Wade on Birmingham

EXCLUSIVE – Crime Watch: Birmingham drops, but still in Top 10 for crime ranking

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

The crime rate continues to drop in Birmingham, and with it, the city’s spot on the CQ Press’ annual city crime rankings released today. It fell three spots from No. 7 in 2009 to No. 10 this year.

Wade on Birmingham - Crime WatchThe city has bounced around in the rankings in recent years: No. 8 in 2008 and No. 6 in 2007 and 2006.

Violent crimes have continued to fall in Birmingham and across the nation. Birmingham police chief A.C. Roper has been credited with much of the success in his 3-year tenure.

To date, Birmingham has had 51 homicides in 2010, putting it on pace for 57 by year’s end, compared to 72 homicides in 2009.

For comparison: In the FBI Uniform Crime Report for 2009, Birmingham ranked No. 4 among cities with populations of 100,000 or more. It had been No. 3 in 2008.

CQ Press, based in Washington, uses FBI crime data for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and auto theft to compile its crime rate rankings.

Other Alabama cities ranked:

  • 99. Montgomery (previously No. 152)
  • 106. Mobile (previously No. 136, making it the only Alabama city to climb in the rankings)
  • 109. Huntsville (previously No. 95)
  • 183. Tuscaloosa (previously No. 140)

St. Louis topped the list at No. 1.

Metro rankings

In looking at the 2010 Metropolitan Crime Rate Rankings:

  • 19. Mobile (previously No. 20)
  • 28. Anniston-Oxford (not previously ranked)
  • 35. Birmingham-Hoover (previously No. 21)
  • 67. Montgomery (previously No. 101)
  • 80. Tuscaloosa (previously No. 64)
  • 122. Huntsville (previously No. 123)
  • 150. Gadsden (previously No. 141)
  • 219. Florence-Muscle Shoals (not previously ranked)

(Not available: Auburn, Decatur, Dothan.)

Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich., is No. 1 on the list.

See, print or download the City and Metropolitan Crime Rate Rankings for 2010 below.

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Visit our Crime Watch page.

EXCLUSIVE – Crime Watch: Birmingham climbs to No. 7 in crime rate ranking

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Despite drop in major crimes, city jumps from eighth place in 2008

Birmingham may be seeing welcome relief when it comes to crime, but not enough to sway its ranking in the CQ Press’ annual city crime rankings released today. The city again made the Top 10, placing at No. 7.

Wade on Birmingham - Crime WatchIn 2008, the city ranked eighth, and in 2007 and 2006, it placed sixth.

Last week, Birmingham reported a 12 percent drop in major crime in 2009, including a 25 percent drop in homicides.

The Washington-based publisher used crime data reported to the FBI in six areas: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. In previous years, CQ Press referred to the rankings as the “Most Dangerous Cities” list, but dropped the designation this year.

Other Alabama cities ranked:

95. Huntsville
136. Mobile
140. Tuscaloosa
152. Montgomery

Camden, N.J. topped that list.

In the list of 2009 Metropolitan Crime Rate Rankings, Birmingham-Hoover came in at No. 21. Also on that list from Alabama:

11. Columbus, GA-AL
20. Mobile
64. Tuscaloosa
101. Montgomery
123. Huntsville
141. Gadsden
159. Dothan

Pine Bluff, Ark., is No. 1 on the list.

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Visit our Crime Watch page.

Crime Watch: Birmingham No. 8 on Most Dangerous Cities list

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

Down from No. 6 last year

Birmingham remains in the Top 10 cities in major crime, according to Washington-based CQ Press. The city ranked No. 8 on the Most Dangerous Cities list for 2008, while Alabama ranked No. 15 among most dangerous states. The list came out Monday.

Wade on Birmingham - Crime WatchBirmingham-Hoover is No. 31 among most dangerous metropolitan areas.

The publisher used crime data reported to the FBI in six areas: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. For more, see “City Crime Rankings 2008-2009.”

Other Alabama cities ranked:

83. Huntsville
90. Montgomery
131. Tuscaloosa
156. Mobile

New Orleans is No. 1 on the list.

Birmingham has 79 homicides to date this year, compared to 93 for 2007.

For more, see “Birmingham Ranked 8th Most Dangerous City.”

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Visit our Crime Watch page.