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Violent Crime Trends in White Lake, NC: Population Density and Crime Rate Inverse Relationship
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
White Lake, located in North Carolina, presents an interesting case study in violent crime trends. From 2011 to 2021, the total number of violent crimes increased from 5 to 6, representing a 20% increase. During this same period, the population decreased from 1,684 to 1,403, a decline of approximately 16.7%.
The murder rate in this city has remained consistently at zero throughout the recorded years (2011, 2014, 2016, and 2021). This stability in the absence of murders is noteworthy, especially considering the population fluctuations. The percentage of state murders attributed to the city has also remained at 0%, indicating that the city has not contributed to the state's murder statistics during this period.
Rape incidents show a slight increase over time. In 2011 and 2014, there were no reported rapes. However, by 2021, there was one reported case, representing 0.05% of the state's total. This translates to a rate of approximately 0.71 rapes per 1,000 people in 2021, up from zero in previous years. While this increase is concerning, the small number of cases makes it difficult to establish a definitive trend.
Robbery rates have remained consistently low, with zero reported cases in all recorded years (2011, 2014, 2016, and 2021). This stability is particularly positive given the population changes, suggesting that the city has maintained effective strategies for preventing robberies despite demographic shifts.
Aggravated assault shows the most variation among violent crimes in the city. In 2011, there were 5 cases, representing 0.04% of the state's total. This decreased to 2 cases in 2014 and 2016 (0.01% and 0.02% of the state's total, respectively), but increased again to 5 cases in 2021 (0.02% of the state's total). The rate per 1,000 people fluctuated from 2.97 in 2011 to 0.94 in 2014, 0.89 in 2016, and back up to 3.56 in 2021. This trend suggests that aggravated assault remains the primary violent crime concern for the city.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between population density and violent crime rates. As the population density decreased from 1,643 per square mile in 2011 to 1,369 in 2021, the overall violent crime rate increased. This counterintuitive trend suggests that other factors beyond population density are influencing crime rates.
The racial composition of the city has also seen changes that correlate with violent crime trends. The percentage of white residents increased from 64% in 2013 to 73% in 2021, while the percentage of Black residents decreased from 33% to 24% over the same period. This demographic shift coincides with the fluctuations in violent crime, particularly aggravated assault.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), the city may see a slight increase in violent crimes, potentially reaching 7-8 incidents per year. This projection assumes that current trends in population, demographics, and crime rates continue without significant interventions or changes in local conditions.
In summary, White Lake has experienced relatively low and stable violent crime rates, with aggravated assault being the primary concern. The absence of murders and robberies, coupled with the recent introduction of rape cases, paints a complex picture of public safety in the city. Future crime prevention strategies should focus on addressing the factors contributing to aggravated assaults while maintaining the positive trends in other violent crime categories.
