This Town in Massachusetts State Takes the Crown for Most Violent

Massachusetts has a lot of history, culture, and good schools, but it also has some crime and violence. FBI data shows that the state had a violent crime rate of 338 per 100,000 people in 2020, which is less than the 367 rate for the whole country.

However, violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault happen much more often in some towns and places in the state. Based on the newest data, this piece will show you which Massachusetts town is the most dangerous.

Fall River is Massachusetts’ Most Dangerous City.

With about 90,000 people living there, Fall River is the 10th most populous city in Massachusetts. There were 772 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in this town in 2020, which made it the most dangerous in the state. So, one out of every 130 people in Fall River was a victim of a crime that year. There were also two murders in the city, which isn’t many compared to other towns but is still a problem.

People from Portugal and other European countries have come to Fall River and made it an industrial city for a long time. It used to be the biggest city in the US for making textiles. In the 1870s, it made 80% of the country’s print cloth.

In the 20th century, however, many mills closed or moved away, which hurt the city’s income. Also, in the 1960s, the city had big urban renewal projects that tore down a lot of historic houses and landmarks. Low income, unemployment, drug abuse, and gang violence are some of the problems that Fall River faces today. These problems add to the city’s high crime rate.

Coming in Second Place Was Holyoke.

Holyoke is another old mill town that has had a hard time adapting to the new economy and way of life. The rate of serious crime in this town, 739 per 100,000 people in 2020, made it the second most dangerous in Massachusetts. There were also eight murders in the city, which is more than any other town or city in the state. With about 40,000 people living in Holyoke, that means that one out of every 54 people was a victim of a serious crime that year.

Due to its position on the Hadley Falls of the Connecticut River, Holyoke used to make a lot of paper, silk, and alpaca wool. Also, it was the US’s first planned industrial city. It was laid out in a grid, and mills were powered by a system of canals. But the city’s luck went downhill in the second half of the 20th century, when many businesses left or shrunk.

Aside from that, the city had social issues like race tensions, urban decay, and pollution. The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, the Holyoke Innovation District, and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center are some of the projects that Holyoke is working on now to improve its business and culture.

What Should Be Done to Lower the Level of Violence in Massachusetts?

Some cities and towns in Massachusetts have higher rates of serious crime than others. These include Fall River and Holyoke. In addition to these 10 most dangerous places in Massachusetts, others like Springfield, Brockton, New Bedford, and Lawrence are also on the list. Crime and violence are common in these places because of things like poverty, unfair social conditions, and a lack of opportunities.

To make Massachusetts less violent, more money needs to be put into jobs, housing, education, and health care, and police need to be better trained and more involved with the community. The state can try to make the future safer and better for everyone by dealing with the reasons of violence.