The Shadow
The city of Covington has been named among the 20 Safest Cities in Virginia by SafeWise.
Covington was ranked 18 among localities in the state, based on population data and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2016 crime report statistics.
SafeWise evalutates the ranking based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery) in each locality.
SafeWise provides re-views for alarm system companies like ADT, Vivint, Frontpoint, Simplisafe and more.
Its mission statement reads: “We’re a team of passionate safety experts and savvy consumers. SafeWise contributors relentlessly seek out the best home security and safety products to make it easy to live safe and buy smart.”
In its evaluations, if localities tied, other factors, such as the number of property crimes were also factored in.
To provide level rankings, SafeWise calculate the rate of crimes per 1,000 residents in each locality.
In a population of 5,570, Covington recorded 1.44 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.
Property crimes were recorded at 21.71 per 1,000.
Of the total crime recorded in Covington in 2016, 6.61 percent were considered violent, while 93.39 percent was crimes against property.
In neighboring Rockbridge County, Buena Vista was ranked 6th, while Lexington was ranked 17th.
In a post on the Covington Police Department’s Face-book page last week, a department spokesperson commented, “Due to the partnership between officers, citizens and the courts we can keep Covington a great place to live. The Covington Division of Police is committed to moving up the list and let’s make Covington the safest city in Virginia.”
The 20 Safest Cities in Virginia:
1. Dumfries
Population: 5,263; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.00; property crimes per 1,000: 14.25; total crime: 0 percent violent, 100 percent property.
2. Bridgewater
Population: 5,939; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.17; property crimes per 1,000: 2.86; total crime: 5.88 percent violent, 94.12 percent property.
3. Broadway
Population: 3,831; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.26; property crimes per 1,000: 12.79; total crime: 2.04 percent violent, 97.96 percent property.
4. Purcellville
Population: 9,547; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.31; property crimes per 1,000: 5.66; total crime: 5.56 percent violent, 94.44 percent property.
5. Vienna
Population: 16,679; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.42; property crimes per 1,000: 10.13; total crime: 4.14 percent violent, 95.86 percent property.
6. Buena Vista
Population: 6,576; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.46; property crimes per 1,000: 8.36; total crime: 5.45 percent violent, 94.55 percent property.
7. Luray
Population: 4,817; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.83; property crimes per 1,000: 22.42; total crime: 3.70 percent violent, 96.30 percent property.
8. Smithfield
Population: 8,418; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.83; property crimes per 1,000: 17.94; total crime: 4.64 percent violent, 95.36 percent property.
9. Berryville
Population: 4,323; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.93; property crimes per 1,000: 10.18; total crime: 9.09 percent violent, 90.91 percent property.
10. Big Stone Gap
Population: 5,378; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.93; property crimes per 1,000: 28.64; total crime: 3.25 percent violent, 96.75 percent property.
11. Salem
Population: 25,396; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.95; property crimes per 1,000: 20.75; total crime: 4.55 percent violent, 95.45 percent property.
12. Fairfax City
Population: 24,173; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.95; property crimes per 1,000: 16.84; total crime: 5.65 percent violent, 94.35 percent property.
13. Blacksburg
Population: 44,528; violent crimes per 1,000: 0.97; property crimes per 1,000: 9.19; total crime: 10.51 percent violent, 89.49 percent property.
14. Altavista
Population: 3,478; violent crimes per 1,000: 1.15; property crimes per 1,000: 29.33; total crime: 3.92 percent violent, 96.08 percent property.
15. Warrenton
Population: 9,953; violent crimes per 1,000: 1.21; property crimes per 1,000: 21.60; total crime: 5.58 percent violent, 94.42 percent property.
16. Abingdon
Population: 8,105; violent crimes per 1,000: 1.36; property crimes per 1,000: 22.09; total crime: 6.15 percent violent, 93.85 percent property.
17. Lexington
Population: 7,264; violent crimes per 1,000: 1.38; property crimes per 1,000: 10.60; total crime: 12.99 percent violent, 87.01 percent property.
18. Covington
Population: 5,570; violent crimes per 1,000: 1.44; property crimes per 1,000: 21.72; total crime: 6.61 percent violent, 93.39 percent property.
19. Blackstone
Population: 3,467; violent crimes per 1,000: 1.44; property crimes per 1,000: 34.90; total crime: 4.13 percent violent, 95.87 percent property.
20. Richlands
Population: 5,443; violent crimes per 1,000: 1.47; property crimes per 1,000: 20.39; total crime: 7.21 percent violent, 92.79 percent property.
