The Top 25 Most Dangerous Cities

This past week, a study was released about the most dangerous American cities.“City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America,”published by Washington-based CQ Press, analyzes FBI crime statistics released Sept. 24. They focus only on cities with at least 75,000
residents. The danger score uses zero as the national average. Below are the top 25 most dangerous cities, according to the study:

MOST DANGEROUS 25:
1. Detroit, 407.2
2. St. Louis, 406.2
3. Flint, Mich., 381.0
4. Oakland, Calif., 338.9
5. Camden, N.J., 323.8
6. Birmingham, Ala., 268.8
7. North Charleston, S.C., 254.3
8. Memphis, 245.6
9. Richmond, Calif., 245.1
10. Cleveland, 244.4
11. Orlando, Fla., 237.4
12. Baltimore, 236.7
13. Little Rock, 233.8
14. Compton, Calif., 223.6
15. Youngstown , 222.0
16. Cincinnati, 218.3
17. Gary, Ind., 214.0
18. Kansas City, Mo., 203.4
19. Dayton, 201.5
20. Newark, N.J., 197.3
21. Philadelphia, 192.9
22. Atlanta, 189.9
23. Jackson, Miss., 188.8
24. Buffalo, 187.8
25. Kansas City , 187.6

You may note that cities #1 and #3 are both in Michigan. Blogger and Flint surviver Meg wrote an amusing little Cliff notes on how not to die in Flint. Dramamama also noted that her two cities, Detroit and Flint are two of the top three places where you're most likely to be a victim of a violent crime- and they're also places she basically visits everyday. Amazingly, she's still alive too. I am happy to report that I miraculously survived a childhood with many years spent frequenting both Detroit and Flint. I've also spent many a night in some of the other Most Dangerous Cities, such as Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, Baltimore...

My current hometown, Jackson, Mississippi is now ranked the 23rd most dangerous city in America. Having survived the crack dens and drive-bys of two MUCH more dangerous cities, I feel imbued with the authority to nod sagely and affirm that we're actually quite safe here. Do not worry, fellow Jacksonians! We'll make it!!

What's interesting is to track and see how the numbers have changed over time, and then to try to play a bit with cause and correlation. To wit: in 2004, Jackson was ranked #16... significantly more dangerous than the 23 where we fell this year... but then, in the year 2006 (representing data from 2005) Jackson was out of the top 25 completely - in fact, we were #42. Now, based on the past year's crime levels, we're back in the top 25. The Insurance Journal notes the skyrocket in Jackson crime over the course of 2005-now. What's the story? Why did we go from 16 to 42... and then back on up to 23? What happened post-2004 to drive crime levels up again?

• Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath?
• How about our certifiably bonkers, gun-toting guerrilla mayor, Frank Melton?
• Couldn't possibly be the lack of effective infrastructure, and the fact that here, as everywhere, funding for good community-based programs is often the first line item on the budget to get slashed... 'cause you know, education, empowerment and social services have NO effect on crime...

But hey, could be worse. We could be in Michigan. (Wait a minute...)

*It should be noted that three of the 25 Safest Cities, according to the same study, are also in Michigan. Not so for Mississippi. Then again, we only have so many metropolitan areas of over 75,000 people down here...