September 9, 2022 | Criminal Law
From Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby to the Louisville Slugger Museum, there is much to attract people to Louisville, Kentucky. A major consideration for people looking to relocate to the “Gateway to the South” is safety. As one of Kentucky’s largest cities, Louisville has a reputation for being unsafe.
Louisville Crime Statistics
The Louisville government reports an overall decrease in crime in the city from 2016 to 2019. In 2016, there were a total of 2,399 crimes reported. These included burglaries, thefts, aggravated assaults, robberies, rapes, and homicides.
Statistics compiled by U.S. News and World Report conclude that Louisville has a higher crime rate than other cities of similar size. The violent crime rate in Louisville in 2020 was 473.4 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The property crime rate was 2,234.6 property crimes per 100,000. Both crime rates were higher than the national average.
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Louisville, Kentucky
When looking to avoid the most dangerous areas of Louisville, stay away from the western side of the city (west of I-65). The city maintains an interactive crime map that shows where in the city certain crimes are reported.
Violent crimes like assaults, homicides, and robberies tend to happen in the following areas more than elsewhere in the city.
South of I-64
The area immediately south of I-64 and to the west of I-65, north of West Broadway, should be avoided. The crime map reveals that in 2022, ten assaults and one robbery have been reported in this area alone. Three additional assaults were reported in the area just south of West Broadway.
Near I-264
The neighborhood south of I-64 and east of I-264 also sees its fair share of crime. Most of the crime is concentrated between South 32nd Street and north of West Oak Street. In this area, there were 68 separate crimes reported, including one homicide that occurred near West Broadway and South 17th Street.
West of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport
Finally, the area around and to the west of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport has also seen a significant number of violent crimes, including assaults and robberies. These seem to be clustered around the area of Highway 186 South and I-264.
Safest Neighborhoods in Louisville
Generally speaking, the farther south and east you travel from downtown Louisville, the less crime is reported. The following areas of the crime map show the fewest reported crimes.
South of Eastern Parkway
If you travel south along I-65, the highway will pass over Eastern Parkway. The area that is bounded by I-65 on the west, I-264 on the south, Eastern Parkway on the north, and Poplar Level Road to the east has had no reported crimes in 2022.
East of Bardstown Road
If you were to travel east on Eastern Parkway, the road would eventually intersect with Bardstown Road. The area immediately around this intersection as well as the neighborhoods east of Bardstown Road are some of the safest in the city, having no reported crimes thus far in 2022.
West of I-264
Finally, the area to the southwest of I-264, just west of Dixie Highway, is an exception to the general rule that areas in the west of Louisville are dangerous. While a few assaults have been reported in this region, they are much less concentrated than in other neighborhoods in western Louisville.
Staying Safe in Louisville, KY
The few areas of Louisville that are more dangerous than others should not discourage you from making Derby City your home or travel destination. Armed with common sense precautions and intuition, you can live in and enjoy this magnificent city with few problems.
Contact the Louisville Criminal Defense Attorneys at Suhre & Associates, LLC For Help Today
For more information, contact the criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates, LLC give us a call today at (502) 371-7000 or visit us at our Louisville law office.
Suhre & Associates, LLC – Louisville
214 Clay Street, Suite A
Louisville, KY 40202
United States