Asheville Crime Statistics
Asheville’s low crime rate yet another source of pride
By Asheville Citizen-Times
Jan. 4, 2005 6:43 p.m.
The influx of people over the past couple of decades demonstrates Western North Carolinas appeal as a destination for families, retirees, outdoor sports enthusiasts, tourists, artists and any number of other folks. But some new numbers, teased out of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Uniform Crime Report by Tom Tveidt, Director of Research at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, add yet another attraction for those considering a visit or a move to the region.
Crime rates for the Asheville metro area for 2003, which became available in October, are the lowest among North Carolina metro areas tracked in the annual report, and among the lowest in the nation. The FBI won't be sending out any press release saying so, according to Tveidt, but by putting the numbers into a spread sheet, he was able to make the comparison.
The report covers crime rates for 300 U.S. metro areas, which include 11 of North Carolinas 14 metros. Metro areas were established by the U.S. Census Bureau as a result of the 2000 census based on commuting patterns and a core city of at least 50,000. Asheville, with a population of about 70,000, is the core city for a metro area that includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties.
The Asheville Metro Area has a population of about 385,000. 2003 is the first year for which metro area crime statistics are available, so theres nothing to compare the numbers to yet. Still, for WNC, they're great news.
The Asheville metro areas property crime rate of 3,133 per 100,000 inhabitants was 27 percent below the statewide figure and 12 percent below the national figure, according to a newsletter Tveidt sent out earlier this week.
Asheville ranked 41 percent below the rate in the Wilmington metro, which held the highest property crime rate among the states 11 ranked metros. Of the 300 ranked metros in the nation, Asheville ranked 224 for its property crime rate.
The Asheville areas violent crime rate of 292 per 100,000 inhabitants was 36 percent below the statewide figure and 39 percent below the national figure, Tveidt found. Asheville ranked 55 percent below the violent crime rate in the Greenville metro, which held the highest rate among North Carolinas ranked metros. Of the 300 ranked metros, Asheville ranked 222 for its violent crime rate.
Much of the credit goes to regional law enforcement agencies, both county and municipal. Community policing and other efforts to prevent crime appear to be paying off and its important to give credit to the hard- working officers throughout the region. The vigorous area nonprofits that assist victims of rape and domestic violence undoubtedly deserve credit as well. Their efforts not only make WNC a safer place for those of us who live here, they provide yet another selling point for area leaders to use as they work to bring new jobs to the region.
Numbers can help us keep things in perspective and its important to mark notable achievements. But its important to remember that numbers can also sometimes deceive us into unwarranted complacency. For those who are victims and those who live in crime-infested areas, the fact that the big picture is good doesn't mean much. We can't afford to relent in our efforts to eradicate illegal drugs and other criminal activity. Still, its great to know that, in comparison to its peers, the Asheville metro area is one of the safest places to be.