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Property Crime Trends in Corbin, Kentucky: A Decade of Significant Decline Amid Population Growth
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Corbin, Kentucky, a city that has experienced notable changes in property crime rates alongside population growth, presents an intriguing case study in urban development and public safety. From 2010 to 2022, the city witnessed a substantial 52.4% reduction in total property crimes, decreasing from 334 to 159 incidents. This significant drop occurred concurrently with a 10.9% increase in population, from 17,343 to 19,241 residents. The juxtaposition of declining crime rates and population growth offers a unique perspective on the city's evolving dynamics.
Burglary trends in Corbin show a remarkable improvement over the analyzed period. The number of burglaries plummeted from 89 in 2010 to 20 in 2022, representing a 77.5% decrease. This translates to a reduction in the burglary rate per 1,000 people from 5.13 to 1.04. While the city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, starting at 0.45% in 2010, dropping to 0.24% in 2019, and then rising to 0.41% in 2022, the overall trend indicates a significant enhancement in burglary prevention and control within the city.
Larceny theft, another major component of property crime, also demonstrated a downward trend in Corbin. Incidents decreased from 235 in 2010 to 120 in 2022, marking a 48.9% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people correspondingly dropped from 13.55 to 6.24. Interestingly, while the absolute numbers decreased, the city's percentage of state larceny thefts showed variation, starting at 0.40% in 2010, dropping to 0.18% in 2019, and then rising to 0.47% in 2022. This suggests that Corbin's performance in reducing larceny theft may have been comparatively better than other areas in the state in recent years.
Motor vehicle theft trends in Corbin presented a different pattern compared to other property crimes. The number of incidents increased from 10 in 2010 to 19 in 2022, representing a 90% increase. However, due to population growth, the rate per 1,000 people only saw a modest increase from 0.58 to 0.99. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts doubled from 0.23% in 2010 to 0.46% in 2022, indicating a growing proportion of this crime type relative to the state.
Arson cases in Corbin remained relatively low throughout the period, with some fluctuations. The number of arsons decreased from 4 in 2010 to 1 in 2022, with the rate per 1,000 people dropping from 0.23 to 0.05. The city's percentage of state arsons showed considerable volatility, ranging from 0.96% in 2010 to a peak of 2.72% in 2015, before settling at 0.72% in 2022. This variability likely reflects the low absolute numbers of arson cases.
An examination of socioeconomic factors reveals a moderate inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates in Corbin. As the median income increased from $33,530 in 2013 to $45,523 in 2022, total property crimes decreased from 251 to 159. The racial composition of the city remained predominantly white (96-97%) throughout the period, showing no significant correlation with crime trends.
Based on the observed trends, predictive models suggest that property crimes in Corbin may continue to decrease over the next five years. By 2029, the annual number of property crime incidents could potentially reach around 100-120. Burglaries and larceny thefts are expected to maintain their downward trend, while motor vehicle thefts may stabilize or experience a slight increase.
In conclusion, Corbin, Kentucky has demonstrated remarkable improvement in overall property crime rates despite population growth. The significant reductions in burglaries and larceny thefts, coupled with stable arson rates, indicate enhanced public safety measures. However, the rise in motor vehicle thefts and the city's increasing share of state-level property crimes in recent years warrant continued attention. These trends, when considered alongside the rising median income, suggest that Corbin is experiencing positive developments in both economic and safety aspects, positioning it for continued improvement in the coming years.
