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Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Bellevue, Idaho, presents an interesting case study in violent crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes fluctuated, with a notable peak of 15 incidents in 2012 and a low of 0 in 2013. Over this period, the population grew from 2,804 in 2010 to 3,533 in 2022, representing a 26% increase.
The murder rate in this small city has been remarkably low, with only two incidents reported over the 13-year period. The first occurred in 2012, accounting for 12.5% of the state's murders that year, and the second in 2020, representing 5.56% of Idaho's murders. Given the city's small population, these isolated events resulted in murder rates of 0.36 and 0.31 per 1,000 residents in 2012 and 2020, respectively. The infrequency of these events makes it challenging to discern a meaningful trend, but it's clear that murder remains an exceptionally rare occurrence in this community.
Rape incidents have been similarly infrequent, with only four reported cases over the 13-year span. The city experienced one rape in 2016, 2019, and 2021 each. The rape rate per 1,000 residents was 0.31 in 2016, 0.32 in 2019, and 0.31 in 2021. These incidents represented 0.4%, 0.17%, and 0.15% of the state's total rapes in their respective years. The consistency in the rate per 1,000 residents suggests that the incidence of rape has remained stable relative to population growth.
Robbery appears to be virtually non-existent in this city, with no reported cases throughout the entire period from 2010 to 2022. This absence of robbery is particularly noteworthy and speaks to the overall safety of the community in terms of property-related violent crimes.
Aggravated assault has been the most common form of violent crime in the city, though numbers remain relatively low. The highest number of aggravated assaults was 14 in 2012, corresponding to a rate of 4.98 per 1,000 residents and representing 0.78% of the state's total. In recent years, the numbers have fluctuated between 2 and 6 incidents annually. The rate per 1,000 residents has generally decreased, from 1.43 in 2010 to 1.42 in 2022, with some variation in between. The percentage of state totals for aggravated assault has also generally decreased, from 0.22% in 2010 to 0.21% in 2022, indicating that the city's aggravated assault incidents have grown at a slower rate than the state overall.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a weak positive relationship between population density and violent crime rates. As the population density increased from 1,904 per square mile in 2010 to 2,399 in 2022, the overall violent crime rate showed a slight upward trend, though with significant year-to-year fluctuations. The racial composition of the city has also seen changes, with the Hispanic population growing from 34% in 2013 to 38% in 2022, while the white population decreased from 63% to 54% over the same period. However, there is no clear correlation between these demographic shifts and violent crime trends.
Applying predictive models based on the historical data, it's projected that violent crime rates in Bellevue will remain relatively stable over the next five years, reaching 2029. The model suggests that aggravated assault will continue to be the predominant form of violent crime, with an estimated 4-6 incidents annually. Rape and murder are expected to remain rare occurrences, potentially averaging less than one incident per year. Robbery is predicted to remain at or near zero.
In summary, Bellevue has maintained a relatively low and stable violent crime rate despite population growth. Aggravated assault remains the primary concern, though at levels well below state averages. The virtual absence of robbery and the rarity of murder and rape contribute to a generally safe community profile. While demographic changes have occurred, they do not appear to have significantly impacted violent crime trends. As Bellevue continues to grow, maintaining these low crime rates will likely be a priority for local law enforcement and community leaders.