Georgia, known for its rich history and diverse landscapes, also has its share of urban challenges, including crime. This expanded analysis delves into the most dangerous cities in Georgia as of 2023, providing a deeper understanding of the safety landscape across the state.
College Park:
- Population: 15,280
- Violent Crime Rate: 11.6 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 67.9 per 1,000 residents College Park, surprisingly surpassing Atlanta, emerges as Georgia’s most dangerous city. A smaller city, it has a higher likelihood of violent crimes and a significant number of unresolved crimes.
Albany:
- Population: 79,990
- Violent Crime Rate: 10.5 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 46.0 per 1,000 residents Albany experiences a slightly lower crime rate than College Park. However, there’s been a notable increase in crime since 2019, with a simultaneous drop in solved cases. Property crimes are notably high here.
Morrow:
- Population: 7,640
- Violent Crime Rate: 4.2 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 90.6 per 1,000 residents Morrow’s property crime rate is exceptionally high, contrasting with its moderate violent crime rate. The high property crime rate is notable given the area’s average poverty level.
Americus:
- Population: 15,110
- Violent Crime Rate: 8.4 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 55.3 per 1,000 residents Americus is a smaller town with both high violent and property crime rates. However, there’s a trend of decreasing crime rates, suggesting potential improvement in safety.
Forest Park:
- Population: 20,270
- Violent Crime Rate: 7.2 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 44.5 per 1,000 residents While safer than the previously mentioned cities, Forest Park still records high rates of both violent and property crimes. It is a suburb of Atlanta with notable issues in public school quality and safety.
Douglasville:
- Population: 34,610
- Violent Crime Rate: 5.3 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 58.2 per 1,000 residents As a suburban area of Atlanta, Douglasville faces high rates of violent and property crimes, likely influenced by crime spillover from Atlanta. However, murder rates are low.
Bainbridge:
- Population: 11,990
- Violent Crime Rate: 6.8 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 39.1 per 1,000 residents Bainbridge, a sparsely populated area known for its parks and green spaces, surprisingly records higher-than-average crime rates, including murders.
Warner Robins:
- Population: 76,620
- Violent Crime Rate: 5.5 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 47.1 per 1,000 residents Despite being a family-friendly suburb, Warner Robins has a surprisingly high crime rate, with reasons for this trend remaining unclear.
Clarkston:
- Population: 12,840
- Violent Crime Rate: 5.7 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 29.4 per 1,000 residents Clarkston, another Atlanta suburb, experiences high rates of violent crime, including burglaries and assaults.
Waynesboro:
- Population: 5,390
- Violent Crime Rate: 4.3 per 1,000 residents
- Property Crime Rate: 39.2 per 1,000 residents Waynesboro, a small community with a slower lifestyle, faces higher crime rates compared to other towns of similar size.
In conclusion,
these cities, ranging from small towns to larger urban areas, reflect the complex and varied landscape of crime in Georgia. The factors influencing these high crime rates are diverse, including economic conditions, urbanization, and social issues. It’s important for residents and visitors alike to be aware of these challenges while acknowledging the ongoing efforts to improve safety and reduce crime across the state.