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We used to think that the Walmart HQ in Bentonville going out of business would be one of the most dangerous things that could happen in Arkansas and the rest of the country; but, sadly, that's not the case.
There are more dangerous things than a big box giant taking away inexpensive groceries from people who like to shop in their pajamas: there are actually super dangerous places in The Natural State. And because not every place in Arkansas can be like the state's safest place, Greenbrier, RoadSnacks set out to determine the most dangerous places in Arkansas for 2022.
Why'd we do it? To show the public how to navigate the places that most people don't want to visit, but still want to know the gossip. You know, the stuff that Arkansasans see on Little Rock's KATV at six or Fort Smith's crime stoppers at ten.
How'd we do it? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 62 cities. We looked at the FBI's latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. We discovered that Arkansas' violent and property crime numbers are even scarier than the most dangerous place in the state; and unfortunately, the effects of these numbers are continuing to claim many of Arkansas' biggest cities. Cities like Pine Bluff and West Memphis just can't catch a break.
Have we piqued your interest? Want to know more about our methodology and where the most dangerous places in Arkansas are located? Keep reading.
The Most Dangerous Cities In Arkansas For 2022
The top ten most dangerous places in Arkansas should come as no surprise to the good people of Arkansas. These cities helped solidify the state as the fourth most dangerous state in the country. And sadly, the most dangerous place in Arkansas, Helena-West Helena, leads the charge.
To see the rest of Arkansas' most dangerous places, take a look at the list below. And if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in Arkansas.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Arkansas For 2022
Helena-West Helena is the county seat and the largest city within Phillips County, but that's not saying much. Ranked number 36.0 in population, Helena-West Helena's residents experienced 14 murders and 165 violent crimes in the 2020 reporting year.
Helena-West Helena also ranks as one of the worst places to live and one of the poorest places to live in Arkansas. But, if you like living in a small town, Helena-West Helena is a great place to retire.
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Population: 10,086
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,635 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,907 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Helena-West Helena: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Pine Bluff has a history stretching back to at least 1839, when the community was first incorporated. Built along the Arkansas River, about 45 minutes southeast of Little Rock, the city keeps a sense of its history, providing a home to the Arkansas Railroad Museum.
So Pine Bluff has the history stuff covered. What about the present? Well, that's when the trouble comes in. The town exists as the number 2 most dangerous spot in Arkansas.
Violence represents a major problem. In a community with a total population of 40,718, Pine Bluff suffered 23 murders. That gives it the number 3 highest rate in the state.
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Population: 40,718
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,832 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,887 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Pine Bluff: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Unfortunately, Little Rock is again stuck at the top of the most dangerous places in Arkansas list. Little Rock residents have a 1 in 20 chance of being a victim of property crime, and they are particularly likely to be a victim of larceny, burglary, or car theft. Little Rock is not only the biggest city in Arkansas, but it is also one of the snobbiest places and one of the most expensive places to live in Arkansas.
Although the name may not be very exciting, Little Rock residents still think they have a lot to be snobby about.
Located smack-dab in the middle of Arkansas, Little Rock was named after a small rock formation on the Arkansas River's south bank. Well, it probably sounded better when Jean-Baptiste Bernard de la Harpe said, "La Petite Roche", but the name stuck.
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Population: 197,688
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,849 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,857 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Little Rock: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Not only is Newport one of the most dangerous places to live in Arkansas, but it's also one of the worst places and thepoorest places to live in Arkansas as well. If you live in Newport you have a 1 in 17 chance of being a victim of property crime, that includes burglary, car theft and arson. Newport ranks 13th highest in violent crime and highest in property crime.
Located on the White River 84 miles from Little Rock, Newport is the home to the Ben Franklin store where Sam Walton dreamed up his idea for Walmart. Be sure to keep your house and car doors locked in this small town.
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Population: 7,423
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,252 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,873 (Most dangerous)
More on Newport: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located across the Arkansas River from Memphis, Tennessee, West Memphis is not only known as one of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas but also one of the worst places to live in Arkansas as well.
West Memphis ranks second highest in violent crime and 12th highest in property crime. Residents have a 1 in 39 chance of being a victim of murder, rape, or aggravated assault. Maybe "The Grind City" across the river is rubbing off on West Memphis.
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Population: 24,205
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,507 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,519 (12th most dangerous)
More on West Memphis: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
For such a small city, you'd think that Osceola would be a safer place to live. But, with 2 murders last year, that's a big number for a town with a population of 6,527. Residents of Osceola have a 1 in 22 chance of being robbed and a 1 in 33 chance of being a victim of rape, murder, or aggravated assault.
Osceola not only made this list, but it's also on the worst places to live and thepoorest places to live in Arkansas lists. Chief Osceola, the Seminole chief this town was named after, would not be happy with these numbers.
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Population: 6,527
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,987 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,489 (14th most dangerous)
More on Osceola: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Ranked as one of the worst places to live in Arkansas, El Dorado ranks 11th highest for property crime and seventh highest for violent crime. That means residents have a 1 in 72 chance of being a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 22 chance in being a victim of a property crime.
El Dorado was the heart of the 1920s oil boom in South Arkansas and is still to this day a center for oil production and refining. But all that glitters is not gold in the city of El Dorado. Better keep your gold in your pockets and your doors locked in this town.
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Population: 17,523
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,375 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,531 (11th most dangerous)
More on El Dorado: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Forrest City is named for a Civil War general, Nathan Bedford Forrest.
A fearsome leader in the bloodiest conflict in America's history -- that's a violent legacy that lends this city its name. Given that pedigree, maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise that the community winds up on this list. Nope, true to its namesake, Forrest City ranks as the number 8 most violent area in Arkansas.
This plays out in the raw statistics. With only 13,656 people living in town, Forrest City reported 4 murders and 13 sexual in the latest year.
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Population: 13,656
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,632 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,496 (13th most dangerous)
More on Forrest City: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Paragould is the county seat of Greene County and is located in northeastern Arkansas. Known as "The Friendly City" by its residents, you'll want to keep your cell phones, wallets, and purses close to you in this town. Residents have a 1 in 22 chance of a property crime, which includes burglary, larceny, and car theft.
The good news about Paragould is that there were 1 in this town and it ranks ninth highest in violent crime. They must be doing something right in Paragould because that's no change from last year.
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Population: 29,288
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,290 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,537 (Tenth most dangerous)
More on Paragould: | Cost Of Living
Fort Smith has a lot of things to boast about. It's one of the biggest cities in Arkansas, it's one of the best places to retire, it's a great place for singles, and it's one of the best college towns in Arkansas. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas too.
Located on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border, Fort Smith is situated at the junction of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers. Fort Smith residents have a 1 in 18 chance of being a victim of a property crime, including burglary, car theft, and larceny. And, they have a 1 in 85 chance of being a victim of a violent crime, such as rape, murder or aggravated assault. Keep an eye out for your belongings and be aware of your surroundings in Fort Smith.
/10
Population: 88,071
Rank Last Year: 7 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,170 (16th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,530 (Third most dangerous)
More on Fort Smith: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Arkansas for 2022?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Arkansas cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 62 cities in Arkansas.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 62 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index".
Finally, we ranked every city on the "Dangerous Index" with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Arkansas -- Helena-West Helena. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Arkansas FAQs
Is Arkansas a dangerous state?
Yes, Arkansas is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #3 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in arkansas ranks fourth highest in the United States -- 73.27% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Natural State ranks eighth highest in the United States -- 33.46% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
Is Little Rock, AR a dangerous city?
Yes, Little Rock is a dangerous city. Little Rock ranks as the #7 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Little Rock might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Heights is the safest in Little Rock, while Stephens is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Little Rock ranks sixth highest in America -- 237.01% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 18th highest in the United States -- 82.89% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Yes, Arkansas is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #3 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in arkansas ranks fourth highest in the United States -- 73.27% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Natural State ranks eighth highest in the United States -- 33.46% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
"}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Is Little Rock, AR a dangerous city?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "
Yes, Little Rock is a dangerous city. Little Rock ranks as the #7 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Little Rock might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Heights is the safest in Little Rock, while Stephens is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Little Rock ranks sixth highest in America -- 237.01% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 18th highest in the United States -- 82.89% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
"}}]}
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Arkansas
Summary: Locking It All Up In Arkansas
So what is the most dangerous city in Arkansas? After analyzing 62 cities in Arkansas, Helena-West Helena takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Arkansas based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Helena-West Helena ranks as the most dangerous city in Arkansas for 2022.
We want to point out again that there's still safes places in Helena-West Helena and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. So please don't beat us up.
The top ten most dangerous places in Arkansas should come as no surprise to the good people of Arkansas. These cities helped solidify the state as the fourth most dangerous state in the country. And sadly, the most dangerous place in Arkansas, Helena-West Helena, leads the charge.
To see the rest of Arkansas' most dangerous places, take a look at the list below. And if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in Arkansas.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in Arkansas:
- Prairie Grove (Pop. 7,058)
- Pea Ridge (Pop. 6,398)
- Cabot (Pop. 26,593)
- Bentonville (Pop. 57,575)
- Lowell (Pop. 9,825)
- Maumelle (Pop. 18,307)
- Farmington (Pop. 7,575)
- Greenwood (Pop. 9,449)
- Bella Vista (Pop. 29,138)
- Greenbrier (Pop. 5,779)
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas
- Safest Places In Arkansas
- Worst Places To Live In Arkansas
Crime By City In Arkansas
Rank | City | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Helena-West Helena | 10,086 |
2 | Pine Bluff | 40,718 |
3 | Little Rock | 197,688 |
4 | Newport | 7,423 |
5 | West Memphis | 24,205 |
6 | Osceola | 6,527 |
7 | El Dorado | 17,523 |
8 | Forrest City | 13,656 |
9 | Paragould | 29,288 |
10 | Fort Smith | 88,071 |
11 | Blytheville | 13,239 |
12 | Hot Springs | 38,893 |
13 | Trumann | 6,934 |
14 | Stuttgart | 8,402 |
15 | Jacksonville | 28,217 |
16 | Fayetteville | 89,252 |
17 | Wynne | 7,682 |
18 | Hope | 9,543 |
19 | Searcy | 23,742 |
20 | Malvern | 10,966 |
21 | North Little Rock | 66,303 |
22 | Marion | 12,285 |
23 | Pocahontas | 6,647 |
24 | Jonesboro | 79,702 |
25 | Heber Springs | 6,880 |
26 | Camden | 10,605 |
27 | Texarkana | 29,622 |
28 | Russellville | 29,266 |
29 | Benton | 37,542 |
30 | Morrilton | 6,631 |
31 | Ward | 5,517 |
32 | Sherwood | 31,636 |
33 | Magnolia | 11,434 |
34 | Conway | 68,599 |
35 | Van Buren | 23,779 |
36 | Mena | 5,461 |
37 | Siloam Springs | 17,332 |
38 | De Queen | 6,526 |
39 | Warren | 5,546 |
40 | Monticello | 9,348 |
41 | Bryant | 21,497 |
42 | Rogers | 70,194 |
43 | Arkadelphia | 10,732 |
44 | Mountain Home | 12,582 |
45 | Alma | 5,904 |
46 | Barling | 5,076 |
47 | Clarksville | 9,829 |
48 | Beebe | 8,268 |
49 | Berryville | 5,577 |
50 | Batesville | 10,938 |
How Is Your Town In ?
The post The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Arkansas For 2022 appeared first on RoadSnacks.