and property crime.
6. Flint, Michigan
Michigan is home to many cities that have seen rough years since the decline of the American automobile market. One of the cities that has felt this loss of jobs more than other areas has been Flint. Flint is estimated to have a crime rate that is above 200% over the national average. It is believed that 1 out of 50 people are at risk of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
5. Memphis Tennessee
Memphis was once the home of some of the legend of American music and use to be known as the center of the music scene. Today, Memphis has a crime rate that is 60% higher than that of the national average. Memphis has been seeing the numbers of violent crimes committed against people at around 1,656 per 100,000 people. This high rate has led to Memphis being on many lists of the most dangerous cities.
4. Atlanta Georgia
Atlanta is a city that has seen a great amount of economic turmoil. Today Atlanta has one of the highest crime rates in the United States that is 230% over the national average. For the last few years violent crime such as robbery and assault has been on the rise. The amount of property related crime is also ranked as one of the highest in the country as well.
3. Stockton California
Stockton is well known for its beautiful architecture, but is also known as being an extremely dangerous place to be. Stockton has report high levels of violent crime including robberies, assaults and murders. The levels of violent has reached the point, where many have estimated you have a 1 in 83 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
2. Detroit Michigan
Like Flint, Detroit was home to some of the biggest car manufacturing plants in the United States. When the business moved out of town, the levels of crime began to rise. Today, Detroit is seeing levels of violent crime that are over 300% above what the national average is. The majority of violent crime that is reported in Detroit is related to assaults which are some of the highest in the country.
1. Chicago Illinois
The windy city is no stranger to violence. During the height of alcohol prohibition, the city become a battle ground between rival mafia families. Today, most of the violence that has been occurring has been happening because of the local street gangs. Poor city planning has to the gangs being mixed together. The gun violence has reached the levels where the city has been nicknamed “Chiraq”. The gun violence is some of the highest in the country.
These cities have been dealing with high levels of violent crime, while the national average has been dropping. In many of these cities there have been many different active groups who have been working towards combating the violent crime and pushing for reforms to help curb the current trends.
