Investigating Bluefield VA, and Bluefield WVA. We're looking to retire here, and move back to VA.
Looking at crime rate in Bluefield, WVA- it's way too high for a town this size- how come? Why is that?
Also, looking at demographics, for a state that has the largest population of Caucasians in the nation outside of New England ["The 10 Whitest States- In all, 10 states are more than 90 percent white, including the three northern New England states, West Virginia, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Kentucky and North Dakota."] -http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=93608&page=1#.UAbMUo7WTlc
Why is there such a large percentage of African-Americans in Bluefield, WVA, as compared to Bluefield, VA? Just sayin'.... trying to get a handle on this.
Taken from this very site-
Bluefield, WVA
White alone - 7,667 (73.4%)
Black alone - 2,374 (22.7%)
Read more:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Bluefi...#ixzz20zBGAd43
Bluefield, VA
White alone - 4,851 (89.1%)
Black alone - 334 (6.1%)
Read more:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Bluefi...#ixzz20zBUmNz3
Yet crime stats appear to be roughly equal. That is, until you look closer- then it gets really confusing.
Crime stats for Bluefield, VA 2001-2010
City-data.com crime index (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 319.1)
173.7 203.9 178.2 208.4 200.4 193.2 202.2 203.3 258.4 320.9
Read more:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Bluefi...#ixzz20zBkaEk6
compared that with:
Crime stats for Bluefield, WVA 1999-2010
City-data.com crime index (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 319.1)
292.8 291.5 264.9 274.1 265.1 285.0 273.9 217.1 320.0 268.4
Read more:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Bluefi...#ixzz20zC8YxWP
Sp, using my statistician skills, since the towns are (in essence) one metropolitan area, why is it that:
1) The WVA crime stats have on average been 222.3 over the last ten years, (even though the numbers have rested in the high 200's, with no year lower than 250)
2) While the same town in VA, has had the crime stats been (on average) 330.9 ?
That latter figure (Bluefield VA's) stats are massive. That's major metro crime rate, for a town of roughly 30-50,000 or more! (for example- Richfield, MN has a Crime Rate of 359.4, based on the last year stats were compiled (2005). But Richfield's crime stats jumped by almost 100 points in that year, right at the point the Mayor and City council decided to make Richfield more 'multicultural'- This is a historic fact that all Minnesotans know. Nowadays (2012) it has these stats:
White alone - 22,260 (63.2%)
Hispanic - 6,436 (18.3%)
Black alone - 3,152 (8.9%)
Asian alone - 2,150 (6.1%)
Two or more races - 854 (2.4%)
American Indian alone - 225 (0.6%)
Other race alone - 134 (0.4%)
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone - 17 (0.05%)
Read more:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Richfi...#ixzz20zGzeuw8
This is a HUGE change from even 2000. It's still a nice 'first ring suburb' to live in, but it does seem odd that Spanish is now the second language of instruction, in an area of the US, that never was Hispanic before 2000!
So, in looking at stats for what I am considering a perfect place to retire for the family, I find this is all the stranger, when you realize that Bluefield, VA has historically has a much more 'normal' crime rate for a town its size. (Though the numbers have rested in the very (very) low 200's, right up until 2009, when it first approached 260) If you ignore the last two years (when crime stats went through the roof) the VA side of the state line has had an average crime stat number of 195.4- which is what we were expecting to find, based on what we remembered of the area!
So then, why did Bluefield, VA's stats jump a massive 62.5 points from 2009-2010, matching WVA's 2009 crime stats, almost verbatim, AFTER having jumped another massive 51.1 points the year preceding (2008)?? Why is there the racial discrepancy as well?
Does anyone have clues to help me figure out the area, which otherwise, looks absolutely perfect as a place for me and the missus to live?
I truly would like to figure this out......