Top 10 most dangerous cities in Arkansas

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Arkansas, known for its diverse landscapes ranging from the Ozark Mountains to the fertile Mississippi Delta, provides a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. The state is rich in outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, and boating, particularly in locations such as Hot Springs National Park and the Buffalo National River. Arkansas is also home to a growing arts and music scene, with vibrant cultural events in cities like Little Rock and Fayetteville. Despite these attractions, certain areas in Arkansas face significant safety challenges. The most dangerous cities in Arkansas are marked by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, which highlight the regions requiring increased caution and awareness.

Addressing safety concerns in Arkansas involves a combination of community policing and social programs aimed at reducing violence and improving quality of life. Urban areas, in particular, face higher crime rates, which necessitate focused efforts to enhance public safety. The state's commitment to tackling these issues is evident in various local initiatives designed to foster safer communities. While the most dangerous cities in Arkansas present ongoing challenges, the resilience of its residents and the state's natural and cultural offerings continue to make it an appealing place to live and visit. The balance between addressing safety concerns and promoting the state's many attractions is a testament to Arkansas's enduring spirit.

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West Memphis Population: 25,245 1,922 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 52 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,580

West Memphis, AR holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Arkansas with 1,922 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,524), robbery (203), rape (123) and homicide (72) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 232% higher than the Arkansas 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.

Little Rock Population: 202,086 1,672 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 60 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,886

The second most dangerous city is Little Rock. With a population of 202,086 and a violent crime rate that is 189% higher than the Arkansas average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Little Rock are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,672 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 60 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Helena-West Helena Population: 10,702 1,630 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 61 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,069

Home to 10,702 residents, Helena-West Helena, AR ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Arkansas. Unfortunately for residents of Helena-West Helena, crime is widespread, with more than 1,630 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.47 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 181% higher than the Arkansas violent crime rate.

Pine Bluff Population: 43,193 1,581 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 63 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,129

With a violent crime rate that is 173% higher than the Arkansas average, it's not hard to see why Pine Bluff made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (96), assault (1,397), rape (52) and homicide (36). 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 Pine Bluff more vulnerable to high crime.

Blytheville Population: 14,019 1,360 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 74 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,780

The ongoing battle with crime in Blytheville, AR, 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 1,360 and a 1 in 74 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Blytheville has a violent crime rate that is 135% higher than the Arkansas 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 Blytheville.

El Dorado Population: 18,461 1,319 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 76 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,806

El Dorado, AR comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,319 per 100,000 people, which is 128% higher than the Arkansas average. El Dorado has a population of 18,461, which translates to 3.61 crimes per day and 1 in 76 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 El Dorado which are much safer than others.

Stuttgart Population: 8,933 1,309 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 76 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,599

A 1 in 76 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.59 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Stuttgart makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,309 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 126% higher than the Arkansas average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,060), robbery (26), rape (222) and homicide (0).

Trumann Population: 7,269 1,181 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,719

Trumann, AR is another one of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 7,269 and a violent crime rate of 1,181 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,032 counts of assault, 27 counts of robbery, 122 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Trumann violent crime rate is 104% higher than the Arkansas average.

North Little Rock Population: 68,354 1,180 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,493

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, North Little Rock, AR comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Arkansas with a violent crime rate of 1,180 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.23 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 85 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Forrest City Population: 14,474 1,176 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,030

Rounding out our list at #10 is Forrest City, AR. With a population of 14,474 and a violent crime rate of 1,176 per 100,000 people (103% higher than the Arkansas average), some parts of Forrest City are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 1,054 counts of assault, 24 counts of robbery, 57 counts of rape and 41 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 85 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	West Memphis	25,245	1,922	6,580
2	Little Rock	202,086	1,672	6,886
3	Helena-West Helena	10,702	1,630	5,069
4	Pine Bluff	43,193	1,581	6,129
5	Blytheville	14,019	1,360	5,780
6	El Dorado	18,461	1,319	4,806
7	Stuttgart	8,933	1,309	3,599
8	Trumann	7,269	1,181	3,719
9	North Little Rock	68,354	1,180	5,493
10	Forrest City	14,474	1,176	4,030
11	Camden	11,265	1,087	5,137
12	Wynne	7,975	1,023	4,470
13	Jacksonville	29,495	950	4,911
14	Paragould	29,773	915	3,813
15	Fort Smith	90,724	842	4,527
16	Texarkana	30,581	823	4,398
17	Magnolia	11,803	789	3,042
18	Marion	12,792	778	2,871
19	Crossett	5,054	777	3,617
20	Jonesboro	79,653	720	3,765
21	Hope	10,014	710	3,908
22	Beebe	8,440	709	2,383
23	Pocahontas	6,845	665	3,130
24	Malvern	11,203	654	3,057
25	Sherwood	31,910	635	2,571
26	Monticello	9,618	544	1,779
27	Morrilton	6,893	534	3,346
28	Hot Springs	39,496	534	4,697
29	Sheridan	5,023	532	1,651
30	Conway	69,234	524	2,571
31	Siloam Springs	17,596	495	1,851
32	Newport	7,828	493	1,725
33	Springdale	82,462	491	2,412
34	Van Buren	24,502	475	2,520
35	Clarksville	9,895	465	2,500
36	Alma	6,029	446	1,487
37	Batesville	11,006	439	1,901
38	Fayetteville	89,091	424	2,795
39	Benton	37,708	414	2,679
40	Searcy	24,322	398	2,667
41	Mena	5,638	373	2,947
42	Pea Ridge	6,131	369	960
43	Heber Springs	7,368	355	2,209
44	Barling	5,089	354	1,696
45	Cabot	27,309	354	1,668
46	Russellville	30,049	350	1,734
47	Rogers	69,327	341	1,616
48	Harrison	13,520	318	2,107
49	Arkadelphia	11,027	293	2,133
50	Ward	5,316	281	1,351

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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.