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Violent Crime Trends in Branson West, Missouri: A Decade of Stability Amidst Population Changes
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Branson West, a small city in Missouri, has experienced fluctuating violent crime rates over the past decade, set against a backdrop of relatively stable population growth. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes varied significantly, ranging from a high of 11 in 2013 to a low of 0 in 2022. During this same period, the population grew modestly from 2,781 in 2010 to 2,619 in 2022, representing a 5.8% decrease.
Murder rates in the city have remained consistently low, with no reported cases throughout the entire period from 2010 to 2022. This stability in the absence of murders is particularly noteworthy given the small population size, suggesting a relatively safe environment in terms of the most severe form of violent crime. The murder rate per 1,000 people has consequently remained at zero, and the city has not contributed to the state's murder statistics during this time.
Rape incidents in the city have been sporadic and infrequent. The city reported single instances of rape in 2011, 2017, and 2019, with a peak of 3 cases in 2021. When calculated per 1,000 people, the rape rate reached its highest in 2021 at 1.12 per 1,000 residents. The percentage of state rape cases attributable to the city has fluctuated, peaking at 0.14% in 2021. These figures, while concerning when they occur, represent isolated incidents rather than a consistent trend.
Robbery has been an extremely rare occurrence in the city. Only one robbery was reported throughout the entire period, occurring in 2015. This single incident represented 0.02% of the state's robberies that year and equated to a rate of 0.42 per 1,000 residents. The absence of robberies in other years indicates that this type of crime is not a persistent problem for the community.
Aggravated assault has been the most common form of violent crime in the city, though numbers have remained relatively low. The highest number of aggravated assaults was 11 in 2013, representing a rate of 4.44 per 1,000 residents. The city's contribution to state aggravated assault figures peaked at 0.08% that same year. There has been a general downward trend in aggravated assaults since 2013, with only 2 cases reported in 2020 and none in 2022.
When examining correlations, there appears to be a weak negative relationship between population density and violent crime rates. As population density decreased from 589 per square mile in 2010 to 554 in 2022, violent crime rates showed an overall declining trend, despite some fluctuations. The racial composition of the city has remained predominantly white, with the percentage increasing slightly from 90% in 2013 to 95% in 2022, showing no strong correlation with crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on the existing data, it's projected that violent crime rates in Branson West will likely remain low over the next five years, continuing the trend observed in recent years. By 2029, the city may experience occasional spikes in specific crime categories, particularly aggravated assaults, but these are expected to be isolated incidents rather than indicative of a rising trend.
In summary, Branson West has maintained a relatively low and decreasing violent crime rate over the past decade, with aggravated assault being the primary concern. The absence of murders, infrequent occurrences of rape and robbery, and the overall downward trend in violent crimes suggest a generally safe environment for residents. However, the sporadic nature of these incidents underscores the importance of continued vigilance and community-based crime prevention strategies to maintain and improve public safety in this small Missouri city.
