In 2020, there was a 5% increase in the violent crime rate in the United States, defined as the annual occurrence of rapes, robberies, severe assaults, and murders per 100,000 people. Murders and aggravated assaults increased in frequency, with the death toll surging by an astounding 29%. 2020 became the most lethal year in the United States since the mid-1990s.
Despite the highest annual homicide count in history, the overall violent crime rate in 2020 remains relatively modest in comparison to previous years. The United States witnessed 1.3 million serious offenses in 2020. That equates to 399 offenses per 100,000 individuals. The severe crime rate in the 1990s ranged from 523 to 758 crimes per 100,000 individuals.
Undoubtedly, crime is a local concern that is influenced by a multitude of factors. As a result, violent crime rates in the United States can vary considerably between regions. In certain metropolitan regions, violence rates are significantly greater than the peaks observed several decades ago.
Despite experiencing an annual decline of 1.9% in the severe crime rate, Anchorage, Alaska remains the most perilous city in the Western United States and the third most perilous metropolitan area in the United States. In 2020, there were 3,576 violent crimes in Anchorage, or approximately 1,171 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is nearly three times the violent crime rate nationwide.
The homicide rate in Anchorage experienced a significant decline, declining from 34 in 2019 to 18 in 2020, which stands in stark contrast to the national average. The majority of homicides in the metropolitan area, according to a police spokesman, are caused by domestic violence and, increasingly, narcotics.
The 2020 Uniform Crime Report of the FBI is utilized to rank metropolitan areas according to the incidence of serious crimes. Additionally, the 2020 FBI UCR contains more details regarding specific offenses. The 2019 American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, provides annual poverty rate data.
What Factors Make Anchorage Alaska’s Worst City?
Violent Crimes
Per capita, Anchorage has among the highest rates of severe crime in the nation. This places it among the ten most dangerous in the United States. Violent crimes consist of rape, homicide, and acts of severe violence. It is not a crime to steal a pack of gum from a gas station; however, the following are offenses that cause harm to others.
Gun-related violent crimes have increased in Anchorage over the past few years. There have been fatalities and injuries. When considering only the numerical data, Anchorage may not appear to be as perilous as locations such as Memphis. In 2020, there were over 18,000 serious crimes committed in Memphis, compared to just over 3,500 in Anchorage.
Poor Drivers
Additionally, Anchorage has been included on yet another list of the ten worst; this time, it is for the worst drivers. Yes, you must exercise caution in Anchorage not only around violent individuals but also around reckless traffic. Anchorage is among the few locations in Alaska where a significant population density exists.
Anchorage is probably home to some poor drivers, given that the entire state is populated by such individuals. Drunk driving or driving too quickly constitutes the majority of collisions in Anchorage. Drunk individuals sometimes operate motor vehicles at excessive speeds. Clearly, that cannot end well.
Repercussions of Earthquakes
Anchorage is situated on the Gulf of Alaska in the southern region of Alaska. This is precisely at the center of the “Ring of Fire,” the location where earthquakes originate. Due to the convergence of the Pacific and North American tectonic regions, this location experiences daily seismic activity.
A significant portion of these seismic events exhibit magnitudes below 2.0. Anchorage has, however, experienced larger earthquakes in the past. Anchorage experienced a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in 2018, which was followed by aftershocks of magnitude 5.7. That is an exceptionally powerful earthquake in a major metropolitan area.