Do you live in one of these dangerous cities? These are the cities in West Virginia with the highest annual rate of violent crimes — murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. This list doesn’t take into account property thefts. We got the numbers mostly from the FBI (you can see the full list here) and from Neighborhoodscout.com for a couple of cities that the FBI didn’t list (including Charleston and Huntington). Without further ado, here are the most dangerous towns in West Virginia — according to the stats.
- Fairmont
Jon Dawson/Flickr Fairmont in Marion County has an annual crime rate of 82.
- South Charleston
WVhybrid South Charleston in Kanawha County had 83 violent crimes in one year, according to Neighborhoodscout.com.
- Martinsburg
Michael Hicks/Flickr Martinsburg, with a little more than 17,000 people, had 89 violent crimes in 2012.
- Morgantown
Jen & Elwood/Flickr Morgantown, with has about 29,000 people not including college students, had 107 violent crimes in 2012.
- Clarksburg
Jon Dawson/Flickr Clarksburg in Harrison County had 112 violent crimes in 2012.
- Parkersburg
OZinOH/flickr Parkersburg, the state’s fourth-largest city, had 146 violent crimes in 2012.
- Beckley
Gene/Flickr Beckley in southern West Virginia had 189 violent crimes in 2012.
- Wheeling
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr Wheeling, with a population of about 28,000, had 245 violent crimes in 2012, according to information reported to the FBI.
- Charleston
Edsel Little/Flickr Charleston, the state capital, had 271 violent crimes in one year.
- Huntington
Kevin Schraer/Flickr Huntington, with about 49,000 people, has an annual violent crime rate of 394, according to Neighborhood scout.com.
Were you surprised by this list of the most dangerous towns in West Virginia? It seems like all of the high-population cities also have high crime rates. Which scary places in West Virginia didn’t make the list? And which of these cities that made the list do you think are the most creepy places in West Virginia? Let us know below in the comments section.
Jon Dawson/Flickr
Fairmont in Marion County has an annual crime rate of 82.
WVhybrid
South Charleston in Kanawha County had 83 violent crimes in one year, according to Neighborhoodscout.com.
Michael Hicks/Flickr
Martinsburg, with a little more than 17,000 people, had 89 violent crimes in 2012.
Jen & Elwood/Flickr
Morgantown, with has about 29,000 people not including college students, had 107 violent crimes in 2012.
Clarksburg in Harrison County had 112 violent crimes in 2012.
OZinOH/flickr
Parkersburg, the state’s fourth-largest city, had 146 violent crimes in 2012.
Gene/Flickr
Beckley in southern West Virginia had 189 violent crimes in 2012.
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr
Wheeling, with a population of about 28,000, had 245 violent crimes in 2012, according to information reported to the FBI.
Edsel Little/Flickr
Charleston, the state capital, had 271 violent crimes in one year.
Kevin Schraer/Flickr
Huntington, with about 49,000 people, has an annual violent crime rate of 394, according to Neighborhood scout.com.
looking for more West Virginia content? Check out this road trip of the 7 most creepy and abandoned places in West Virginia.
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Address: Fairmont, WV 26554, USAAddress: South Charleston, WV, USAAddress: Martinsburg, WV, USAAddress: Morgantown, WV, USAAddress: Clarksburg, WV, USAAddress: Parkersburg, WV, USAAddress: Beckley, WV 25801, USAAddress: Wheeling, WV 26003, USAAddress: Charleston, WV, USAAddress: Huntington, WV, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
most dangerous towns in West Virginia May 18, 2021 Luke Are there any ghost towns I can visit in West Virginia? Yes, in fact there are actually numerous ghost towns you can visit in West Virginia, that is if you can handle the riveting and eerie nature of these places. And what’s even more frightening is that there are over 60 different ghost towns all along the New River Gorge. These towns belong to an old mining tradition and all of the stories are horrible and terrifying. As a visitor you can still explore several of these haunted places in West Virginia in person. Happy haunted trails! Can I visit any abandoned places in West Virginia? Yes, and when it comes to visiting scary, haunted, and abandoned places, West Virginia is one of the best options in the United States. There are countless terrifying attractions that will certainly satisfy your abandoned places appetite. Here are some of our favorite places: The old Coalwood High School, The Pocahontas Coal Company, and the Fort Henry Club. For more information and haunted and abandoned places to visit, check out this list of the most terrifying abandoned places in West Virginia. What are the best things about living in West Virginia? Even though we just looked at the most dangerous cities in West Virginia, that doesn’t mean WV isn’t a great place to live. So let’s take a look at some of the best reasons to live in West Virginia. For starters, there’s a lot of fascinating history. Then, there’s plenty to do for adventure enthusiasts. Finally, West Virginia’s hip and cool small towns will be great for those looking to get out of the cities, and much much more.
The OIYS Visitor Center
most dangerous towns in West Virginia
May 18, 2021
Luke
Are there any ghost towns I can visit in West Virginia? Yes, in fact there are actually numerous ghost towns you can visit in West Virginia, that is if you can handle the riveting and eerie nature of these places. And what’s even more frightening is that there are over 60 different ghost towns all along the New River Gorge. These towns belong to an old mining tradition and all of the stories are horrible and terrifying. As a visitor you can still explore several of these haunted places in West Virginia in person. Happy haunted trails! Can I visit any abandoned places in West Virginia? Yes, and when it comes to visiting scary, haunted, and abandoned places, West Virginia is one of the best options in the United States. There are countless terrifying attractions that will certainly satisfy your abandoned places appetite. Here are some of our favorite places: The old Coalwood High School, The Pocahontas Coal Company, and the Fort Henry Club. For more information and haunted and abandoned places to visit, check out this list of the most terrifying abandoned places in West Virginia. What are the best things about living in West Virginia? Even though we just looked at the most dangerous cities in West Virginia, that doesn’t mean WV isn’t a great place to live. So let’s take a look at some of the best reasons to live in West Virginia. For starters, there’s a lot of fascinating history. Then, there’s plenty to do for adventure enthusiasts. Finally, West Virginia’s hip and cool small towns will be great for those looking to get out of the cities, and much much more.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Yes, in fact there are actually numerous ghost towns you can visit in West Virginia, that is if you can handle the riveting and eerie nature of these places. And what’s even more frightening is that there are over 60 different ghost towns all along the New River Gorge. These towns belong to an old mining tradition and all of the stories are horrible and terrifying. As a visitor you can still explore several of these haunted places in West Virginia in person. Happy haunted trails!
Can I visit any abandoned places in West Virginia?
Yes, and when it comes to visiting scary, haunted, and abandoned places, West Virginia is one of the best options in the United States. There are countless terrifying attractions that will certainly satisfy your abandoned places appetite. Here are some of our favorite places: The old Coalwood High School, The Pocahontas Coal Company, and the Fort Henry Club. For more information and haunted and abandoned places to visit, check out this list of the most terrifying abandoned places in West Virginia.
What are the best things about living in West Virginia?
Even though we just looked at the most dangerous cities in West Virginia, that doesn’t mean WV isn’t a great place to live. So let’s take a look at some of the best reasons to live in West Virginia. For starters, there’s a lot of fascinating history. Then, there’s plenty to do for adventure enthusiasts. Finally, West Virginia’s hip and cool small towns will be great for those looking to get out of the cities, and much much more.