Louisiana has a rich and varied culture, but it also has a high crime rate that worries people. The FBI found that in 2019, the state had a serious crime rate of 2,454.98 per 100,000 people and a property crime rate of 8,019.19 per 100,000 people. These numbers were higher than the national averages of 1,476.6 and 4,017.7, respectively. This story goes into detail about the Louisiana city that people think is the most dangerous place to live.
Opelousas is Louisiana’s most dangerous city
According to a number of sources, Opelousas is Louisiana’s most dangerous city. This fairly small city is in St. Landry Parish, north of Lafayette. It is home to about 16,000 people. One of a kind, Opelousas is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is also known as the birthplace of Zydeco music, a rhythm and blues style based on Creole and Acadian music and the accordion.
In spite of its rich cultural background, Opelousas has a shady past that includes gambling and prostitution, and a present that is tainted by a lot of crime. The city has the second most serious crimes in the state and the most property crimes.
Notably, there are 2,370 serious crimes for every 100,000 people in Opelousas. This is 3.8 times more than the average for the state and 6.1 times more than the average for the whole country. With a number of 6,573 crimes against property per 100,000 people, Opelousas is 2.8 times more likely than the state average and 4.4 times more likely than the national average.
Assaults and thefts are the most common types of violent crimes in Opelousas. Burglaries and thefts of property are the most common types of property crimes. There were 380 violent crimes and 1,052 property crimes in Opelousas in 2019. In this city, the odds of being a victim of serious crime are 1 in 53, and the odds of being a victim of property crime are 1 in 15.
Louisiana’s Other Dangerous Cities
It’s important to remember that Opelousas isn’t the only Louisiana place with a high crime rate. Other places that should be noticed for having high crime rates are
Alexandria is a city on the south shore of the Red River that is home to about 48,000 people. It is known for its zoo and art museum, but it also has a high crime rate. It has the fourth most serious crimes and the third most property crimes in the state. There are 968 serious crimes for every 100,000 people in the city, and 11,110 property crimes for every 100,000 people. Alexandrians have a 1 in 103 chance of being a victim of physical crime and a 1 in 11 chance of being a victim of property crime.
Monroe is a city with about 46,000 people. It is northeast of Alexandria and lies on the east shore of the Ouachita River. Monroe is known for its airport and university, but it also has a high murder rate. It has the most serious crimes and the second most property crimes in the state. The rate of serious crime in Monroe is 2,969 per 100,000 people, and the rate of property crime is 6,118 per 100,000 people. You have a 1 in 34 chance of being a victim of physical crime in Monroe. You have a 1 in 16 chance of becoming a victim of property crime.
Marksville: Marksville is in Avoyelles Parish and has about 5,500 people. It is known for its casino and old sites. It does, however, have a high rate of assaults and is ranked third in the state for serious crime and fifth for property crime. Marksville has a serious crime rate of 1,793 per 100,000 people and a property crime rate of 6,171 per 100,000 people. Marksville residents have a 1 in 56 chance of being a victim of serious crime and a 1 in 16 chance of being a victim of property crime.
In Conclusion
With all of its charm and personality, Louisiana is home to some cities with high crime rates, which could make them unsafe for both residents and tourists. As the most dangerous city in the state, Opelousas sets a bad pattern. Crime rates are also much higher in places like Alexandria, Monroe, and Marksville than they are in the state and country as a whole. Given these numbers, it is suggested that people living or moving in these areas be extra careful and alert, paying special attention to areas that are known to be crime hotspots.