St. Louis County, located in Missouri, covers a broad and diverse region incorporating over 90 municipalities and housing a population of over 1 million residents. Within the county, there are both secure and thriving neighborhoods as well as areas grappling with elevated levels of crime and violence. Drawing from data provided by NeighborhoodScout, CrimeGrade, and Information Visualization, the following are the five most perilous neighborhoods in St. Louis County, Missouri, as of the year 2020:
Wellston:
Situated centrally, Wellston is a small city with roughly 2,000 inhabitants. It registers the highest crime rate in the county, with 111.67 crimes per 1,000 residents. The rate of violent crime is 26.5 per 1,000 residents, which is over five times the national average. The property crime rate stands at 85.17 per 1,000 residents, exceeding the national average by over four times. Wellston faces a poverty rate of 44.4% and a median household income of $21,875.
Pine Lawn:
Another central city, Pine Lawn, is home to around 3,000 individuals. It comes second in the county’s crime rate rankings, with 97.67 crimes per 1,000 residents. The violent crime rate is 24.33 per 1,000 residents, over four times the national average. Additionally, the property crime rate is 73.33 per 1,000 residents, more than three times the national average. Pine Lawn contends with a poverty rate of 36% and a median household income of $25,833.
Jennings:
Located in the northern part of the county, Jennings is a larger city with a population of approximately 15,000. It secures the third position in terms of crime rate within the county, with 83 crimes per 1,000 residents. The violent crime rate comes to 16 per 1,000 residents, over three times the national average, while the property crime rate is 67 per 1,000 residents, exceeding the national average by more than three times. Jennings faces a poverty rate of 28% and a median household income of $31,875.
Bellefontaine Neighbors:
In the northeastern part of the county, Bellefontaine Neighbors, with a population of around 10,000, takes fourth place in the county’s crime rate hierarchy, recording 74 crimes per 1,000 residents. The violent crime rate is 12 per 1,000 residents, over twice the national average, and the property crime rate is 62 per 1,000 residents, exceeding the national average by over three times. Bellefontaine Neighbors contends with a poverty rate of 18% and a median household income of $43,750.
Berkeley:
Berkeley, located in the northwestern part of the county and housing around 9,000 residents, ranks fifth in the county for crime rate, with 69 crimes per 1,000 residents. The violent crime rate is 11 per 1,000 residents, more than twice the national average, while the property crime rate is 58 per 1,000 residents, exceeding the national average by over three times. Berkeley faces a poverty rate of 22% and a median household income of $37,083.
Conclusion:
Although these five neighborhoods constitute just 10% of St. Louis County’s total population, they contribute to around 30% of the reported countywide crimes in the year 2020. Furthermore, these neighborhoods are among the most economically disadvantaged and racially segregated areas in the county. While various factors underlie crime and violence in these neighborhoods, such as limited access to education, employment opportunities, social services, and community resources, it is evident that they require heightened attention and intervention from both authorities and society to enhance safety and overall quality of life.