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Violent Crime Trends in Pineville, Kentucky: A Decade of Decline Amid Population Loss
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Pineville, located in Kentucky, presents an interesting case study in violent crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the city experienced fluctuations in its total violent crime incidents, with a notable decrease in population from 9,372 in 2010 to 7,146 in 2022, representing a 23.7% decline.
The murder rate in the city has remained consistently low, with no reported cases throughout the analyzed period. This stability in the absence of murders is particularly noteworthy given the population decline, suggesting that factors contributing to extreme violence have been effectively managed or are not prevalent in the community.
Rape incidents have shown variability over the years. The city reported one case each in 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2020. When adjusted for population, this translates to a rate that fluctuated between 0 and 0.12 incidents per 1,000 residents. The percentage of state rape cases attributable to the city ranged from 0% to 0.15%, with the highest percentage recorded in 2020. This suggests that while rape incidents are infrequent, they have a noticeable impact on the city's crime statistics when they do occur.
Robbery trends in the city have been sporadic. The highest number of robberies (2) was reported in 2013, while several years saw no robberies at all. The robbery rate per 1,000 residents peaked at 0.23 in 2013 and has since declined or remained at zero. The city's contribution to state robbery statistics has been minimal, never exceeding 0.08% of the state total, indicating that robbery is not a significant concern relative to other areas in Kentucky.
Aggravated assault cases have fluctuated over the years, with a peak of 3 incidents in 2011 and 2014. The rate per 1,000 residents reached its highest at 0.36 in 2014. The city's share of state aggravated assault cases has remained low, never exceeding 0.08%. This suggests that while aggravated assaults occur, they are not disproportionately high compared to state levels.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a weak inverse relationship between population density and violent crime rates. As the population density decreased from 2,778 per square mile in 2010 to 2,118 in 2022, there was no corresponding consistent increase in violent crime rates. The racial composition of the city has remained predominantly white (95-97% throughout the period), with no strong correlation observed between racial demographics and violent crime trends.
Applying predictive models based on the historical data, it's projected that violent crime rates in Pineville will likely remain low and stable over the next five years, extending to 2029. The city may continue to experience sporadic incidents of rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, but these are expected to remain infrequent and below state averages.
In summary, Pineville has maintained a relatively stable and low violent crime profile despite a significant population decrease. The absence of murders, infrequent occurrences of other violent crimes, and the city's minimal contribution to state crime statistics suggest a community that has managed to maintain public safety effectively. As the city moves forward, continued vigilance and community-based crime prevention strategies will be crucial in maintaining this positive trend in Pineville.
