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Winfield, Kansas: Violent Crime Trends Amid Population Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Winfield, Kansas, a small city with a population of 14,308 as of 2022, has experienced fluctuating violent crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes in the city increased by 14.63%, rising from 41 to 47 incidents. During this same period, the city's population decreased by 5.41%, from 15,127 to 14,308 residents. This demographic shift provides an important context for understanding the city's crime patterns.
Murder rates in Winfield have remained notably low throughout the studied period. Most years reported zero murders, with only two exceptions: 2015 and 2017, each recording a single murder. These isolated incidents, while significant for a small city, represented 2.97% and 1% of the state's total murders in their respective years. The murder rate per 1,000 people peaked at 0.067 in both 2015 and 2017, returning to zero in subsequent years.
Rape cases in Winfield have shown considerable fluctuation over the years. The highest number of reported rapes was 9 in 2016, accounting for 1% of the state's total that year. Conversely, the lowest point was reached in 2019 with zero reported cases. The rape rate per 1,000 people ranged from 0 to 0.60, with the peak occurring in 2016. The city's contribution to the state's total rape cases varied widely, from 0% in 2019 to 1.11% in 2020, indicating significant year-to-year volatility in this crime category.
Robbery incidents in Winfield have remained consistently low throughout the decade. The number of cases ranged from 0 to 4 per year, with the highest count (4) occurring in 2010, representing 0.27% of the state's robberies. In recent years, robberies have become even less frequent, with none reported in 2021 and only one in 2022. The robbery rate per 1,000 people has remained below 0.27 throughout the period, suggesting that robbery is not a major concern for the city.
Aggravated assault has emerged as the most prevalent form of violent crime in Winfield. The number of cases fluctuated between a low of 10 in 2015 and a high of 42 in 2011. In 2022, there were 41 cases, marking a significant increase from recent years. The aggravated assault rate per 1,000 people has varied between 0.67 and 2.86. The city's contribution to the state's total aggravated assaults has also fluctuated, reaching as high as 1.32% in 2020. These figures indicate that aggravated assault remains a persistent issue for Winfield.
The relationship between population density and violent crime rates in Winfield appears to be weak. As the population density decreased from 1,357 per square mile in 2010 to 1,283 in 2022, the total number of violent crimes showed no consistent trend. This suggests that other factors may have a more significant influence on crime rates in the city.
Predictive models based on the available data project that by 2029, Winfield may experience a slight increase in violent crimes, potentially reaching around 50-55 incidents per year. This forecast assumes that current trends will continue without significant intervention or changes in socioeconomic factors.
In conclusion, Winfield has experienced fluctuating violent crime rates over the past decade, with aggravated assault being the most prevalent issue. While murder and robbery rates remain low, rape cases have shown considerable volatility. The city's contribution to state crime percentages has varied across different categories of violent crime. Moving forward, local law enforcement and community leaders may need to focus on strategies to address aggravated assault and maintain the low rates in other violent crime categories to ensure the safety and well-being of Winfield's residents.
