Another "Crime in Springfield" Question Thread (St. Louis: house, neighborhoods)

[Amerikrainian]

Hey folks,

I know this issue has been brought up a lot. But I'm getting really serious about moving the family to Springfield, and this is one of my last remaining questions.

Looking at City-Data stats, Springfield is basically double the national crime average. That's per 100,000 people, so it's a fair measure. It's not higher or lower in a particular category; every category of crime is about double.

People have commented that it's mostly confined to a small portion of the criminal population, committing crimes against each other. But for such a small number of people to commit such a high number of crimes seems a bit exaggerated. Other people have said it's mostly northside, but this diagram on neighborhoodscout.com shows it spread evenly around the "bull's eye" of central Springfield.

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not ok (Hopefully the link is okay to post...)

I visited another forum, which isn't filtered for decency like this one. Some people there were suggesting that Springfield Police are more about money than police work. I don't know what that means, but am guessing it's about speeding tickets and such. Sorry to repeat that; I'm not at all saying it's true.

The question is: What are your feelings about the issue? Why so much crime?

Thanks for your replies.

[BigRedIdiot]

Legitimate question that when answered from an outsider's viewpoint who has existed (vice lived) in Springfield for eight years typically incurs the wrath of long-time locals whose opinion is surely clouded by emotions with an inability to "see" the oddness within their city.

For brevity... a simplistic view conveying much truth... in my OPINION. A "good old boy" place where, too often, masculinity is defined by the high decibel output of aa vehicle's exhaust and femininity measured by the number of tattoos place upon easily-seen flesh areas.

Toss in too-prevalent meth use and a love of alcohol and the South has risen again, y'all.

Too truly understand the provincialism of this bizarre place requires immersion within it. I will exult when the time comes when I can depart, never to return.

However, this small city may be exactly what appeals to you!!! There ARE worse places to dwell.

[christina0001]

I don't really get the stats, honestly. I live about an hour north of Springfield. I went to grad school for four years in Springfield, and since then I shop and dine there regularly (at least monthly). Occasionally we'll have an overnight weekend trip. I have yet to see any crime occur. I have never felt unsafe. I have lived and traveled around the U.S. and I would have no safety concerns about living in Springfield.

[Floorist]

Springfield is certainly safer than KC or St Louis.

[Amerikrainian]

Thanks for the replies. I'm sure there are not so nice parts of Springfield, like any city, but we didn't see any when we visited. So that's the confusion; the numbers don't seem to add up. Obviously I didn't see everything, but when I drive to Philadelphia, it's easy to see the crime areas. It's really hard to fix the problem if the people in charge don't know or agree on what is causing it.

[Caroline Island]

Originally Posted by Amerikrainian

.... I'm getting really serious about moving the family to Springfield, and this is one of my last remaining questions.

The question is: What are your feelings about the issue? Why so much crime?

Thanks for your replies.

Why? Many people moving in from big cities like KC and St. Louis, and METH. LOTS of meth.

It's also an economically depressed area - jobs are hard to find unless you're in the health field. And my husband took a pay cut of over $2/hr, I took a pay cut of $4/hr when we moved here.

Another thing to consider is long, drawn out, insufferably hot summers with heat indexes of 115 or more, nasty bugs, spiders and venomous snakes, etc.. Bottom line is that the nature around here is beautiful but not very enjoyable when it's hotter than the flippin' desert and you spend half the next day picking ticks off yourself. LOL

For us, moving here was a mistake.

[Amerikrainian]

Where'd you move from?

[brushrunner]

Ok last time I stayed in Springfield with one of my Sons a Guy was stealing an A/C Unit from a House during the day. The owner of the House talked with him. He told the Owner he had bought it. The Owner just went to front of the House and called Police.

Last time I lived there in the 80's I would party and hanged out with the wrong people, my wife moved me out before I got in trouble.

brushrunner