Illinois is home to the most dangerous neighborhood in the nation, though it isn’t where you might think.Recently, Chicago has gotten a lot of attention for the ongoing violence that seems to plague the city, but many are challenging the idea that Chicago is the country’s “murder capital,” including Yale Univeristy sociologist Andrew Papachristos, who says that Chicago is actually in the middle of the country’s incidences of violence and murder.
And a list released by Neighborhood Scout agrees. It ranked the 25 most dangerous neighborhoods in the country in 2012 based on FBI data from local law enforcement and U.S. Census Bureau data. A Chicago neighborhood is not number one–another Illinois neighborhood is. In fact, four other Illinois neighborhoods in East St. Louis and Rockford were considered more dangerous than any Chicago neighborhoods. Two Chicago areas were included on the dangerous neighborhoods list, meaning Illinois held six of the top 25 spots, the most out of any state.
The rankings list a resident’s chance of becoming a victim over the course of one year and the violent crime rate per 1,000 people. The violent crimes measured are murder, forcible rape, armed robbery and aggravated assault. In the United States, the average violent crime rate is 3.9 per 1,000 residents and in Illinois it is 4.15.
Top 25 violent neighborhoods in the country:
25. Baton Rouge, La. (N. Lobdell Avenue/Harry Drive) has a violent crime rate of 68.96 per 1,000; Baton Rouge’s is 11.02, Louisiana’s is 4.97
24. Chicago, Ill. (S. Pulaski Road/W. Lexigton Street) has a violent crime rate of 71.55 per 1,000; Chicago’s is 10.08, Illinois’ is 4.15
23. St. Louis, Mo. (Clara Avenue/Saint Louis Avenue) has a violent crime rate of 72.09 per 1,000; St. Louis’ is 17.78, Missouri’s is 4.51
22. Washington, DC (Atlantic Street SE/4th Street SE) has a violent crime rate of 72.65 per 1,000; the District of Columbia’s is 12.44
21. Saginaw, Mich. (Lapee Avenue/E. Genesee Avenue) has a violent crime rate of 73.17 per 1,000; Saginaw’s is 23.62, Michigan’s is 4.55
20. Chicago, Ill. (S. Indiana Avenue/E. 60th Street) has a violent crime rate of 75.18 per 1,000; Chicago’s is 10.08, Illinois’ is 4.15
19. West Memphis, Ark. (E. Jackson Avenue/Autumn Avenue) has a violent crime rate of 76.03 per 1,000; West Memphis’ is 24.97, Arkansas’ is 4.69
18. Rockford, Ill. (N. Rockton Avenue/W. State Street) has a violent crime rate of 76.73 per 1,000; Rockford’s is 14.08, Illinois’ is 4.15
17. Omaha, Neb. (N. 24 Street/Ames Avenue) has a violent crime rate of 76.95 per 1,000; Omaha’s is 5.95, Nebraska’s is 2.59
16. Cincinnati, Ohio (Central Parkway/Central Avenue) has a violent crime rate of 80.21 per 1,000; Cincinnati’s is 9.79, Ohio’s is 3
15. Baltimore, Md. (E. Oliver Street/N. Broadway) has a violent crime rate of 80.49 per 1,000; Baltimore’s is 14.11 and Maryland’s is 4.77
14. Oklahoma City, Okla. (NE 36th Street/N. Martin Luther King Avenue) has a violent crime rate of 81.31 per 1,000; Oklahoma City’s is 9.22, Oklahoma’s is 4.69
13. East St. Louis, Ill. (Caseyville Avenue/N. Park Drive) has a violent crime rate of 82.69 per 1,000; East St. Louis’ is 49.93, Illinois’ is 4.15
12. New Orleans, La. (Conti Street/Marais Street) has a violent crime rate of 83.58 per 1,000; New Orleans’ is 8.16, Louisiana’s is 4.97
11. Detroit, Mich. (W. Jeffries Freeway/Seebaldt Street) has a violent crime rate of 84.78 per 1,000; Detroit’s is 21.23, Michigan’s is 4.55
10. Camden, N.J. (Whitman Park) has a violent crime rate of 84.78 per 1,000; Camden’s is 25.69, New Jersey’s is 2.9
9. Detroit, Mich. (Broadstreet Avenue/Cortland Street) has a violent crime rate of 84.94 per 1,000; Detroit’s is 21.23, Michigan’s is 4.55
8. Detroit, Mich. (Wyoming Street/Orangelawn Street) has a violent crime rate of 85.91 per 1,000; Detroit’s is 21.23, Michigan’s is 4.55
7. Rochester, N.Y. (Orange Street/W. Broad Street) has a violent crime rate of 88.20 per 1,000; Rochester’s is 9.76, New York’s is 4.07
6. Memphis, Tenn. (Chelseas Avenue/N. Claybrook Street) has a violent crime rate of 88.77 per 1,000; Memphis’ is 17.52, Tennessee’s is 6.44
5. Rockford, Ill. (7th Street and E. Jefferson Street) has a violent crime rate of 89.70 per 1,000; Rockford’s is 14.08, Illinois’ is 4.15
4. Saginaw, Mich. (E. Holland Avenue/E. Genesee Avenue) has a violent crime rate of 93.65 per 1,000; Saginaw’s is 23.62, Michigan’s is 4.55
3. Atlanta, Ga. (Mcdaniel Street W./Mary Street SW) has a violent crime rate of 96.20 per 1,000; Atlanta’s is 14.23, Georgia’s is 3.79
2. Jackson, Tenn. (James Buchanan Drive/1st Street) has a violent crime rate of 97.5; Jackson’s is 14.79, Tennessee’s is 6.44
1. East St. Louis, Ill. (City Center) has a violent crime rate of 100.97 per 1,000; East St. Louis’ is 49.93, Illinois’ is 4.15
Most big cities are too geographically vast and demographically varied to be categorized as altogether dangerous or altogether safe, so a ranking of dangerous neighborhoods may give a more specific look at which areas are really the most dangerous. According to the Neighborhood Scout information, while the country’s most violent neighborhood is East. St. Louis’ City Center, where the violent crime rate is 100.97 per 1,000, the city of East St. Louis’ rate as a whole is more than half of that at 49.93 per 1,000 (though still much higher than the national and Illinois average rates, and higher than “murder capital” Chicago).
For example, an Aug. 6 article in Chicago Magazine reported that a Florida State study of the city’s crime rates showed that while Chicago’s violence overall declined from the 1990s to the 2000s, it actually increased in some areas. According to Chicago Magazine reporter Whet Moser, only when the statistics of violence are fully understood can officials and residents begin to understand why rates ebb and flow and how to reduce them over time.
NEXT ARTICLE: Do you live in one of the 50 safest cities in Illinois?
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