Most Dangerous Cities In America (PHOTOS)

Independent publisher CQ Press has released its annual report of the most dangerous cities in America based on various crime statistics in 347 metropolitan areas.

Cities topping the list are spread across the country, with the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and West making frequent appearances. Three cities in both Ohio and California cracked the top 25.

Factors in the report (view it as a PDF) include rates of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.

NPR notes that the validity of the report has been questioned though, with the U.S. Conference of Mayors calling it a "premeditated statistical mugging of America's cities" and the FBI cautioning it can "create misleading perceptions."

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15. Little Rock, Arkansas

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Comments

[maxfax]

04:12 PM on 01/16/2011

I'd like to see a list of cities with the most crimes committed by those in the boardroom.

[luziannagirl]

06:33 PM on 12/03/2010

SO relieved to see #1 isn't New Orleans!

It's only #13.

Oh...this was per capita, right?

[Eraser]

04:02 PM on 12/03/2010

I'm surprised Newark NJ wasn't on this list and that Baltimore was so low.

[redsongia]

07:59 PM on 12/03/2010

Like Las Vegas, they have all their crime in a small area of the city and the rest of the town is comparatively calm.

[patg00]

03:08 PM on 11/24/2010

What's with the Obama references in the comments? these cities have been high crime cities for as long as I can remember. And yes, the populations are probably high minority, and low median income. But I'm sure the income part has nothing to do with any crime stats.

[Tim Janssen]

02:30 PM on 11/23/2010

The most dangerous city in America is Washington, D.C. I don't need to explain why do I?

[Gracefully]

02:13 PM on 11/23/2010

Great list. Interesting that 3 of the top 10 are in California. For anyone interested in similar lists, check out FindTheBest's Dangerous Jobs App, which lays out the most deadly jobs in the United States: http://dangerous-jobs.findthebest.com

Grace
Editor
FindTheBest.com

[kb7834]

02:23 PM on 11/23/2010

You do realize that once you control for socioeconomic status, illegal immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than white people?

[american-dolt]

02:31 PM on 11/23/2010

Ya, the good clean White Republican Americans make Life much better for all......muttering fool.

[bluck]

02:04 PM on 11/23/2010

Maybe Eric Holder needs to stop calling White America cowards and suing AZ, and head to St Louis and take care of business. Instead of telling me I am a racist, perhaps he should have a real conversation with that community about their lifestyle choices.

Maybe Obama should hire an education czar from a successful white district instead of a failing Chicago district? I want Arne Duncan to stay far, far away from my school district.

Maybe it's time for a new political direction? These are all black majority cities. They consistently have voted Democrat for years, and this is what it got them.

[RexxySexxy]

09:06 PM on 11/23/2010

The African American vote did not bring "get" them, or us, the policies of the Reagan and Bush Jr. administrations.

What did your vote get you?

[GreenAmbition]

06:25 AM on 11/24/2010

"These are all black majority cities" you're not a racist but this a racist statement. moreover, the majority of these states are RED. MD and CA are the exception. our angst is misguided at best.

many of the past 30 years have been govenered by the GOP and at NO time have anyone lifted a finger to say "hey guys, this is problem in my city, I voted you in and I want you to clean in up. opted instead to sit by and just let it continue and blame "them" "about their lifestyle choices" GOP's #1 tax cut always seems to be education and it affects the poor first.

today, the lack of education, drop out rate, drug use and other seedy behavior is just as intense in the suburbs and rural areas. so what's the reason for that?

[wingnut marine]

09:26 AM on 12/07/2010

the lack of education, drop out rate, drug use and other seedy behavior is just as intense in the suburbs because the government is forcing section 8 housing into the suburbs. Smoke that baby!

[Poindexter718]

02:03 PM on 11/23/2010

HP: The stock iconic images of each city lend absolutely nothing to this story--somehow I doubt the Gateway Arch is a particularly dangerous part of St. Louis.
A simple list would be much more sensible and easier on our carpal tunnels.

[MajorKong]

01:35 PM on 11/23/2010

Wouldn't the most dangerous city be wherever Chuck Norris lives?

[ArmyTanker]

02:28 PM on 11/23/2010

WOOT

[robmclaughjr]

01:27 PM on 11/23/2010

What list is this? Red State cities?

[mfrantom]

01:45 PM on 11/23/2010

Do yourself a favor and google the leadership for each of these cities. It wouldn't hurt to look at their demographics either.

[tychill87]

02:01 PM on 11/23/2010

I wonder how far I would have to scroll down to find such a comment. Not far. Turns out its about 50/50 in terms of states. Except ALL of these "cities" voted blue. As most inner cities do. Keep drinking the blue cool aid.

[GreenAmbition]

06:53 AM on 11/24/2010

wow who didn't see this statment coming.

FACT: states receive money and electoral votes for the populous a state. governors in these states ensure the impact of votes in the higher populated areas are minimalized by
redistricting. that's why governors are so important and in these states, most of the governors are RED.

[brothers3]

01:20 PM on 11/23/2010

I live in St. Louis. Yes, it is the most dangerous city in the United States.

Because I live here.

[alpina]

01:06 PM on 11/23/2010

There are many impoverished urban areas across the country. If we could only figure out what was the one common denominator among all those on the list. The one thing they all had in common, then maybe we could pinpoint the source of all that crime. Hmmm, what do compton and detroit and memphis all have in common?

[bluck]

01:43 PM on 11/23/2010

We all know what the common denominator is. It's those smart asian kids.

[future primitive]

01:54 PM on 11/23/2010

Howdy. Memphis here. Please tell us what you think. And I hope it's not that thing I think you are thinking. And the actual commonality of the top 15, ALL of them, is two fold:

1.) A failed or failing public school system that has been abandoned by the larger community.

2.) A highly concentrated gang presence concentrated around the sales of narcotics. Memphis has 15,000-20.000 known gang members in a city of less than a million. This high concentration is surprisingly present even in the much smaller cities like Jackson and Little Rock.

In Detroit, Gary, St, Louis, Memphis, Little Rock, Jackson, and New Orleans, it is largely one gang The Vice Lords, who have taken over in the last 20 years from their midwest rivals Gangster Disciples, mostly because of the increased strength of the Vice Lords' umbrella group, the People Nation, which also includes the Latin Kings.

[LisaLisa1234]

02:23 PM on 12/03/2010

Hey Memphis; fellow Memphian here. :)

I'm a transplant from Los Angeles county, and I feel safer almost anywhere in Memphis than I did in parts of L.A. I do miss home sometimes, but I wouldn't move back if someone paid me.

[Cycoblitz]

12:43 PM on 11/23/2010

Having lived in St. Louis for 12 years, I've noticed that East St. Louis, Ill, just across the river, boasts the most traumatic crime statistics. Poverty indeed has created more opportunity for crime. For all the beauty we have in St. Louis, the criminals tend to stay in their own niches and fight amonst themselves, venturing out to the wealthy neighborhoods to steal. Just a statistic, and another city will probably win next year.

[bushitbrain]

11:54 AM on 11/23/2010

I note w/Humor the attempts by the govnt. & NPR to put a positive spin on this data. Yeah...Right !
Go to bestplaces.org, & correlate their `dangerosity' ratings with those of this study. They are in close agreement.
Most of these concrete jungles are nightmares you'd only wish your Worst Enemy to be trapped in.