Located in North Dakota’s far northwest corner lies Williams County. It covers 2,077 square miles and is home to about 37,000 people. One of the most important oil and gas hubs in North Dakota, Williston, the sixth-largest city in the state, is located in this county.
Williams County still faces high crime rates, especially in some areas, despite its economic importance. Here we’ll take a look at the five riskiest areas in Williams County, ranking them on crime rate, quality of life, and public perception.
Wildrose
Wildrose is a tiny hamlet in Williams County’s western part. It has about 100 residents and a typical household income of around $46,000. Wildrose, situated on Highway 85 and close to the Little Missouri River, with a violent crime rate of 1,602 per 1000 people and a crime rate that is 122% higher than the national average.
Murder, rape, assault, robbery, and arson are among the many crimes committed in Wildrose, with a victimization rate of 1 in 9. The town’s unsavory reputation is a result of a combination of factors, including poverty, corruption, poor health, a lack of services, and environmental problems.
Williston
Williston is home to about 27,000 people, the majority of whom live in the county seat. The median household income in this city is around $88,000. Williston is a prominent city in North Dakota and Montana, located approximately one hour south of the Canadian border, known for its prosperous oil and gas sector.
Still, it struggles with a poor quality of life and a high crime rate. With a rate of violent crime reaching 1,086 per 1000 persons, Williston has a crime rate that is 96% higher than the national average.
Williston has a crime rate of 1 in 7, which includes homicide, rape, assault, robbery, and theft. Problems with homelessness, traffic, noise pollution, and environmental degradation all diminish the city’s quality of life.
Ray
There are about 800 people living in the tiny town of Ray Ray in eastern Williams County, and their median household income is about $66,000. Ray faces a crime rate that is 197% higher than the national average and a violent crime rate of 2143 per 1000 persons. The town is located along Highway 2 and is close to the White Earth River.
Ray has a 1 in 8 chance of being a victim of a crime, which includes homicide, rape, assault, robbery, and burglary. The fact that Ray has to deal with issues like racial tensions, poverty, unemployment, and gang activity only adds to its image as an unsettling neighborhood.
Epping
There are over 200 people living in the little town of Epping in central Williams County, with a median household income of around $54,000. Epping, which is located along Highway 2 and close to the Little Muddy River, has a terrifyingly high crime rate—2910 per 1000 people—that is 303% higher than the national average.
Crimes such as murder, rape, assault, robbery, and arson affect Epping at a rate of 1 in 5. Inadequate sanitation, insufficient services, overpopulation, poverty, and the town’s overall unsavory character all play a role.
Read More: Discover the 5 Most Worst Neighborhoods in North Dakota
Tioga
With a typical household income of about $75,000, the 1,600 people who call the northern Williams County town Tioga home. Tioga, which is close to the Missouri River and Highway 40, has a violent crime rate of 1894 per 1000 people, making it 145% more violent than the national average.
Crimes like murder, rape, assault, robbery, and vehicle theft affect 1 out of 4 Tioga residents. The city’s reputation as a difficult place to live or visit is fueled by its struggles with poverty, unemployment, inadequate education, restricted opportunities, and substance misuse.
Conclusion
These five neighborhoods are the most hazardous in Williams County, according to the data that is available. But this evaluation in no way suggests that these communities are doomed or unsalvageable. People in these neighborhoods are working hard to improve their lives and the lives of others around them.
Crime reduction, opportunity expansion, and quality of life improvement are the goals of a number of programs and initiatives in these areas. So, it’s crucial to recognize and encourage these neighborhoods’ efforts and accomplishments while also realizing the risks and problems they confront.