Loading Content...
Property Crime Decline in Columbia, Alabama: A Small Community's Success Story
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Columbia, Alabama, is a small community with a population of 1,223 as of 2022. Over the past decade, this city has experienced notable changes in its property crime rates alongside fluctuations in population. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 8 to 1, representing an 87.5% reduction. During the same period, the population declined from 1,400 to 1,223, a 12.6% decrease.
The burglary rate in the city shows a complete elimination of reported incidents. In 2010, there were no reported burglaries, and this trend continued through 2022. With zero burglaries per 1,000 residents throughout the period, the city maintained a 0% contribution to the state's burglary statistics. This consistent absence of burglaries suggests a particularly safe environment in terms of this specific crime category.
Larceny-theft incidents saw a substantial decrease over the examined period. In 2010, there were 7 reported cases, which translated to approximately 5 incidents per 1,000 residents. By 2022, this number had dropped to just 1 incident, or about 0.82 per 1,000 residents. This represents an 85.7% decrease in larceny-theft cases. The city's contribution to the state's larceny-theft statistics also decreased from 0.01% in 2010 to 0% in 2022, indicating an improvement that outpaced the state average.
Motor vehicle theft in the city experienced a complete elimination. In 2010, there was 1 reported case, equating to about 0.71 incidents per 1,000 residents. By 2022, no motor vehicle thefts were reported. This represents a 100% decrease in motor vehicle theft cases. The city's contribution to the state's motor vehicle theft statistics also decreased from 0.02% in 2010 to 0% in 2022, suggesting a significant improvement in this area of property crime.
Regarding arson, the data is limited. In 2010, arson data was not available. However, by 2022, there were zero reported arson cases. Without a baseline for comparison, it's difficult to draw conclusions about trends, but the absence of arson cases in 2022 is a positive indicator for public safety.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and other factors reveals some interesting patterns. The decrease in property crimes coincides with a slight increase in median income, which rose from $28,828 in 2013 to $43,184 in 2022. Additionally, the percentage of owner-occupied housing increased from 77% in 2013 to 85% in 2022. These factors may contribute to the reduction in property crimes, as higher incomes and increased home ownership often correlate with lower crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continued low rate of property crimes. Given the already low number of incidents (1 in 2022) and the positive trends in income and home ownership, it's reasonable to expect property crimes to remain at or near zero, barring any significant changes in local conditions.
In summary, Columbia has demonstrated a remarkable improvement in property crime rates over the past decade. The elimination of burglaries and motor vehicle thefts, coupled with a significant reduction in larceny-theft, paints a picture of a community that has become increasingly safe. These positive trends, combined with improving economic indicators, suggest that Columbia is likely to maintain its low property crime rates in the foreseeable future, cementing its status as a safe place to live within Alabama.
