Loading Content...
Violent Crime Trends in Merriam Woods, Missouri: A Study of Stability Amidst Population Change
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Merriam Woods in Missouri presents an intriguing case study in violent crime trends. From 2011 to 2019, the city experienced a total of 6 violent crimes, with fluctuations in the annual count ranging from 0 to 2 incidents. Over this period, the population grew from 3,332 in 2011 to 3,035 in 2019, representing a slight decrease of 8.9%.
The murder rate in the city has remained consistently at zero throughout the observed period from 2011 to 2019. This stability in the absence of murders is particularly noteworthy given the population fluctuations. The murder rate per 1,000 people has remained at 0, and the city has consistently accounted for 0% of the state's murders. This suggests that Merriam Woods has maintained a remarkably safe environment in terms of homicides, even as its population changed.
Rape incidents in the city have been rare, with only one reported case in 2015. This singular event resulted in a rate of 0.3 rapes per 1,000 people for that year, accounting for 0.05% of the state's total rape cases. In all other years, the rape rate remained at zero. The isolated nature of this incident, coupled with the absence of any recurrence, indicates that sexual violence is not a persistent issue in the community.
Robbery has been non-existent in Merriam Woods throughout the observed period. From 2011 to 2019, there were no reported robberies, maintaining a consistent 0% contribution to the state's robbery statistics. This absence of robberies, despite population changes, suggests a strong sense of community security and effective crime prevention measures.
Aggravated assault has been the most prevalent form of violent crime in the city, though still occurring at low rates. There were two incidents in 2014 and 2017, and one in 2019. These occurrences translated to rates of 0.56, 0.64, and 0.33 per 1,000 people respectively. The city's contribution to the state's aggravated assault cases remained minimal, peaking at 0.01% in these years. The fluctuation in aggravated assault cases, while small, represents the most variable aspect of violent crime in the community.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a weak inverse relationship between population density and violent crime. As the population density decreased from 2,199 per square mile in 2011 to 2,003 in 2019, there was a slight increase in the occurrence of violent crimes. However, this correlation is not strong enough to draw definitive conclusions.
Applying predictive models based on the available data, it's projected that Merriam Woods will likely maintain its low violent crime rates over the next five years, extending to 2029. The forecast suggests that the city may continue to experience sporadic incidents of aggravated assault, potentially averaging 1-2 cases per year, while other forms of violent crime are expected to remain rare or non-existent.
In summary, Merriam Woods has demonstrated a remarkably low and stable violent crime profile. The most significant finding is the consistent absence of murders and robberies, coupled with very rare occurrences of rape. Aggravated assault, while present, occurs at low frequencies. These trends, when considered alongside the population changes, suggest that Merriam Woods has maintained effective community safety measures despite demographic shifts.
