According to Southwest Journal, Georgia has a lot of safety features that make it a great place to visit. It has beautiful scenery and an interesting history. We use FBI data to find towns with populations over 5,000 that have higher rates of violence and property crime per person. Even though Georgia is one of the riskier states, this story doesn’t make local police less good. Even though people are being careful, areas of security help keep the state safe. Before going to Georgia, you should weigh this complexity against a careful assessment of the safety situation there.
10 Most Dangerous Cities In Georgia. (PHOTO: istock)
1. College Park
College Park, which is on the southern edge of Atlanta, is once again Georgia’s most dangerous city. The city has a lot of crime, even though it has the biggest airport in the world. The murder rate and rape rate in College Park are the highest in the state. It is also the highest in the country. There will be 213 car thefts in 2020, which is another worry. The FBI’s data sweep, which covers Clayton and Fulton County, shows how complicated the crime story is in College Park. Famous singers like Ludacris, 2 Chainz, and Jung Joc have come from this city, even though it is very dangerous. Their songs are very different from the city’s grim reality. People who live in and visit College Park (15,204) should be extra careful on its streets, which are the most dangerous.
2. Americus
Americus is the second-most dangerous place in Georgia. It is in Sumter County and is home to 14,910 people. It had 161 serious crimes in 2020 and the 13th-highest rate of rape in the state. The city has the 22nd and 15th highest murder and theft rates in the state, which is a message to people to be careful and keep their homes safe. Even though these numbers are bad, Americus is home to the global offices of Habitat for Humanity. This suggests that reducing crime in the area could quickly raise its rating. With 14,910 people living there, Americus Place hasn’t changed since last year. To change its story, the town needs to pay more attention to safety.
3. Garden City
Garden City is in the neighborhood of Savannah, Georgia. Despite its pretty name, it is Georgia’s third-riskiest city. Even though Garden City is a quiet place, it has the third-highest rate of serious crime in the state. With 8,716 people and a debut score, this community goes against what most people think, so residents and visitors need to be careful as they walk through its beautiful streets. Garden City, a beautiful Georgian town, makes us think again about how safe this area really is, even if it doesn’t look dangerous.
4. Albany
Even though Albany is Georgia’s seventh-largest city, it is still the fourth-most dangerous place to live in the state, which casts a shadow over the safety of the surrounding area. In 2020, Georgia had the second-highest rate of serious crime, at 1 in 58. This put the people who lived there in danger. Two break-ins happen every day in Albany, making it the second-most burglarized city in the state. Even though Chehaw Park & Zoo has some interesting animals, the streets of the city are safer. Albany, with 71,567 people and a slight drop in rank from the previous year, tells locals and people who want to move there that safety concerns remain behind its urban facade, which makes people think again about their views.
5. Waycross
Waycross, a famous railroad town in southeast Georgia, is both easy to get to and dangerous. This transportation hub, named after a train crossing from the 1800s, has the fifth-highest crime rate in the state. Waycross’s high grade and 13,363 residents make it worth looking into beyond its rail draw. Even though the roads in the town may look friendly, the high crime rate tells residents and visitors to be careful. Waycross’s past and present problems tell us that the town’s tourism business is also having a hard time with safety, so tourists should be careful.
6. Griffin
After being involved in the First Amendment case Lovell v. City of Griffin in 1938, Griffin is now in a different kind of trouble. With 22,773 people living there and a high starting grade, this city has a bad reputation because of the rise in thefts and crimes. Griffin, even though it has a lot of history, is one of the top five towns in Georgia for property crimes. There are 4,786 property crimes per 100,000 people and 1,132 serious crimes per 100,000 people. The city wants more attention paid to its past and the need for a better present. Griffin’s court history puts it in a tough spot, forcing its community to face problems that hurt its image.
7. Forest Park
Crime is higher in Forest Park, south of Atlanta. Car thefts increased in 2020 in the city of 20,202. Forest Park has one of Georgia’s highest rape and murder rates, indicating a need for community awareness. Forest Park has over 1,004 severe crimes and 4,341 property crimes per 100,000 people. People must address the issues that placed the city on this alarming list now. Its growing crime rate requires severe measures due to its proximity to Atlanta.
8. Cordele
Cordele has a fruit fair every summer. It is known as the Watermelon Capital of the World. Even though the city seems happy on the outside, it has a lot of problems with theft and sexual assault. With 10,451 people living there and an unknown grade from last year, Cordele is sixth in the state for these violations. People who live in and visit the city are warned to be careful, even though the watermelon festival is fun. This is to stress how important it is to keep Cordele’s sweet reputation beyond the fruit festival. As violent crimes stay at 688 per 100,000 and property crimes rise to 5,042, Cordele finds a balance between happiness and safety.
9. LaGrange
Alabama is not far away from LaGrange, which has history, culture, and fun things to do outside. The city is the ninth most risky in Georgia because it has a lot of property crimes, especially car thefts. With 30,406 people and a debut number, LaGrange is beautiful, but residents and visitors should be careful about their safety. The city needs to find a balance between protecting its historical and cultural treasures and making sure everyone is safe. There are 578 serious crimes for every 100,000 people, and 5,686 property crimes for every 100,000 people.
10. Eastman
Eastman, Georgia, is the eighth most dangerous city in Georgia. It is home to Stuckey’s pecan log roll. The city’s past is complicated by its high theft and robbery rates, which are caused by its 5,018 people and start rank. Eastman, which is known for its pecan specialty, has to find a balance between safety worries and traditional storage. With 916 serious crimes per 100,000 people and 3,925 property crimes per 100,000 people, the city tells us that community well-being needs hard work and teamwork, even when the food is great.
People come to Georgia to see its beautiful scenery and learn about its long past, but a depressing look at FBI 2020 statistics shows that there are safety problems in several places. There are five of the most risky towns in Georgia. They are College Park, Americus, Garden City, Albany, and Waycross. Each has its own rates of violence and property crime. The scores, which are used to help people choose where to live, stress making smart decisions and knowing about these areas. Georgia is still very appealing, but people who want to live there should weigh the state’s beauty against its high crime rate to make sure the place they choose is safe enough for them.
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