Before deciding where to visit using cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages, travelers would be well advised to make themselves aware of the most dangerous cities in the U.S.
Annually the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announces what it considers to be Americas most dangerous cities. The good news is that violent crime is down in the United States and has been falling over the last five years. To stay safe travelers should avoid deserted areas, especially at night, leave valuables at home, and park in well lit areas.
The following are the cities the FBI identified as most dangerous:
Flint, MI, was particularly hard hit by the auto industry collapse and saw it workface drop from 80,000 to 8,000. Residents have a median income of just over $27,000 which is 46 percent less than the national average. 36 percent of its citizens live below the poverty line. Gang activity and drugs have become big problems in Flint.
Detroit, MI, has suffered from the auto industry woes, the collapse of the housing market, and the flight from the inner city. The good news is the first half of 2011 saw violent crime drop by 24 percent. $1.5 billion has been pumped into revitalization projects that have resulted in a spiffed up riverfront with the RiverWalk and green spaces.
St. Louis, MO, has the nations second highest gunshot rate for residents between the ages of 10 and 19. It experienced 41 murders per 100,000 people which is five times the national average.
New Haven, CT, while home to Yale University, suffers from inner city crime and poverty. It experienced 628 robberies per 100,000 people last year, almost triple what comparable urban areas average. Promising though are urban renewal developments which have revitalized its once blighted downtown area.
Memphis, TN, has wrestled with poverty and gang activity for years. Its 2010 robbery statistics were double that of the national average. Efforts to stem youth involvement in crime have lead to a 23 percent drop in violent crime over the last five years.
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