Violence in the community: Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs

Violence in the Community

The objective of the research reported in this study is to examine violence in the communication and specifically violence in Philadelphia, PA 19403 and surrounding suburbs.

The Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project -- Youth: Suburban Children at Risk (2007) reports that it has been held traditionally that children who grow up in suburban areas or outside of the city "are shielded from the harsh social environments that many inner-city children must confront…" however, this is not the case as most suburban youths have a quite different experience. It is reported that the Brookings Institution stated in 2006 "for the first time in U.S. history, the number of suburban poor people now exceeds the number of urban poor, by at least a million persons." (Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project, 2007)

Identification of Community

The area at focus in this study is Norristown a neighborhood in the Philadelphia, PA area.

Demographic and Epidemiological Data

The total population of Norristown, PA 19403 is stated at 42, 370 in 2010 and Norristown is reported to cover 23.29 square miles. 51% of Norristown residents are male and the median age in Norristown is stated at 39.20 years of age.

Figure 1 -- Population Growth and Population Statistics

2010 Population Growth and Population Statistics

Pennsylvania

United States

Total Population

42,370

12,625,200

308,455,134

Square Miles

23.29

44,816.61

N / A

Population Density

1,819.00

87.20

Population Change Since 1990

12.97%

6.23%

24.02%

Population Change Since 2000

2.97%

2.80%

9.61%

Forecasted Population Change by 2014

1.65%

1.81%

4.52%

Population Male

21,651

51.10%

6,152,962

48.74%

152,625,766

49.48%

Population Female

20,719

48.90%

6,472,238

51.26%

155,829,368

50.52%

Median Age

39.20

38.80

35.60

Source: CLR Choice (2010)

In a report on the highest level of education attained for Norristown, PA residents it is stated that approximately 8% of residents did not complete high school while approximately 30% of Norristown resident did complete high school and approximately 17% attended college. Norristown residents who completed an Associate Degree are reported at approximately 8% and those completing a bachelor's degree at 30%. Norristown residents reported to have completed a graduate degree is stated at approximately 12%. Therefore, Norristown, PA is comprised primarily by a nearing middle-age group in which only a small percentage have graduated high school and even a smaller percentage have attended or completed college.

In a quality of life indicators study findings show that Norristown resident's quality of life was higher than in the whole of Pennsylvania and the United States. Quality of life indicators for Amusement was reported higher than the whole of Pennsylvania and the U.S., as was the quality of life indicator on culture, religion, and restaurant dining. Norristown fell behind Pennsylvania as a whole on the indicators of culture, although only slightly behind, and indicators on risk of earthquake, educator, medical and mortality indicators.

Source: CLR Choice (2010)

The median income for households in Norristown, PA is approximately $50,000 annually.

Source: CLR Choice (2010)

It is reported that the population density of Norristown is 8,871.66 persons per square mile. The racial composition of Norristown, PA is stated at 54.32% white and 34.80% African-American with Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders and other races forming 2.96^, 0.03%, 4.61% and 3.07% of Norristown's racial composition respectively. The crime rate indexes for Norristown, PA reveal that the risk of murder in this area is approximately 12% with a risk of becoming a rape victim stated at approximately 7%. The risk of being a victim of robbery in Norristown, PA is stated at approximately 19% and assault at approximately 4%. The risk of becoming a victim of burglary in Norristown, PA is stated at approximately 8% and for larceny and motor vehicle theft, the risk of becoming a victim of one of these crimes is stated at approximately 6% and approximately 9% respectively. (United States Census Bureau, 2004)

Source: CLR Choice (2010)

Windshield Survey

Norristown, PA is replete with public health and social service organizations and this information can be located online at http://www.umacast.org/pdfs/CAST%20Resource%20Guide.pdf. Included are services for drug and alcohol abuse, counseling, victim's services, and a myriad of other services that assist the community.

Problem

Violence is a high risk factor for individuals living in Norristown, PA. According to one report, those living in Norristown were found much more likely to be the victim of rape than others living in Philadelphia. Reported as well is that Norristown is the location of 1.3 of Montgomery County's "murders, rapes and robberies…" (Downs, Brenowitz, and King, 1997) The Chief of Police, Thomas Stone reported that most of the people that reside in Norristown are "decent and hardworking" but he also stated that Norristown has "a pocket of about one square mile that is a badlands." (Downs, Brenowitz, and King, 1997) Stone noted that the worst aspect of crime in that area is "property crime." (Downs, Brenowitz, and King, 1997) Penn State University reports that exposure to firearm violence in the area of Norristown, PA is high risk for elderly individuals. (Cheney, Wiebe, Errico, and Richmond, 2012)