Smithfield Is Ranked 9th Safest City

Dissected by the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains and boasting more than one hundred miles of Atlantic coastline, Virginia is a beautiful state that’s rich with history and culture. It also offers conscientious parents a number of safe cities to raise their family. We’ve found 30 of them, and here’s how we did it.

We used FBI Crime Report data from 2012 as the backbone of our report and paired it with our own thorough research. We then narrowed down the options to cities with a population of 3,000 or above. We analyze the number of Violent Crimes, consisting of aggravated assault, forcible rape, murder, and robbery, as well as Property Crimes, consisting of arson, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Then, we then calculate the chance of these crimes happening out of one thousand in order to level the playing field for cities of varying populations. Our purpose was to get at the heart of the issue, and give you the information to answer this important question: “What is the chance of crime happening to me or my loved ones?”

We believe the FBI Crime Report is our best source for trusted, comprehensive crime statistics, however not all cities have reported complete data to the FBI and that could be why you don’t see your city on our list.

If you’d like to know more about staying safe in Virginia, check out the Virginia Home Security and Crime Prevention Center. Read on to discover why Virginia may be for lovers, but it’s also fabulous for families.

9. Smithfield

When the “Virginia Review” claims a community is “without a doubt one of the prettiest towns in Virginia” there’s a good chance it has a lot to offer. That’s just what has been said about Smithfield. Good schools, safe streets, affordable housing and a small town vibe are just a handful of reasons why Smithfield is not only beautiful, it’s a great place to raise a family. A full schedule of parades, and other family oriented events only add to its appeal. Smithfield also recently opened Smithfield Center. This modern, fresh, state-of-the-art community and conference center is earning Smithfield lots of kudos and is the perfect outlet for a class reunion, wedding or corporate program.

It’s clear Smithfield is looking to the future, but not at the expense of its past. In fact, it offers a well-recognized revitalized downtown, streets flaunting architecture dating back to the 1700 and 1800s, and has long been home to Fortune 500 Company Smithfield Foods, Inc. It was also one of the first 20 communities designated as a Preserve America Community thanks to its efforts to preserve its unique culture and heritage.

More than 260 years old and growing strong, our bet is Smithfield will entice you. When you make your home in Smithfield, there’s a 1 in 1,000 chance you or a loved one will be a victim of a violent crime and a 12 in 1,000 chance you or a loved one will be a victim of a property crime.

The Safewise Report; The 30 Safest Cities in Virginia (read more)