North Dakota’s northwest corner is home to Williams County. There are around 37,000 people living in its 2,077 square miles. The county is home to Williston, North Dakota’s sixth-largest city and an important center for the oil and gas industries.
Despite its significant economic impact, Williams County is plagued by high crime rates, particularly in specific regions. Using statistics on crime, housing conditions, and public perception, this article will analyze the five riskiest neighborhoods in Williams County.
Wildrose
The little town of Wildrose is located in western Williams County. It is home to around 100 people, with an average household income of around $46,000. Wildrose, which is 122% higher than the national average, has a violent crime rate of 1602 per 1000 inhabitants, and it is located near to the Little Missouri River and along Highway 85.
From arson to robbery, rape, assault, and murder, the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime in Wildrose is 1 in 9. Poverty, corruption, bad health, insufficient services, and environmental problems don’t help the town’s already bad reputation.
Williston
With a typical family income of over $88,000, Williston—the primary city and county seat—is home to more than 27,000 people. The city of Williston has become famous for its thriving gas and oil sector. It is roughly an hour south of the Canadian border and near to the North Dakota–Montana border.
But its low quality of life and high crime rate are major problems. There are 1,086 violent crimes per 1000 people living in Williston, making it 96% more violent than the national average.
The likelihood of being a victim of a crime—including robbery, theft, rape, assault, and murder—in Williston is one in seven. Additional issues that reduce the city’s livability include homelessness, transit gridlock, noise pollution, and environmental hazards.
Ray
Ray is a small city in eastern Williams County that is home to over 800 people. The median family income in Ray is around $66,000. With 2,143 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, Ray is 197 percent greater than the U.S. average. The town is located on Highway 2 and is close to the White Earth River.
The likelihood of being a victim of a crime in Ray—including robbery, burglary, assault, rape, and murder—is 1 in 8. Rage, gangs, poverty, and racial tensions are only some of Ray’s problems that contribute to the neighborhood’s unsavory image.
Epping
Located in the geographic heart of Williams County, the little town of Epping is home to approximately 200 people, the median family income of whom is approximately $54,000. Compared to the rest of the country, Epping’s shockingly high violent crime rate of 2,910 per 1,000 population is 303% higher. The town is located along Highway 2 and is adjacent to the Little Muddy River.
One out of five people living in Epping will be victims of a violent crime such as a murder, rape, assault, robbery, or arson. The town’s low income, high population density, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate services contribute to its unsavory image.
Tioga
There are over 1,600 people living in the little town of Tioga in northern Williams County, and their average household income is more than $75,000. The violent crime rate in Tioga, which is 145% higher than the national average, is 1894 per 1000 inhabitants. The town is situated near to the Missouri River and along Highway 40.
One out of four Tioga residents will be a victim of a violent crime such as robbery, assault, rape, murder, or vehicle theft. The city also has a reputation for being a tough place to live or visit because to its problems with substance abuse, poor education, unemployment, poverty, and restricted opportunities.
Last Remarks
The aforementioned communities constitute the five most hazardous neighborhoods in Williams County, according to the statistics that are currently available. But this assessment in no way suggests that these neighborhoods are beyond redemption. Working to better their circumstances and bring about positive change, many of the workers and citizens in these communities are actively engaged.
Improvements in quality of life, reduced crime rates, and expanded opportunities are the desired outcomes of these initiatives. It is essential, then, to acknowledge the challenges faced by these areas and to support their efforts and successes.