Welcome to our comprehensive analysis of the ten most dangerous cities in Arkansas. In this blog post, we delve into the crime rates of these cities, providing an in-depth look at the violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents.
We also explore the unique characteristics of each city, including its history, demographics, and the various initiatives they have undertaken to combat crime.
Our aim is to provide a balanced view of these cities, acknowledging the challenges they face while also highlighting the efforts being made to improve the safety and quality of life for their residents.
10 Riskiest Places
| City | Population | Violent Crimes (per 100,000 residents) | Property Crimes (per 100,000 residents) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola | 7,535 | 1,483 | 6,179 |
| Helena-West Helena | 10,749 | 1,474 | 5,406 |
| West Memphis | 24,668 | 1,820 | 6,237 |
| Little Rock | 197,958 | 1,517 | 6,332 |
| El Dorado | 17,916 | 1,224 | 5,109 |
| Hot Springs | 37,169 | 1,583 | 6,730 |
| Fordyce | 3,940 | 1,066 | 4,822 |
| Fort Smith | 87,743 | 1,052 | 5,390 |
| Newport | 7,535 | 1,020 | 4,906 |
| Jacksonville | 28,661 | 1,259 | 4,754 |
10. Jacksonville
- Population: 28,661
- Violent Crimes: 1,259 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 4,754 per 100,000 residents
Jacksonville is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas. The city has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of violent crimes. The city is taking steps to address this issue, including implementing crime prevention programs and increasing police presence.
9. Newport
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- Population: 7,535
- Violent Crimes: 1,020 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 4,906 per 100,000 residents
Newport is a city in Jackson County, Arkansas. The city has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of violent crimes. Efforts are being made to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents, including increased police presence and community outreach programs.
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8. Fort Smith
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- Population: 87,743
- Violent Crimes: 1,052 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 5,390 per 100,000 residents
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and serves as a major economic hub. Despite its size and economic importance, Fort Smith has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of property crimes. The city is implementing various initiatives to combat crime, including community policing and crime prevention programs.
7. Fordyce
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- Population: 3,940
- Violent Crimes: 1,066 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 4,822 per 100,000 residents
Fordyce is a city in Dallas County, Arkansas. The city has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of violent crimes. Efforts are being made to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents, including increased police presence and community outreach programs.
6. Hot Springs
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- Population: 37,169
- Violent Crimes: 1,583 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 6,730 per 100,000 residents
Hot Springs is a city in Garland County, Arkansas. The city has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of property crimes. The city is taking steps to address this issue, including implementing crime prevention programs and increasing police presence.
5. El Dorado
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- Population: 17,916
- Violent Crimes: 1,224 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 5,109 per 100,000 residents
El Dorado is a city in Union County, Arkansas. The city has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of violent crimes. Efforts are being made to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents, including increased police presence and community outreach programs.
4. Little Rock
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- Population: 197,958
- Violent Crimes: 1,517 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 6,332 per 100,000 residents
Little Rock, the capital city of Arkansas, has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of property crimes. The city is implementing various initiatives to combat crime, including community policing and crime prevention programs.
3. West Memphis
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- Population: 24,668
- Violent Crimes: 1,820 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 6,237 per 100,000 residents
West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas. The city has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of violent crimes. The city is taking steps to address this issue, including implementing crime prevention programs and increasing police presence.
2. Helena-West Helena
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- Population: 10,749
- Violent Crimes: 1,474 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 5,406 per 100,000 residents
Helena-West Helena is located in Phillips County, Arkansas. The city has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of violent crimes. Efforts are being made to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents, including increased police presence and community outreach programs.
1. Osceola
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- Population: 7,535
- Violent Crimes: 1,483 per 100,000 residents
- Property Crimes: 6,179 per 100,000 residents
Osceola is a city in Mississippi County, Arkansas, with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1833. Despite its small size, Osceola has a high crime rate, particularly in terms of violent crimes. The city has been working to address this issue through various initiatives, including community policing and youth engagement programs.
Each city is characterized by its violent crime rate, property crime rate, and population. The crime rates are based on the number of crimes per 100,000 residents. The cities are ranked from most to least dangerous based on their violent crime rates. However, it’s important to note that crime rates can vary greatly within each city, and some neighborhoods may be much safer than others.
Is Arkansas a Safe Place?
On a broader scale, Arkansas is often perceived as lacking in safety. It holds one of the highest crime rates in the country, particularly in terms of violent crime. Given these statistics, it’s hard to classify Arkansas as typically safe.
While there are pockets of safety within Arkansas, the majority of its towns, including those that are smaller and seemingly tranquil, report high crime rates. The trend of escalating crime rates doesn’t seem to be reversing significantly in the near future.
Interestingly, despite the high crime rates, many residents don’t feel threatened, suggesting that crime may be concentrated in specific areas (albeit at very high levels within these areas). Violent crime outnumbers property crime, and Arkansas has one of the highest rates of burglary in the country, contributing to its overall crime rate.
On a positive note, Arkansas experiences fewer instances of package theft compared to the rest of the country. So, while there are safety concerns, your delivered packages are likely to be safe!
Most Horrific Crime in Arkansas
The West Memphis Three case is one of the most infamous in Arkansas history. In 1993, three eight-year-old boys were found murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. Three teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr., and Jason Baldwin, were convicted for the murders in a case that involved allegations of satanic rituals.
The case received widespread attention and criticism, with many believing that the West Memphis Three were innocent. After spending 18 years in prison, they were released in 2011 after entering Alford pleas, which allow them to assert their innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them.
Safety Tips
- Avoid Engaging with Unknown Individuals While it’s common advice since childhood, it’s crucial not to engage with strangers, especially in larger areas like Little Rock or tourist spots like Hot Springs. Avoid making eye contact as it can be seen as an invitation for potentially undesirable individuals to approach you. Keep your focus forward and engage with the people you’re with to deter strangers.
- Always Lock Your Car Particularly at gas stations, and ensure your car doors are locked. Some criminals pretend to be homeless and wait patiently at these locations. They may appear needy, but they’re observing and waiting for an opportunity. If you leave your car unlocked while refueling or going inside the station, there’s a risk of your car being stolen.
- Avoid Carrying or Admitting to Having Cash In tourist areas, it’s common for people to approach you asking for money, often with a detailed story about their desperate situation. However, these stories are often fabricated, and the real aim is to get money. It’s best not to carry cash or admit to having it to avoid these situations.
- Don’t Accept Items from Strangers The dangerous drug fentanyl has become widespread in Arkansas, causing numerous deaths each year. It’s often mixed with recreational drugs, increasing its danger. Since you can’t be sure what others have handled, it’s safer not to accept anything from strangers.
- Be Discreet About Casino Winnings Arkansas has legal casinos, which can attract people looking for an easy score. Whether you win or lose, keep that information to yourself. If you have to handle cash, do so discreetly, preferably inside the casino and within sight of security.
FAQ
What are the safest cities in Arkansas?
According to the SafeWise report, the top five safest cities in Arkansas for 2024 are Piggott, Pottsville, Austin, Greenwood, and Brookland. These cities reported five or fewer violent crimes, and 90% of Arkansas’s safest cities reported zero murders.
How does the crime rate in Arkansas compare to the national average?
A2: Arkansas has the highest violent crime rate (7.1 per 1,000 people) and the fifth-highest property crime rate (26.5) in the US. Violent crime increased by nearly 6% in Arkansas year over year, and property crime increased by about 1%.
How do residents perceive crime in their state?
According to the State of Safety survey, 51% of Arkansas respondents felt safe in their state, which is 1 percentage point higher than the national sentiment. However, 73% of Arkansans believe that crime is on the rise. Despite this, Arkansans reported lower levels of concern about violent crime and property crime than their neighbors in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
What are the most common types of violent and property crimes in Arkansas?
Aggravated assault represents 81% of all violent crimes in Arkansas, which is 9 percentage points higher than the national average. Burglary accounts for 18% of all property crime in Arkansas, which is 4 percentage points above the national average.
What measures are residents of Arkansas taking to protect themselves and their property?
49% of Arkansans reported using some form of personal protection, with pocket knives being the most popular at 59%. For property protection, most Arkansans rely on security cameras (41%), firearms (37%), or guard dogs (36%). In terms of package theft prevention, 30% choose verified delivery and 27% use doorbell cameras.
How prepared are Arkansans for natural disasters?
Arkansans indicated they were less prepared than the average American for a natural disaster. Around 34% said they had a family emergency plan (compared to 40% US average), 38% had an emergency kit (compared to 44% US average), and 38% had taken no disaster preparedness actions (compared to 32% US average).
What are the attitudes towards gun violence?
48% of Arkansans are concerned about gun violence, which is similar to the national average (47% US). 9% reported an experience with gun violence in the 12 months prior to being surveyed, which is slightly lower than the national average (12% US). Of the Arkansans who use some form of personal protection, 33% said they use concealed firearms.
Conclusion
While Arkansas has some of the highest crime rates in the United States, it’s important to remember that these rates can vary greatly from city to city and even within different neighborhoods of the same city. The cities we’ve highlighted in this analysis are working hard to combat crime and improve the safety and quality of life for their residents through various initiatives such as community policing, crime prevention programs, and increased police presence.
Despite the high crime rates, many residents of Arkansas do not feel threatened, suggesting that crime may be concentrated in specific areas. It’s also worth noting that Arkansas experiences fewer instances of package theft compared to the rest of the country, which is a positive aspect in terms of safety.
