CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) — Some Clarion residents should feel a whole lot safer after recent ratings released by SafeWise ranked Clarion as one of 20 top safest college towns in the USA.
SafeWise.com, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, publishes lists of safest college towns through the country in an effort to offer safety advice.
Safety has become a top factor in selecting a college, according to SafeWise. According to a Wearsafe Labs survey, 70 percent of parents feel that campus safety is critical to school choice.
SafeWise security experts analyzed the most recent FBI crime statistics and “sought out safety-oriented programs and initiatives in college cities throughout the nation.”
While SafeWise apparently has some old population and enrollment information, the group said this about Clarion University: “Home to 7,000 year-round residents and approximately 7,500 university students, Clarion has its hands full in terms of keeping the public safe.10 But this charming town is up to the challenge, as evidenced by its low crime rate. In 2015, Clarion reported zero incidents of murder, robbery, and arson among seventy total violent and property crimes recorded. The city’s police force works tirelessly to respond to an average of 12,000 calls for service each year, employing both vehicle and bicycle patrols to ensure citizens can rest easy at night. On the campus of Clarion University, the Office of Emergency Management provides emergency preparedness training to ensure that students would know what to do in the event of a bomb threat, active shooter, or severe weather emergency.”
The top 20 safest college towns in the country included:
1. Durham, New Hampshire
2. Charleston, Illinois
3. Rexburg, Idaho
4. Amherst, Massachusetts
5. Princeton, New Jersey
6. Bristol, Rhode Island
7. Highland Heights, Kentucky
8. Pullman, Washington
9. Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
10. Hanover, New Hampshire
11. Northfield, Minnesota
12. Canyon, Texas
13. Waltham, Massachusetts
14. Millersville, Pennsylvania
15. Edinboro, Pennsylvania
16. Houghton, Michigan
17. Williamsburg, Virginia
18. Clarion, Pennsylvania
19. Marquette, Michigan
20. Cortland, New York