With a population of about 10,000, Carbon County, Montana, is known for its beautiful scenery, interesting historical sites, and outdoor leisure options. However, as is the case with any location, there are parts of the county that are more likely to see criminal activity.
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program numbers for 2020 show that there were 264 incidences of property crimes and 91 cases of violent crimes in Carbon County.
This corresponds to a rate of 26.4 property crimes and 9.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. These numbers are higher above the 4.7 and 21.2 statewide averages, respectively.
The following list, which is based on UCR statistics, ranks the five Carbon County neighborhoods that had the highest number of violent crimes reported in 2020, designating them as the regions of most concern:
Red Lodge
With over 2,300 persons, this town is the most populated urban center in Carbon County and serves as the county seat. Its appealing attributes, like a ski resort, historically significant buildings that have been conserved, and its easy access to Yellowstone National Park, bring large numbers of visitors.
However, it’s also important to note that, with 36 recorded instances in 2020, this municipality had the highest rate of violent crimes in the county. This corresponds to a statistical probability of 1 in 64 locals falling victim to these kinds of crimes.
Bridger
This tiny community, which is near the border with Wyoming, has about 700 inhabitants. It has been honored for its long history of coal mining and for organizing an annual rodeo.
With a total of 19 reported instances, the town regrettably had the second-highest number of violent crimes in the county in 2020. This corresponds to a statistical probability of 1 in 37 local people falling prey to violent crimes, with all recorded occurrences classified as severe assaults.
Joliet
The population of this small village, which is tucked away on the banks of Rock Creek, is about 600. Well-known for its abundant agricultural production and the beloved yearly Christmas Stroll, it also made headlines in 2020 for a less positive figure.
It ranked third in the county for violent crime events, with 13 reported cases. This means that there is a 1 in 46 chance that a citizen may be the victim of a violent crime.
Fromberg
About 400 people live in this small community, which is along the Clarks Fork River. It is well known for the annual Harvest Festival and its beautifully restored schoolhouse.
Regretfully, with a total of 9 events, it came in fourth place in the county for recorded violent crimes in 2020. This meant that there was a 1 in 44 chance that a violent crime would occur among the locals.
Bearcreek
Approximately 100 people live in this small village near Red Lodge. It is well-known for its coal mining history and its association with the horrific 1943 Smith Mine tragedy, which claimed the lives of 74 miners.
With five recorded incidents, it had the fifth-highest number of violent crimes in the county in 2020. According to this figure, there was a 1 in 20 chance that a violent crime will occur there for its residents.
In summary
Significant rates of property crime were also observed in these communities; in Joliet, there were 32.6 crimes per 1,000 people, while in Bearcreek, there were 66.7 incidences per 1,000 residents. Theft of motor vehicles, burglaries, and larceny-theft were the most common property offenses.
Please keep in mind that these figures may not fully reflect the true scope of criminal activity in each neighborhood because they only take into account offenses that were recorded. Additionally, a variety of factors, including shifts in the population, efforts made by law enforcement, socioeconomic situations, and random fluctuations, can cause variances in crime rates from year to year.
You can visit the Roadsnacks website, which provides rankings and analysis based on multiple data sources, or peruse the FBI’s UCR website for additional information about the crime situation in Montana or other states.