Loading Content...
Violent Crime Trends in St. Peters, Missouri: A Decade of Fluctuations
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
St. Peters, Missouri, a city spanning 22.46 square miles, has experienced notable changes in its violent crime landscape over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes increased by 27.88%, rising from 104 to 133 incidents. During this same period, the population grew by 5.98%, from 90,236 to 95,629 residents, indicating that crime rates have outpaced population growth.
Murder rates in the city have fluctuated over the years, with most years reporting zero murders. However, there were spikes in 2016 (2 murders), 2020 (1 murder), 2021 (4 murders), and 2022 (1 murder). The murder rate per 1,000 people reached its peak in 2021 at 0.042, dropping to 0.010 in 2022. The city's percentage of state murders has also varied, with the highest at 0.83% in 2021, decreasing to 0.19% in 2022. These fluctuations suggest that while murder remains relatively rare, the city has experienced occasional spikes that warrant attention.
Rape incidents have shown a general upward trend, increasing from 4 cases in 2010 to 19 in 2022, a 375% increase. The rate per 1,000 people rose from 0.044 in 2010 to 0.199 in 2022. The city's share of state rape cases also increased significantly, from 0.37% in 2010 to 0.90% in 2022, peaking at 1.33% in 2020. This trend indicates a growing concern for sexual violence in the community, outpacing both population growth and state averages.
Robbery trends have been more volatile. The number of robberies decreased from 9 in 2010 to 4 in 2022, a 55.56% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people fell from 0.100 to 0.042 over this period. The city's percentage of state robberies fluctuated, peaking at 0.34% in 2016 before declining to 0.13% in 2022. This trend suggests improved property security or more effective law enforcement strategies targeting robbery.
Aggravated assault cases have seen a substantial increase, rising from 91 in 2010 to 109 in 2022, a 19.78% increase. The rate per 1,000 people grew from 1.009 to 1.140. The city's share of state aggravated assaults remained relatively stable, moving from 0.64% in 2010 to 0.63% in 2022, with some fluctuations in between. This trend indicates a persistent and growing issue with violent confrontations in the community.
There appears to be a correlation between the increase in violent crimes and the city's population density, which rose from 4,017 people per square mile in 2010 to 4,257 in 2022. Additionally, the racial composition of the city has shown slight changes, with the white population decreasing from 89% in 2013 to 86% in 2022, while the black population increased from 3% to 5% during the same period. These demographic shifts may be influencing crime patterns, though further analysis would be needed to establish a definitive link.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we can expect the total number of violent crimes to continue its upward trajectory, potentially reaching around 160-170 incidents annually. Rape and aggravated assault are likely to be the main drivers of this increase, while robbery may continue its downward trend.
In conclusion, St. Peters has experienced a complex evolution in its violent crime landscape over the past decade. While some categories like robbery have improved, others such as rape and aggravated assault have worsened. The overall increase in violent crimes, outpacing population growth, suggests a need for targeted interventions and community-based strategies to address these trends and enhance public safety in the coming years.
