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Violent Crime Trends in Wedowee, Alabama: A Decade of Improvement in a Growing Small Town
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
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Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Wedowee, located in Alabama, presents an interesting case study in violent crime trends. Over the period from 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes fluctuated, with no clear long-term trend. The population, however, showed overall growth, increasing from 2,408 in 2010 to 3,144 in 2022, representing a 30.6% increase.
In terms of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, the city has maintained a consistently low rate throughout the observed period. From 2010 to 2022, there were no reported cases of murder or nonnegligent manslaughter. This statistic remained at zero per 1,000 residents and accounted for 0% of the state's total for this crime category throughout the years. This suggests that the city has been successful in preventing the most severe form of violent crime, even as its population grew.
Rape incidents in the city have been sporadic. There were no reported cases in most years, with exceptions in 2013, 2015, and 2017, when two cases were reported each year. These incidents translated to rates of 0.68, 0.73, and 0.74 per 1,000 residents respectively. In terms of the state's total, these cases represented 0.17% in 2013 and 2017, and 0.08% in 2015. The inconsistent nature of these occurrences makes it difficult to establish a clear trend, but it's notable that no cases were reported in the most recent years of data.
Robbery has been a rare occurrence in the city. Only one instance was reported throughout the entire period, which happened in 2016. This single case represented a rate of 0.37 per 1,000 residents and accounted for 0.03% of the state's total robberies that year. The absence of robberies in other years suggests that this type of crime is not a persistent issue for the community.
Aggravated assault has been the most prevalent form of violent crime in the city. The number of cases fluctuated over the years, with the highest count of 10 cases in 2010 and the lowest of 1 case in 2021. In 2022, there were 3 reported cases. When adjusted for population, the rate of aggravated assaults per 1,000 residents decreased from 4.15 in 2010 to 0.95 in 2022. The city's contribution to the state's total aggravated assaults also decreased from 0.17% in 2010 to 0.03% in 2022. This downward trend in both rate and state percentage suggests an improvement in public safety regarding this particular crime.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a weak inverse relationship between the city's population growth and violent crime rates. As the population increased over time, the overall violent crime rate tended to decrease, though not consistently.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we might expect the following: Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter are likely to remain at zero, given the consistent history. Rape incidents may continue to be sporadic, potentially occurring once every few years. Robberies are likely to remain rare, with possibly one or two incidents over the five-year period. Aggravated assaults may stabilize at around 3-5 cases per year, assuming current trends continue.
In summary, Wedowee has demonstrated a relatively stable and low violent crime environment over the past decade, despite population growth. The most significant improvement has been in aggravated assaults, which have decreased both in raw numbers and as a percentage of state totals. While sporadic incidents of rape and robbery have occurred, their infrequency suggests they are not systemic issues. The absence of murders throughout the period is particularly noteworthy. As the city continues to grow, maintaining these low crime rates will be crucial for the community's safety and quality of life.
