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Violent Crime Trends in Romeoville: A Decade of Change Amid Population Growth
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Romeoville, located in Illinois, has experienced notable changes in violent crime rates alongside population growth over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes increased from 32 to 61, representing a 90.6% increase. During this same period, the population grew from 48,305 to 51,073, a 5.7% increase.
The murder rate in the city has fluctuated over the years, with no clear upward or downward trend. In 2010, there was 1 murder, representing 0.17% of the state's total. The city experienced years with no murders (2011, 2012, 2016, and 2022) and years with one murder (2010, 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019). The murder rate per 1,000 people remained relatively low, ranging from 0 to 0.02. The percentage of state murders also fluctuated, peaking at 0.17% in 2010 and 2013.
Rape incidents have shown an overall increasing trend. In 2010, there were 5 reported rapes (0.29% of state total), which increased to 12 in 2022 (0.34% of state total). The rate per 1,000 people rose from 0.10 in 2010 to 0.23 in 2022. The most significant spike occurred in 2019 with 16 reported cases, representing 0.36% of the state's total. This trend suggests a growing concern for sexual violence in the community.
Robbery cases have fluctuated but show a slight overall decrease. In 2010, there were 10 robberies (0.06% of state total), which decreased to 8 in 2022 (0.07% of state total). The rate per 1,000 people decreased from 0.21 in 2010 to 0.16 in 2022. The highest number of robberies was recorded in 2019 with 18 cases, representing 0.16% of the state's total.
Aggravated assault has shown a significant upward trend. In 2010, there were 16 cases (0.06% of state total), which increased to 41 in 2022 (0.32% of state total). The rate per 1,000 people rose from 0.33 in 2010 to 0.80 in 2022. This represents a 156.25% increase in aggravated assault cases over the 12-year period, indicating a growing concern for violent confrontations in the city.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a strong relationship between the increase in violent crimes and changes in racial demographics. The percentage of white residents decreased from 52% in 2013 to 47% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 29% to 33% during the same period. This demographic shift coincides with the overall increase in violent crimes.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), the city may experience: - A continued fluctuation in murder rates, likely remaining between 0-1 cases per year - An increase in rape cases to approximately 18-20 per year - A slight decrease in robbery cases to around 6-7 per year - A significant increase in aggravated assault cases, potentially reaching 55-60 per year
In summary, Romeoville has seen a concerning rise in violent crimes, particularly in aggravated assaults and rapes, despite modest population growth. The changing demographic composition of the city appears to correlate with these crime trends. While some categories like robbery show slight improvements, the overall violent crime situation warrants attention from local authorities and community leaders to implement effective prevention and intervention strategies.
