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Clive, Iowa: A Growing City Grapples with Rising Violent Crime Rates
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Clive, Iowa has witnessed significant changes in its violent crime landscape over the past decade, coupled with substantial population growth. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes in Clive fluctuated, with a notable increase in the most recent year. In 2010, there were 33 violent crimes reported, which decreased to 16 in 2021, but then sharply rose to 51 in 2022, marking a 54.5% increase from 2010 to 2022. During this same period, the city's population grew steadily from 15,036 in 2010 to 19,695 in 2022, representing a 31% increase.
Murder rates in Clive have remained consistently low, with only two instances reported in 2016, accounting for 3.39% of the state's murders that year. In most other years, including 2022, there were no murders reported. Given the population growth, the murder rate per 1,000 people has effectively decreased over time, dropping from 0.13 per 1,000 in 2016 to 0 in 2022. This suggests that despite population growth, the city has maintained a very low incidence of homicides.
Rape cases have shown variability over the years. In 2010, there were 3 reported cases (0.44% of state total), which increased to 5 in 2012 (0.73% of state total). After fluctuating in the intervening years, 2022 saw a significant spike with 12 reported cases, representing 1.3% of the state's total. The rate per 1,000 people increased from 0.20 in 2010 to 0.61 in 2022, indicating a concerning upward trend that outpaces population growth.
Robbery incidents have remained relatively low but variable. In 2010, there were 3 robberies (0.31% of state total), dropping to zero in some years (2014, 2016, 2017), and then rising again to 4 in 2020 (0.45% of state total) and 3 in 2022 (0.56% of state total). The rate per 1,000 people has fluctuated accordingly, from 0.20 in 2010 to 0.15 in 2022, showing a slight overall decrease relative to population growth.
Aggravated assault cases have shown the most significant changes. From 27 cases in 2010 (0.53% of state total), the number dropped to 14 in 2021 (0.26% of state total) but then spiked dramatically to 36 in 2022 (0.75% of state total). The rate per 1,000 people decreased from 1.80 in 2010 to 0.73 in 2021, but then jumped to 1.83 in 2022, nearly returning to the 2010 level despite the larger population base.
There appears to be a relationship between the increase in violent crimes and changes in racial demographics. The percentage of white residents decreased from 84% in 2013 to 79% in 2022, while the Asian population increased from 2% to 7%, and the Hispanic population from 7% to 9% during the same period. This demographic shift coincides with the recent uptick in violent crimes, particularly in 2022.
Applying predictive models based on the current trends, it's projected that by 2029, Clive may see a continued increase in violent crimes if current trajectories persist. The rate of aggravated assaults and rapes may rise further, potentially reaching 45-50 cases and 15-18 cases respectively per year. Robbery rates may stabilize around 4-5 incidents annually. However, murder rates are likely to remain very low, possibly with occasional single incidents in some years.
In summary, Clive has experienced a complex evolution in its violent crime landscape. While maintaining a virtually murder-free environment, the city has seen concerning increases in other violent crimes, particularly aggravated assaults and rapes, especially in recent years. These trends, coupled with demographic changes, suggest a shifting social dynamic that may require targeted interventions to maintain the city's overall safety and quality of life for its growing and diversifying population.
