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Violent Crime Trends in Wood Dale: A Decade of Change in a Suburban Illinois City
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Wood Dale, Illinois, presents an intriguing case study in violent crime trends over the past decade. With a population of 14,235 in 2022 and covering an area of 4.88 square miles, this small city has experienced notable fluctuations in its violent crime rates. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of violent crimes increased from 8 to 16, representing a 100% increase. During this same period, the population grew modestly from 14,145 to 14,358, a 1.5% increase.
The murder rate in Wood Dale has remained consistently at zero from 2010 to 2020, with no reported cases throughout this period. This stability in the absence of murders is particularly noteworthy given the population growth. The murder rate per 1,000 people has thus remained at 0, and the city's contribution to the state's murder statistics has consistently been 0%.
Rape incidents in the city have shown a concerning upward trend. From no reported cases in 2010, the number rose to 4 in 2020. This represents an increase from 0 to 0.28 cases per 1,000 people. More alarmingly, the city's contribution to the state's rape statistics increased from 0% to 0.12% over this period. This trend suggests a growing concern for public safety and the need for targeted interventions in sexual violence prevention.
Robbery trends have fluctuated over the years. In 2010, there were 2 reported robberies, which increased to a peak of 7 in 2014 before declining to 4 in 2020. The robbery rate per 1,000 people increased from 0.14 in 2010 to 0.28 in 2020. The city's contribution to state robbery statistics rose from 0.01% to 0.04% during this period, indicating a slightly growing share of the state's robbery incidents.
Aggravated assault cases have shown an overall increase, from 6 in 2010 to 8 in 2020. This translates to a rise from 0.42 to 0.56 cases per 1,000 people. However, the city's contribution to state aggravated assault statistics has remained relatively stable, increasing only slightly from 0.02% to 0.03% over the decade.
There appears to be a correlation between the increase in violent crimes and changes in racial demographics. As the white population percentage decreased from 71% in 2013 to 60% in 2022, and the Hispanic population increased from 24% to 30%, violent crimes saw an uptick. However, it's crucial to note that correlation does not imply causation, and multiple factors contribute to crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, we can forecast that by 2029, Wood Dale may see its total violent crimes increase to approximately 24-28 annually if current trends continue without intervention. This projection assumes a continuation of the observed growth rate in violent crimes and takes into account the city's population trends.
In conclusion, Wood Dale has experienced a significant increase in violent crimes over the past decade, particularly in rape and aggravated assault cases. While the city's contribution to state crime statistics remains relatively small, the local impact of these trends is considerable for a community of this size. The correlation between demographic shifts and crime rates warrants further investigation and may inform targeted community policing and social support strategies. As Wood Dale looks to the future, addressing these trends will be crucial for maintaining and improving public safety and quality of life for its residents.
