The Courageous King

By Gabe

February 12, 2021

There was a cave on a cliff above the sea with a massive dragon sleeping soundly, guarding his vast treasure. One day a tenacious slave tried to snag one of the creature’s precious gold goblets. The slave absentmindedly awoke the dragon’s deep sleep so the ravenous monster went from village to village dilapidating every house that stood in his path. The noble king, Beowulf, resolved to stop the fetid beast. Beowulf intrepidly brandished his sword and called to the monster. The colossal serpent roared and spewed fire out of his nostrils. Fighting the awful dragon, Beowulf’s sword broke and the dragon grabbed the stunned man by his neck. Instead of fleeing, a youngster climbed onto the dragon and stabbed him until he let go of Beowulf. The Youngster and Beowulf jabbed the dragon until he dropped dead. The towns were safe, but Beowulf was fatally wounded. Unfortunately, the courageous king knew death was imminent. 

List of cities in America with the worst crime

  1. Detroit, Michigan
  2. Memphis, Tennessee
  3. Birmingham, Alabama
  4. Baltimore, Maryland
  5. Flint, Michigan
  6. St. Louis, Missouri
  7. Danville, Illinois
  8. Saginaw, Michigan
  9. Wilmington, Delaware
  10. Camden, New Jersey

Detroit

Detroit is a city in Eastern Michigan and the population today is 713,777 people. Detroit has the highest crime rate but has the third highest murder rate in the country. The rate of robberies has decreased significantly since 1985, but the aggravated assaults have increased. In Detroit, it seems like most of the crime is starting to decrease. In 2016, there were 303 murders. Whereas in 2017, there were 267. Here is a list of the crimes per 100,000 people in Detroit:

Homicide: 48.2
Rape: 78.27 
Robbery: 510.5 
Aggravated assault: 1,117.1
Burglary: 1,154.9
Theft: 2,144.8 
Motor vehicle theft: 770.3
Arson 124.3 (Setting fire to buildings)

The peak of crime in Detroit was in 1974, when there were 714 homicides. In 2010, it had reached a lower count of homicides with 308, but in 2012 it reached 411. 

Memphis 

Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee. It is located in the very southwest corner of the state. The 2019 estimate of the city’s population was 651,073 people. In 2006, Memphis had the most violent crimes in the nation. In the early 2000s Memphis ranked second in how dangerous it was. There are 182 gangs in the city of Memphis and approximately 8,400 gang members in the Memphis metropolitan area. In Memphis there were 1,072 of all violent crimes per 100,000 people. 

Birmingham

Birmingham is a city in the center of Alabama. It is also the biggest city in the state with a population of 212,237 people. In Birmingham, Alabama the crime rate is higher than 93% of other American cities. In 2018, the violent crime rate per 100,000 people was 875.8. The numbers of homicide has increased from 79 in 2015 and 88 in now. Birmingham’s violent crime has risen, whereas its property crime has decreased. 

Baltimore

Baltimore is a city in the center of Maryland. Its population is 620,961 people. Baltimore is probably the most notorious city for its crime. In 2019, there were 348 homicides. Per 100,000 people there were 2,027 violent crimes, and 4,928 property crimes. In 1993, the homicides were the worst with 353 of them. In 2011, there was a drop in violent crimes, but in 2015, crimes increased during riots because of the death of Freddie Grey who was killed by Baltimore police. 

Flint

Flint is a city in Genesee county, central Michigan. In 2010, the population was 102,434 people. In Flint, the crime issue has been addressed as a serious problem. The crime has decreased, but is starting to go up again. In 2006, there were 54 murders, and 3,070 violent crimes. The highest homicide rate was in 2012, when there were 63 murders. In 2017 there were only 37 murders, 1,879 violent crimes, and 1,362 property crimes. 

St. Louis 

St. Louis is a city in eastern Missouri near the border of Illinois. It has a population of 319,294 people. From 1960 till 1990 crime in St. Louis increased greatly. Although in 2014, the crime is starting to decrease, it is still a very crime ridden city. In St. Louis, most of the crime is in East St. Louis which is a notoriously dangerous part of the city. In 2017, the St. Louis metropolitan area had 205 homicides. In 2016, the total number of violent crimes per 100,000 people was 1,913.2. The total number of property crimes per 100,000 people was 5,930.9. 

Danville 

Danville is a city in eastern Illinois and is the county seat of Vermilion county. It has a population of 33,027 people. The number of annual crimes in Danville is 536 violent crimes and 1,370 property crimes. In Danville, 1 in 57 people are a victim of violent crimes, whereas in Illinois 1 in 246 people are a victim of violent crimes.  The Danville property crime stats per year are 341 burglaries, 957 theft, and 72 motor vehicle theft. 

Saginaw

Saginaw is a city in Saginaw county, Michigan. Its population is 51,508 people. The annual number of crimes in Saginaw, Michigan are 734 violent crimes and 774 property crimes. Your chance of being a victim of a violent crime in Saginaw is 1 in 66. In the state of Michigan your chance is 1 in 229. 

Wilmington

Wilmington is a city in New Castle county, Delaware. Its population is 70,166 people. The annual crime statistics in Wilmington are 1,114 violent crimes, 3,690 property crimes, and 4,804 total. You have a 1 in 63 chance of being a victim of a violent crime in Wilmington and a 1 in 19 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. 

Camden 

Camden is a city in Camden county, New Jersey. Its population is 77,344 people. The annual crime statistics in Camden are 1,161 violent crimes, 2,122 property crimes and 3,283 total. You have a 1 in 63 chance of being a victim of a violent crime in Camden and a 1 in 35 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. 

American States and Canadian Provinces Part 2

Montana (West) 

Montana flag

Capital: Helena

Largest city: Billings

Population: 1 Million 

Size: 147,040 sq. miles

Date joined union: November 8, 1889

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Granite Peak 12,807 feet tall 

Sphinx Mountain, Montana

Nebraska (West) 

Nebraska flag

Capital: Lincoln 

Largest city: Omaha

Population: 1.9 Million 

Size: 77,358 sq. miles

Date joined union: March 1, 1867 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Panorama Point 5,424 feet tall 

Chimney Rock, Nebraska

Nevada (West) 

Nevada flag

Capital: Carson City

Largest city: Las Vegas

Population: 3 Million 

Size: 110,557 sq. miles

Date joined union: October 31, 1864

Main languages: None

 Tallest point: Boundary Peak 13,147 feet tall

Las Vegas skyline, Nevada

New Hampshire (New England) 

New Hampshire flag

Capital: Concord 

Largest city: Manchester

Population: 1.3 Million 

Size: 9,349 sq. miles

Date joined union: June 21, 1788 

Main languages: English, French

Tallest point: Mount Washington 6,288 feet tall 

Tichfield Abbey, New Hampshire

New Jersey (New England) 

New Jersey flag

Capital: Trenton 

Largest city: Newark 

Population: 8.8 Million 

Size: 8,722 sq. miles

Date joined union: December 18, 1787 

Main languages: English, Spanish, Indic, Chinese, and Korean

Tallest point: High Point 1,803 feet tall 

Cape May Bunker in New Jersey

New Mexico (West) 

New Mexico flag

Capital: Santa Fe

Largest city: Albuquerque

Population: 2 Million 

Size: 121,590 sq. miles

Date joined union: January 6, 1912

Main languages: English, Spanish, and Navajo 

Tallest point: Wheeler Peak 13,161 feet tall 

El Santuario Church in New Mexico

New York (New England) 

New York flag

Capital: Albany 

Largest city: New York City 

Population: 19.4 Million 

Size: 54,555 sq. miles

Date joined union: July 26, 1788 

Main languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and Russian

Tallest point: Mount Marcy 5,344 feet tall 

Statue of Liberty in Manhattan, New York

North Carolina (South) 

North Carolina flag

Capital: Raleigh 

Largest city: Charlotte 

Population: 10.4 Million 

Size: 53,819 sq. miles

Date joined union: November 21, 1789 

Main languages: English, Spanish

Tallest point: Mount Mitchell 6,684 feet tall 

Hatteras Ligthouse in Hatteras Island, North Carolina

North Dakota (West) 

North Dakota flag

Capital: Bismarck 

Largest city: Fargo 

Population: 762,062 

Size: 70,704 sq. miles

Date joined union: November 2, 1889 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: White Butte 3,606 feet tall 

Buffalo landmark in North Dakota

Ohio (New England) 

Ohio flag

Capital: Columbus (and largest city) 

2nd largest city: Cleveland

Population: 11.6 Million 

Size: 44,825 sq. miles

Date joined union: March 1, 1803

Main languages: English, Spanish

Tallest point: Campbell Hill 1,549 feet tall 

Indians baseball park in Cleveland, Ohio

Oklahoma (West) 

Oklahoma flag

Capital: Oklahoma City (and largest city) 

2nd largest city: Tulsa

Population: 3.9 Million 

Size: 69,899 sq. miles

Date joined union: November 16, 1907 

Main languages: English, Choctaw, and Cherokee

Tallest point: Black Mesa 4,975 feet tall 

Cherokee trail of tears monument in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oregon (Pacific) 

Oregon flag

Capital: Salem

Largest city: Portland

Population: 4.2 Million 

Size: 98,381 sq. miles

Date joined union: February 14, 1859 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Mount Hood 11,249 feet tall 

Crater lake in Klamath Falls, Oregon

Pennsylvania (New England) 

Pennsylvania flag

Capital: Harrisburg 

Largest city: Philadelphia

Population: 12.8 Million 

Size: 46,055 sq. miles

Date joined union: December 12, 1787 

Main languages: English, Spanish, German, Chinese, and Italian 

Tallest point: Mount Davis 3,213 feet tall 

Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Rhode Island (New England) 

Rhode Island flag

Capital: Providence (and largest city)

2nd largest city: Cranston 

Population: 1 Million 

Size: 1,214 sq. miles

Date joined union: May 29, 1790 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Jerimoth Hill 812 feet tall 

Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island

South Carolina (South) 

South Carolina flag

Capital: Columbia (and largest city)

2nd largest city: Charleston 

Population: 5.1 Million 

Size: 32,020 sq. miles

Date joined union: May 23, 1788 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Sassafras Mountain 3,560 feet tall 

Morris Island lightouse in Folly Beach, South Carolina

South Dakota (West) 

South Dakota flag

Capital: Pierre

 Largest city: Sioux City

Population: 884,659 

Size: 77,116 sq. miles

Date joined union: November 2, 1889 

Main languages: English, Sioux

Tallest point: Black Elk Peak 7,244 feet tall 

Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota

Tennessee (South) 

Tennessee flag

Capital: Nashville (and largest city) 

2nd largest city: Memphis

Population: 6.8 Million 

Size: 42,143 sq. miles

Date joined union: June 1, 1796 

Main languages: English, Spanish

Tallest point: Clingmans Dome 6,643 feet tall 

Skyline of Knoxville, Tennessee

Texas (South) 

Texas flag

Capital: Austin 

Largest city: Houston 

Population: 29.3 Million 

Size: 268,596 sq. miles

Date joined union: December 29, 1845 

Main languages: English, Spanish

Tallest point: Guadalupe Peak 8,751 feet tall 

The battle of the Alamo historic site in San Antonio, Texas

Utah (West) 

Utah flag

Capital: Salt Lake City (and largest city) 

2nd largest city: West Valley City

Population: 3.2 Million 

Size: 84,899 sq. miles

Date joined union: January 4, 1896 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Kings Peak 13,534 feet tall 

Delicate Arch part of Arches National Park, Utah

Vermont (New England) 

Vermont flag

Capital: Montpelier 

Largest city: Burlington 

Population: 623,989

Size: 9,616 sq. miles

Date joined union: March 4, 1791 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Mount Mansfield 4,395 feet tall 

Red covered bridge in Morristown, Vermont

Virginia (South) 

Virginia flag

Capital: Richmond 

Largest city: Virginia Beach

Population: 8.5 Million 

Size: 42,774 sq. miles

Date joined union: June 25, 1788 

Main languages: English, Spanish

Tallest point: Mount Rogers 5,729 feet tall 

George Washington monument Richmond, Virginia

Washington (Pacific)

Washington flag

Capital: Olympia

Largest city: Seattle

Population: 7.6 Million

Size: 71,362 sq. miles

Date joined union: November 11, 1889

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Mount Rainer 14,411 feet tall

The Space Needle in Seattle, Washington

West Virginia (South) 

West Virginia flag

Capital: Charleston (and largest city) 

2nd largest city: Huntington 

Population: 1.7 Million

Size: 24,230 sq. miles

Date joined union: June 20, 1863 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Spruce Knob 4,863 feet tall 

West Virginia capitol building in Charleston, West Virginia

Wisconsin (Midwest) 

Wisconsin flag

Capital: Madison 

Largest city: Milwaukee 

Population: 5.8 Million 

Size: 65,498 sq. miles

Date joined union: May 29, 1848 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Timms Hill 1,951 feet tall 

Salem Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Wyoming (West) 

Wyoming flag

Capital: Cheyenne (and largest city)

2nd largest city: Casper

Population: 578,759 

Size: 97,914 sq. miles

Date joined union: July 10, 1890 

Main languages: English

Tallest point: Gannett Peak 13,809 

Devils tower in Crook County, Wyoming