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Violent Crime Trends in Ocean Isle Beach: A Coastal Town's Safety Profile
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
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Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina presents an interesting case study for violent crime trends. With a population that grew from 4,612 in 2012 to 6,137 in 2022, this small coastal community has experienced fluctuations in its violent crime rates over the years. The total number of violent crimes reported varied from 2 in 2012 to 3 in 2019, with some years lacking complete data.
Regarding murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, the city has maintained a consistent record of zero incidents across all reported years (2012, 2018, and 2019). This stability in the absence of murders is noteworthy, especially considering the population growth. The rate per 1,000 people remains at 0, and the percentage of state crime for this category is consistently 0%.
Rape incidents show a concerning increase. In 2012 and 2018, no rapes were reported. However, in 2019, there were 2 reported cases. This translates to a rate of approximately 0.44 per 1,000 people in 2019. More significantly, these cases represented 0.12% of the state's total rape incidents, a relatively high figure for a small town.
Robbery trends demonstrate fluctuation. In 2012, no robberies were reported. By 2018, there was 1 reported robbery, which accounted for 0.02% of the state's robberies. In 2019, the number dropped back to 0. The robbery rate per 1,000 people peaked at approximately 0.23 in 2018 before returning to 0 in 2019.
Aggravated assault cases show a downward trend. In 2012, there were 2 reported cases, which represented 0.01% of the state's total. This number remained at 2 in 2018, accounting for 0.02% of state cases, but decreased to 1 in 2019, representing 0.01% of state cases. The rate per 1,000 people decreased from approximately 0.43 in 2012 to 0.22 in 2019.
When examining correlations, a notable relationship emerges between the slight increase in violent crime and the growing population density. The population density rose from 1,232 per square mile in 2012 to 1,640 in 2022, coinciding with the overall increase in reported violent crimes. Additionally, there appears to be a correlation between the minor fluctuations in racial demographics and crime rates. The white population percentage decreased slightly from 93% in 2015 to 92% in 2022, while other racial groups saw small increases, potentially influencing the changing crime dynamics.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), Ocean Isle Beach may see a slight increase in overall violent crime rates, potentially reaching 4-5 incidents annually. This prediction assumes continued population growth and demographic shifts similar to recent trends.
In summary, Ocean Isle Beach has experienced relatively low but fluctuating violent crime rates over the past decade. The most significant changes have been in rape and aggravated assault cases, while murder rates have remained at zero. The town's growing population and changing demographics appear to have some influence on these trends. As the community continues to evolve, maintaining vigilance and community-based crime prevention strategies will be crucial in managing future crime rates in this small coastal town.
