Navigating Risk: Revealing the 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Mississippi

With a population of 2.95 million, Mississippi is also known as the Magnolia State. Alabama and Tennessee around it. The Native American term for Mississippi means “great waters.” The majority of the state is covered in forests and farms. Corporations such as Sanderson Farms (a poultry firm), Peavey Electronics, and Cal-Maine Foods (eggs) are based in Mississippi. Mississippi is home to the biggest pecan nursery in the world. Here is a list of the dangerous cities in the state, according to The Travel Safe Team.

10. Flowood

There are 10,200 people living in the Western Mississippi community of Flowood. Before the city council approved an ordinance in 2009 permitting alcohol to be offered by the glass in hotels and restaurants, the county was considered “dry,” meaning it was free of alcohol. Staying in Flowood is advised if you have business in Jackson. It is approximately sixteen miles from the capital city and offers a wide selection of hotels. In Flowood, the poverty rate is 13.3%, and the median income is $24,000. In the town, there is a 1 in 49 probability of becoming a victim of crime. It is safer than 12% of other cities, according to its size. There were 189 property offenses and 22 violent crimes in the previous year.

9. Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the county seat of Neshoba County and has 6,995 residents. The famous William’s Brothers General Store, which has been operating since 1907, is one of its primary draws. Additionally, it was the scene of the notorious 1964 killings of three civil rights activists. Their killings served as impetus for the 1964 Civil Rights Act to be passed. At the location where their bodies were discovered, there is a memorial dedicated to them. In Philadelphia, 28 percent of people are impoverished. There were 76 offenses committed in total last year.  Of those, 11 were violent offenses, and 65 were property crimes. In Philadelphia, the odds of becoming a victim of a property crime are 1 in 33. The two biggest threats to visitors to the area should be auto theft and robbery.

8. Greenville

With 34,400 residents, Greenville is known as the “Queen of the Delta.” Historic cotton plantations may still be found there, despite the Civil War destroying most of Greenville. It is the county seat of Washington County and may be found in central Mississippi. They are capable of producing and exporting goods like textiles and chemicals since they have the state’s largest river port. Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, was born in Greenville, which also houses the Kermit the Frog Museum. Although there isn’t much violent crime in the city, there is a lot of property crime due to the 30% poverty rate. In Greenville, the odds of becoming a victim of property crime are 1 in 64. There were 961 burglaries and 930 thefts in the previous year.

7. Greenwood

Greenwood, which is located in central Mississippi, is home to 15,200 people. It was formerly the state’s leading cotton grower and is located on the banks of the Yazoo River. Following the automation of cotton production, the town transitioned to soybean farming, which proved to be extremely successful. It is a significant component of the Mississippi Blues Trail and played a significant role in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The city has a low murder rate yet a high incidence of property crime. Greenwood is therefore just 4% safer than other cities of comparable size. 674 thefts and 197 burglaries were reported there last year. A property crime victim in Greenwood has a 1 in 26 probability of becoming a victim.

6. McComb

The population of McComb, which is 80 miles outside of Jackson in southern Mississippi, is 12,800. McComb, like a large portion of Mississippi, is well-known for its role in the 1960s civil rights movement. With 11 bombs, KKK member attacks, and killings, it was the scene of the worst violence against demonstrators in the whole state. Nowadays, the community is well-known for housing the McComb Railroad Museum and Pile School of Art. Even though 27% of people in McComb are impoverished, property crime is a major problem. There’s a 1 in 26 probability that you may fall victim to theft or burglary if you live in a metropolis. There were 93 violent crimes and 570 property offenses in total last year. Compared to other cities of comparable size, Greenwood is thought to be just 3% safer.

5. Vicksburg

There are 21,928 people living in the southwest Mississippi city of Vicksburg. It is perched on a tall cliff along the Mississippi River’s edge. The city is filled with old architectural specimens, including plantations. The Vicksburg National Cemetery, the last resting place of more than 17,000 Union and Confederate troops, is located in the town. Vicksburg is home to both the first African American female doctor and the Coca-Cola bottle. Sources claim that Vicksburg is just 4% safer than similar-sized cities. In Vicksburg, there were 885 crimes committed in total last year. There were 139 violent crimes (6.6 per 1,000) and 746 property crimes (45.6 per 1,000). One in twenty-six people will become a victim of property crime.

4. Meridian

At 36,873, Meridian is the seventh-biggest city in Mississippi. Situated in the state’s eastern central highlands, it is renowned for its distinctive downtown architecture, museums, and cultural events. Jimmie Rodgers, the “father of country music,” was born there as well. 181 violent crimes, including 14 murders, 16 sexual assaults, 73 robberies, and 79 aggravated assaults, were reported in Meridian last year. 1,475 property offenses were committed. Compared to other cities of similar size, Meridian is safer. One in 34 people will fall victim to property crime.

3. Cleveland

There were 11,199 people living in the city, which was named for President Grover Cleveland. Cleveland is a city that hugs the Mississippi River and lies in the center of the Delta. This is where blues music originated, according to blues musician BB King. In Cleveland, there is also the Grammy Museum. There’s a varied selection of cafes, antique stores, and boutiques to explore. But be careful—it’s not any safer than 2% of similar cities. There were 501 property crimes (45 per 1,000 people) and 99 violent crimes (9 per 1,000 people) in the previous year. In Cleveland, there is a 1 in 110 risk of becoming a victim of violent crime and a 1 in 22 risk of property crime.

2. Pascagoula

Pascagoula, which has 21,610 residents, is situated close to the Gulf of Mexico. It has one of the busiest ports in the state as a result. The largest employer in Mississippi is the shipbuilder Huntington-Ingalls, located there as well. The largest refinery owned by Chevron Oil and the Rolls-Royce headquarters are also located there. Pascagoula has a crime rate of 50 per 1,000 residents overall. It is thought to be safer than 2% of other cities of comparable size. In the last year, 1,241 property offenses were reported. One in twenty-one people will become a victim of property crime. The city saw 56 violent crimes in total, comprising 19 robberies, 22 sexual assaults, and 4 killings.

1. Jackson

Mississippi’s capital city, Jackson, is home to 153,701 people. It features several historical landmarks and bears President Andrew Jackson’s name. It served as the epicenter of the civil rights movement and was the scene of the murder of civil rights pioneer Medgar Evers in his driveway. Famous people from Jackson include Channing Tatum and Morgan Freeman. Despite being the state’s hub for law, medicine, and finance, it has a 24% poverty rate. With 79.69 killings per 100,000 people in 2020, Jackson has the second-highest homicide rate in the nation.Situated between St. Louis and Detroit, Jackson is regarded as one of the most hazardous cities in the country overall. It was only surpassed by St. Louis. There were 1,288 violent crimes in 2017—130 of them included murder. 6,425 property offenses were reported. As a result, Jackson’s total crime victimization rate is 1 in 20.