Top 10 most dangerous cities in West Virginia

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West Virginia, known for its rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Charleston to the scenic beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, West Virginia faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in West Virginia are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between West Virginia's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in West Virginia involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. West Virginia's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Wheeling Population: 27,046 983 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,975

Wheeling, WV holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in West Virginia with 983 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (875), robbery (54), rape (54) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 295% higher than the West Virginia average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Huntington Population: 46,139 800 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 125 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,403

The second most dangerous city is Huntington. With a population of 46,139 and a violent crime rate that is 222% higher than the West Virginia average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Huntington are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 800 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 125 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Beckley Population: 16,240 605 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.66 chance of being a victim: 1 in 165 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,517

Home to 16,240 residents, Beckley, WV ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in West Virginia. Unfortunately for residents of Beckley, crime is widespread, with more than 605 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.66 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 143% higher than the West Virginia violent crime rate.

Charleston Population: 47,273 543 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 184 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,663

With a violent crime rate that is 118% higher than the West Virginia average, it's not hard to see why Charleston made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (54), assault (417), rape (58) and homicide (13). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Charleston more vulnerable to high crime.

Fairmont Population: 18,443 520 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 192 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,843

The ongoing battle with crime in Fairmont, WV, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 520 and a 1 in 192 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Fairmont has a violent crime rate that is 109% higher than the West Virginia average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Fairmont.

South Charleston Population: 12,461 489 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 205 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,009

South Charleston, WV comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 489 per 100,000 people, which is 96% higher than the West Virginia average. South Charleston has a population of 12,461, which translates to 1.34 crimes per day and 1 in 205 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in South Charleston which are much safer than others.

Bluefield Population: 9,776 480 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 208 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,517

A 1 in 208 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.32 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Bluefield makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 480 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 93% higher than the West Virginia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (404), robbery (11), rape (55) and homicide (11).

Elkins Population: 7,017 478 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 209 Total Crimes / 100k: 881

Elkins, WV is another one of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 7,017 and a violent crime rate of 478 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 463 counts of assault, 15 counts of robbery, 0 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Elkins violent crime rate is 92% higher than the West Virginia average.

Clarksburg Population: 15,743 372 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 269 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,592

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Clarksburg, WV comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in West Virginia with a violent crime rate of 372 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.02 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 269 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Buckhannon Population: 5,473 319 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 313 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,556

Rounding out our list at #10 is Buckhannon, WV. With a population of 5,473 and a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 people (28% higher than the West Virginia average), some parts of Buckhannon are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 279 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 40 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 313 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Wheeling	27,046	983	2,975
2	Huntington	46,139	800	4,403
3	Beckley	16,240	605	8,517
4	Charleston	47,273	543	3,663
5	Fairmont	18,443	520	1,843
6	South Charleston	12,461	489	6,009
7	Bluefield	9,776	480	1,517
8	Elkins	7,017	478	881
9	Clarksburg	15,743	372	2,592
10	Buckhannon	5,473	319	1,556
11	Dunbar	7,166	311	2,122
12	Parkersburg	29,732	260	3,477
13	St. Albans	10,078	225	2,313
14	Morgantown	30,953	210	2,170
15	Nitro	6,498	157	3,931
16	Oak Hill	8,249	155	2,220
17	Vienna	10,261	154	3,463
18	Bridgeport	8,675	138	1,596
19	Weirton	18,458	138	468
20	Charles Town	5,985	74	1,308
21	Ranson	5,217	69	917
22	New Martinsville	5,123	59	139
23	Hurricane	6,225	59	1,362
24	Grafton	5,035	0	924

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included West Virginia cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.