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Violent Crime Trends in Charleston, Illinois: A Decade of Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Charleston, located in Illinois, presents an interesting case study in violent crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2019, the total number of violent crimes fluctuated, starting at 60 in 2010 and ending at 31 in 2019, representing a 48.3% decrease. During this same period, the population declined from 26,177 in 2010 to 24,248 in 2019, a 7.4% decrease.
Murder trends in the city have been relatively stable, with most years reporting zero murders. However, there were isolated incidents in 2011 and 2017, each reporting 1 and 2 murders respectively. When considering the population, these incidents translate to approximately 0.04 and 0.08 murders per 1,000 people in those years. The percentage of state murders attributed to the city remained minimal, with the highest being 0.23% in 2017. This suggests that while murder is not a persistent issue, isolated incidents can have a significant impact on the statistics due to the city's small size.
Rape cases showed a general downward trend. In 2010, there were 15 reported rapes (0.57 per 1,000 people), which decreased to 3 cases in 2019 (0.12 per 1,000 people). This represents a substantial 80% decrease in reported rapes. The city's contribution to state rape cases also diminished, from 0.88% in 2010 to 0.07% in 2019. This trend suggests improving safety for residents in terms of sexual violence.
Robbery incidents fluctuated but remained relatively low throughout the period. The highest number was recorded in 2016 with 12 cases (0.47 per 1,000 people), while the lowest was 0 in 2014. By 2019, there were 2 robberies (0.08 per 1,000 people). The city's contribution to state robbery cases remained minimal, never exceeding 0.07% of the state total. This indicates that robbery is not a major concern for the community.
Aggravated assault showed the most variation among violent crimes. The highest number was recorded in 2016 with 63 cases (2.47 per 1,000 people), while the lowest was 17 cases in 2013 (0.64 per 1,000 people). By 2019, there were 26 aggravated assaults (1.07 per 1,000 people). The city's contribution to state aggravated assault cases fluctuated between 0.07% and 0.23% during this period. This crime category appears to be the most significant violent crime concern for the city.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between population density and violent crime rates. As the population density decreased from 2,946 per square mile in 2010 to 2,729 per square mile in 2019, there was a general downward trend in violent crimes. This suggests that the decreasing population density may have contributed to reduced violent crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's projected that by 2029, violent crime rates in the city may continue to decrease slightly. The total number of violent crimes could potentially drop to around 25-30 per year, with aggravated assault likely remaining the most common type of violent crime.
In summary, Charleston has experienced an overall decrease in violent crimes from 2010 to 2019, with the most significant improvements seen in rape and robbery rates. The city's contribution to state crime figures remains minimal across all categories. The declining population and density appear to correlate with the reduction in violent crimes, suggesting that demographic changes may play a role in the city's improving safety profile. While isolated incidents can still occur, the overall trend points towards a safer community with lower violent crime rates.
