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.

Bluefield Population: 9,776 1,267 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 79 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,600

Bluefield, WV holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in West Virginia with 1,267 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,160), robbery (11), rape (75) and homicide (21) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 377% 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.

Wheeling Population: 27,046 985 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.70 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,015

The second most dangerous city is Wheeling. With a population of 27,046 and a violent crime rate that is 271% higher than the West Virginia average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Wheeling are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 985 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 102 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Huntington Population: 46,139 782 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 128 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,060

Home to 46,139 residents, Huntington, WV ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in West Virginia. Unfortunately for residents of Huntington, crime is widespread, with more than 782 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.14 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 195% higher than the West Virginia violent crime rate.

Beckley Population: 16,240 617 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 162 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,657

With a violent crime rate that is 133% higher than the West Virginia average, it's not hard to see why Beckley made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (42), assault (460), rape (91) and homicide (24). 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 Beckley more vulnerable to high crime.

Charleston Population: 47,273 608 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 165 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,385

The ongoing battle with crime in Charleston, 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 608 and a 1 in 165 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Charleston has a violent crime rate that is 129% 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 Charleston.

Fairmont Population: 18,443 606 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.66 chance of being a victim: 1 in 165 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,945

Fairmont, WV comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 606 per 100,000 people, which is 128% higher than the West Virginia average. Fairmont has a population of 18,443, which translates to 1.66 crimes per day and 1 in 165 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 Fairmont which are much safer than others.

South Charleston Population: 12,461 564 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.54 chance of being a victim: 1 in 177 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,237

A 1 in 177 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.54 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why South Charleston makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 564 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 112% higher than the West Virginia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (494), robbery (31), rape (0) and homicide (39).

Dunbar Population: 7,166 466 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 215 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,892

Dunbar, WV is another one of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 7,166 and a violent crime rate of 466 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 367 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 56 counts of rape and 14 counts of homicide. All told, the Dunbar violent crime rate is 75% higher than the West Virginia average.

Morgantown Population: 30,953 346 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 289 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,552

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, Morgantown, WV comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in West Virginia with a violent crime rate of 346 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.95 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 289 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Clarksburg Population: 15,743 343 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 292 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,472

Rounding out our list at #10 is Clarksburg, WV. With a population of 15,743 and a violent crime rate of 343 per 100,000 people (29% higher than the West Virginia average), some parts of Clarksburg are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 265 counts of assault, 13 counts of robbery, 58 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 292 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	Bluefield	9,776	1,267	1,600
2	Wheeling	27,046	985	3,015
3	Huntington	46,139	782	4,060
4	Beckley	16,240	617	7,657
5	Charleston	47,273	608	4,385
6	Fairmont	18,443	606	1,945
7	South Charleston	12,461	564	5,237
8	Dunbar	7,166	466	1,892
9	Morgantown	30,953	346	2,552
10	Clarksburg	15,743	343	3,472
11	St. Albans	10,078	331	2,686
12	Parkersburg	29,732	266	3,774
13	Nitro	6,498	235	5,473
14	Moundsville	8,356	233	1,814
15	Martinsburg	17,517	231	1,218
16	Oak Hill	8,249	217	1,135
17	Ranson	5,217	173	1,005
18	Bridgeport	8,675	150	1,418
19	Vienna	10,261	96	3,285
20	Buckhannon	5,473	79	1,598
21	Grafton	5,035	44	575

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.