This County In Minnesota Was One Of The Most Dangerous Places In The Nation In The 1990s
By Betsy Rathburn|Published December 19, 2017
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
Given Minnesota’s nice reputation, it may come as a surprise that one of its counties was once one of the most dangerous places in the United States. Back in the 1990s, one county was put in the spotlight because of its most populous city. Hennepin County’s homicide rate spiked, pushing Minnesota – Minneapolis in particular – into the headlines. The county has since cleaned up its act, but the legacy of Minneapolis and its dark past will not soon be forgotten.
Given Minnesotans' reputation for being welcoming, hardworking, and downright nice, it likely came as quite the surprise in the mid 1990s, when Minneapolis murder rates rose above many much larger cities. Many major publications, including The New York Times and The Washington Post published articles detailing the city's decline.
In addition to reporting on the who, what, where, and why of the spiked homicide rate, those publications also coined a new nickname: Murderapolis. The murder rate in Hennepin County - Minneapolis in particular - was at an all-time high. The New York Times reported that in 1995, the city had 97 homicides. By comparison, that number dropped to 49 homicides in 2015. In 2016, Minnesota's total crime rate hit a 50-year low.
The population of the Minneapolis metro back in 1990 was about 2.5 million. Compare that to the population of New York City at the same time, and you can see why officials were alarmed. More than 7 million people lived in New York, yet its murder rate was about 70% less than that of Minneapolis in the early 1990s.
So why was Minneapolis so dangerous? What was it about Hennepin County that led to so many homicides? It is interesting to note that according to a 1995 Washington Post, the homicide rate just over the river in St. Paul was significantly less. The violence has largely been attributed to drugs.
Regardless of the cause of violence, the Murderapolis legacy followed Minneapolis well into the new millennium. Even today, violent crime brings to mind the chaotic '90s, when so many were murdered. Crime rates have declined significantly, with Minneapolis' crime rate not even breaking the top 20 in 2010. But there is still work to be done to rid Minneapolis - and Hennepin County in general - of violence.
What do you remember about Minnesota’s crime rate in the 1990s? Was Hennepin County the most dangerous county in the country? Let us know what you remember in the comments below.
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