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Kirksville, Missouri: Educational Hub Faces Rising Property Crime Trends
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Kirksville, Missouri, a city renowned for its educational institutions and rich history, has experienced a significant increase in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes rose by 54%, from 527 to 812 incidents, despite a relatively stable population growth of only 0.96%, from 20,899 to 21,100 residents. This substantial increase in crime rates has outpaced the city's population growth, indicating a concerning trend for public safety.
Burglary rates in Kirksville have shown a worrying upward trend. The number of burglaries increased from 76 in 2010 to 125 in 2022, representing a 64.5% rise. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate grew from 3.64 to 5.92 incidents per 1,000 residents. Moreover, Kirksville's share of state burglaries increased dramatically from 0.24% in 2010 to 0.94% in 2022, suggesting that burglary has become a more prominent issue locally compared to statewide trends.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in Kirksville, saw a substantial increase over the years. The number of incidents rose from 441 in 2010 to 644 in 2022, marking a 46% increase. The rate per 1,000 residents grew from 21.1 to 30.5. The city's contribution to statewide larceny-theft also more than doubled, from 0.39% in 2010 to 0.83% in 2022, indicating a disproportionate growth compared to state averages.
Motor vehicle theft in Kirksville has shown an alarming increase. From just 10 incidents in 2010, it surged to 43 in 2022, a staggering 330% increase. The rate per 1,000 residents jumped from 0.48 to 2.04. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts increased significantly from 0.08% to 0.18%, indicating a faster growth rate than the state average.
Arson cases in Kirksville, while relatively low in number, have shown considerable volatility. From no reported cases in 2010, arson incidents peaked at 14 in 2017 before settling at 7 cases in 2022. The rate per 1,000 residents in 2022 was 0.33. The city's contribution to state arson cases increased dramatically from 0% in 2010 to 1.14% in 2022, suggesting a disproportionate growth compared to state trends.
A strong correlation exists between the rise in property crimes and changes in racial demographics in Kirksville. As the white population percentage decreased from 92% in 2013 to 87% in 2022, there was a corresponding increase in overall property crime rates. This shift coincided with increases in other racial groups, particularly the Black population, which grew from 2% to 5% during the same period.
There's also a notable correlation between rising median income and increased property crime rates in Kirksville. As the median income grew from $31,307 in 2013 to $39,854 in 2022, property crime incidents increased from 504 to 812, suggesting that growing economic disparities might be influencing crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029, Kirksville could see property crime rates increase by approximately 25-30% if current trends continue unchecked. This would potentially result in around 1,000-1,050 total property crime incidents annually.
In conclusion, Kirksville has faced significant challenges with rising property crime rates across all categories, particularly in motor vehicle theft and burglary. These increases have outpaced population growth and state averages, indicating a localized issue that warrants attention. The correlations with changing demographics and rising median income suggest complex socio-economic factors at play. As the city moves forward, addressing these trends will be crucial for improving public safety and maintaining the quality of life for its residents.
