Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Oklahoma
Oklahoma, known for its rich history and natural beauty, is also home to cities that face significant challenges related to crime and safety. In this analysis, we explore the ten most dangerous places in Oklahoma, shedding light on crime rates, including violent crimes, property crimes, and murders. These cities, including Oklahoma City, Ardmore, Tulsa, Lawton, Ada, Del City, Shawnee, Midwest City, Muskogee, and Warr Acres, grapple with varying degrees of crime, underscoring the importance of community safety and the need for effective crime prevention measures.
1. Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City tops the list as the most dangerous city in the state. Its notorious status can be attributed to the alarmingly high number of property crimes per person, which ranks the highest among all the places we analyzed. Furthermore, it shares the unenviable first place position for murders per person. In summary, residents in Oklahoma City face a 1 in 15 chance of becoming a victim of crime. To put this in perspective, most areas offer a 1 in 20 chance, while some of the safer cities, like Edmond, present odds as low as 1 in 50.
2. Ardmore
Ardmore, a city in Carter County, exhibits a worrying trend with a significant number of violent crimes, earning it the dubious distinction of having the second highest number of both violent and property crimes per person in the state. Consequently, Ardmore leads in terms of total crimes per person, with residents facing a 1 in 14 chance of being victimized.
3. Tulsa
Tulsa, the second-largest city in Oklahoma, ranked sixth for the highest number of crimes overall in 2012. This unsettling statistic arises from a combination of elevated property and violent crime rates, notably murders, where Tulsa stood as the fifth-highest in the state.
4. Lawton
Despite its seemingly law-abiding name, Lawton contends with higher crime rates. In 2012, it reported the seventh most crimes per person in Oklahoma. A significant portion of these crimes were homicides, with Lawton ranking third in the state for murders per capita. Additionally, it secured eighth place for property crimes and seventh place for violent crimes.
5. Ada
In 2012, Ada registered the ninth highest number of crimes per person in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, a major contributing factor was the city's elevated rate of violent crimes, ranking it fifth in the state. Of particular concern is its fourth-place standing for murders per capita.
6. Del City
Del City's overall ranking for violent crimes per person wasn't as dire as it could have been (ranking 12th highest). However, it held the unenviable first place tie with Oklahoma City for the highest number of murders per capita. Furthermore, Del City reported the seventh highest rate of property crimes per person, including thefts, burglaries, and a staggering 430 vehicle thefts per 100,000 people.
7. Shawnee
Immediately following Oklahoma City, Shawnee placed third for the highest number of crimes overall in the state in 2012. This included the fourth most property crimes and the sixth most violent crimes per person. The majority of violent crimes were assaults, followed by robberies and rapes, along with the thirteenth most murders per capita.
8. Midwest City
In 2012, Midwest City held the 11th highest number of crimes per person in Oklahoma. More concerning, however, was its elevated rate of both murders and violent crimes per person, securing fifth place in both categories.
9. Muskogee
In 2012, Muskogee reported the highest number of violent crimes per person among all the places we analyzed. These mainly consisted of assaults, but the city also grappled with numerous robberies, rapes, and one murder. Due to the high incidence of violent crimes, Muskogee ranked eighth for total crimes per person in the state.
10. Warr Acres
Warr Acres placed eleventh for violent crimes in the state. These incidents were primarily assaults, followed by robberies and rapes. Notably, there was one murder, earning it the seventh place for murders per person. Overall, Warr Acres ranked twelfth for the highest number of crimes per person, giving residents a 1 in 18 chance of being a crime victim.
In conclusion, these cities grapple with varying degrees of crime, emphasizing the importance of community safety and crime prevention measures.