Tennessee has many great cities including, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and more; all of which provide affordable living, good weather, and the famous Southern charm. However, some cities in Tennessee have above-average crime rates that must be of interest more so if one is in search of a new home. This article will therefore seek to enlighten our readers on some of the most unsafe cities in Tennessee according to FBI crime statistics. In the further sections, we will examine how many violent and property crimes occur in these cities, as well as why these cities have crime issues.
Memphis
There is also, however, sad news as Memphis is considered the most unsafe of the major cities in the state of Tennessee. For that reason, Memphis ranked as the 4th most dangerous overall city in America out of 350 cities using a recent FBI violent crime rating. This is a violent crime rate that is slightly above 20 per 1000 residents, and it is a shocking fact that Memphis is more dangerous than the national average by almost 300%. Places such as South Memphis, Orange Mound, and North Memphis coupled with poverty and gang violence are some of the reasons that contribute to high crimes. These are burglary, theft, and aggravated assault are the most common ones that are frequently reported. It has been realized that community leaders and police have been trying to reduce violence by reaching out to the youth through various activities and ensuring that there are adequate policemen on the streets but more needs to be done. People who are coming to Memphis should endeavor to find out the safest neighborhoods to live in, refrain from being out at night, or if they have to do so they should be cautious, and anyone who is going out should normally exercise a lot of care.
Chattanooga
Other parts of Chattanooga, specifically downtown, as well as the northern area of the city, are relatively safe save for property crime. Nevertheless, some of the Chattanooga neighborhoods located in the south and the East part of Chattanooga are still experiencing violent crimes that are above the state and national averages. Currently, Highland Park, East Lake, East Chattanooga, and Avondale have a poor safety record in the shootings, robberies, and gang problems that have lowered the safety reputation of the city. The violent and property crime rates of Chattanooga have been responded to recently indicating that there is a decrease in these crime-related problems; this infers that policing and community partnership programs that have been implemented are effective in their course of duty. Nevertheless, people still have to be careful especially when going out at night especially to the Entertainment zones in the downtown area given that there are frequent fighting and incidents related to excessive drinking.
Jackson
The overall crime rate for Jackson is that it has a property crime of less than the national average, although it has a higher violent crime rate than the national average. Jackson has a violent crime rate that is almost twice that of other Tennessee cities of comparable size for some types of crimes like aggravated assault and rape. Among the main factors, there are severe poverty, a high unemployment rate, gang-related activities, and, the absence of sufficient youth engagement programs more so in the eastern part of the city. The downtown area also suffers from a high rate of crime because of the existence of bars, clubs, and seedy motels besides the absence of a steady police patrol during the night. Areas such as East Jackson, Bemis, and South Jackson are more prone to criminal incidences, as well as other parts of the city’s eastern side than the western side. Some measures that may contribute to making Jackson safer, in the long run, include community development programs or employment opportunities to boost the local economy.
Clarksville
Clarksville lies along the border with Kentucky and has a relatively low cost of living and a military-town feel, which is a plus for many people living in this area. However, the recent growth has reduced the safety levels compared to what was in existence in Clarksville a few years back. Clarksville experiences a property crime rate, that is about double the national average, with criminals exploiting unlocked and unalarmed cars, garages, and unlocked houses. The latter targeted the Hampshire area, Sango region, and Peachers Mill Road corridor as easy targets for their burglaries. There has also been an upward trend in violent crimes in Clarksville, especially instances that involved assaults and robberies late at night in areas around bars and clubs. Other crimes, such as break-ins in self-storage units, have also emerged as issues that negatively affected the safety rating in Clarksville. The police promote the installation of home security systems, community policing, and general people’s awareness to counter these trends.
Springfield
Springfield is a small city in which approximately 16,031 residents reside, but this city has begun to experience major crime problems over the last decade. Violent crime is 3 times more prevalent in Springfield while property crime is 2 times more prevalent than in other cities. It is quite shocking that the rate of this kind of crime is so high in this city, especially given its size. Most of the population is currently hooked on methamphetamine and opioids and, therefore, prone to attacks, thefts, and robberies. This is so because the city is well located right off Interstate 65 and more organized drug rings have set their sights on the city as well. It is also important to note that Downtown Springfield as well as the Memorial Boulevard corridor are some of the areas that are more likely to have criminal activities hence the traveler should be very vigilant. There is still much to be done; there must be more substance abuse interventions and smarter police tactics to enhance security.
Places That Every Traveler Should Avoid Particularly
The areas in and around East Nashville are also plagued with gang issues and relatively higher violent crime rates that endanger tourists. North Memphis also has extreme levels of blight, poverty, and acts of violent crime extending into midtown. Discount motels along Truman Avenue in East Knoxville are the issues and hot spots of crime. Apartment complexes on the southern outskirts of Murfreesboro also have growing incidences of gun-related incidents and play the risks towards the residents and visitors. The neighborhoods and motels that are notorious for criminal activities should be identified; this can be done by researching crime statistics and reading local newspapers about criminal activities in Tennessee.
Safety Measures that Every New Resident of Tennessee Needs to Know
Although Memphis, Chattanooga, Jackson, Clarksville, and Springfield occupy the highest crime rates in Tennessee, it does not mean that many other parts of the state are not safe to move to. But as you can see the following safety measures can help to protect you and your family in your new town. Getting home alarms, knowing and being friendly with your neighbors, driving with doors closed and windows rolled up, always avoiding deserted areas at night, being observant when out and about, and reporting anyone suspicious to the police authorities are some of the ways of avoiding falling victim. Crime rates, trends, and the areas notorious for high crimes in any area that you wish to move into are also very important. It is crucial to choose the right community for your family, and this will be much easier if you know the localized safety conditions.
