West Virginia seceded from Virginia in 1863 and has gained over 1.8 million residents since then. And even though WV has been ranked the third best state to retire in, there are still areas of crime.
As well as the state tops the chart for fentanyl deaths, with 66 per 100,000 people. Drugs remain a significant issue in many parts of West Virginia. As well as a high unemployment rate due to the closure of the coal mines.
A deadly combination of drugs plus unemployment can lead to a higher rate of crimes in some areas. A study done on Travelsafe Abroad has named Beckley, West Virginia, the most dangerous WV city.
Beckley is located in Raleigh County, WV, with a population of 28,286. In the past, Beckely was a top coal mining community; now, you can visit an old preserved mine that is now a museum.
Beckley is also home to the West Virginia University Institute of Technology. The town was not abandoned when the coal mine shut and still has jobs to offer. Unfortunately, the crime rate is ranked in the 19th percentile based on its population; 81% of cities this size are safer than Beckley.
In 2022, 1,045 crimes were reported, which included two murders, eight sexual assaults, and 116 aggravated assaults. With an overall crime rate of 45.7 residents per 1000, with a 1 in 18 chance of becoming a victim of crime.
The population of Beckley has shrunk by 1.5% since 2000, yet remains the 10th largest city by area in WV.
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