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Violent Crime Trends in Coulee Dam: A Decade of Fluctuations in a Small Washington Town
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Coulee Dam in Washington 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 decrease from 5 incidents in 2011 to 3 in 2022, representing a 40% reduction. During this same period, the population declined from 1,360 in 2010 to 1,192 in 2022, a decrease of approximately 12.4%.
The murder rate in this small town has remained consistently at zero from 2010 to 2022, with no reported cases of murder or nonnegligent manslaughter. This stability in the absence of murders is particularly noteworthy given the population decline, suggesting that the city has maintained a level of safety in terms of the most severe violent crime.
Rape incidents have shown some variation over the years. In 2010, there was 1 reported case, which represented 0.06% of the state's total. The rate then dropped to zero for several years before rising to 2 cases in 2022, accounting for 0.09% of the state's total. This increase is significant when considering the declining population, with the rate per 1,000 people rising from 0.74 in 2010 to 1.68 in 2022. This trend suggests a growing concern that warrants attention from local law enforcement and community leaders.
Robbery trends in the city have been relatively low and stable. There was 1 reported robbery in 2010 and 2012, representing 0.02% of the state's total in each of those years. However, from 2013 to 2022, there were no reported robberies. This consistent absence of robberies in recent years, despite the population decline, indicates an improvement in this aspect of public safety.
Aggravated assault cases have fluctuated over the years. The city saw a peak of 5 cases in 2011, which represented 0.06% of the state's total. By 2022, this number had decreased to 1 case, accounting for 0.01% of the state's total. The rate per 1,000 people changed from 0.74 in 2010 to 0.84 in 2022, showing a slight increase relative to the population. This trend suggests that while the absolute number of cases has decreased, the risk per capita has marginally increased.
There appears to be a correlation between the overall violent crime rate and the racial distribution in the city. As the Native American population percentage increased from 33% in 2013 to 34% in 2022, there was a slight uptick in violent crimes, particularly in rape cases. Additionally, the white population percentage remained relatively stable at around 52-55% during this period, coinciding with the overall fluctuation in violent crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we can anticipate a potential slight increase in overall violent crimes, primarily driven by the trend in rape cases. The model suggests that by 2029, the city might see up to 4-5 total violent crimes annually, with rape and aggravated assault being the primary concerns.
In summary, Coulee Dam has experienced a complex pattern of violent crime trends over the past decade. While murders have remained non-existent and robberies have decreased to zero, there has been a concerning increase in rape cases relative to the population. The slight uptick in aggravated assaults per capita, combined with the changing demographic landscape, presents challenges for local law enforcement. As the city moves forward, focused efforts on preventing sexual violence and addressing the root causes of aggravated assaults will be crucial in maintaining and improving public safety in this small Washington community.
