Criminologists have long agreed that the concentration of poverty tends to concentrate other social ills, like violent crime. The map above shows this relationship graphically in the city of Richmond.

The map was created for Richmond Confidential using data from the 2000 census, the most recent census data available for Richmond, to create a visual portrayal of poverty in the city. Areas with the highest levels of poverty are shown in red and those with the lowest levels of poverty are in dark green. As the map indicates, poverty is concentrated heavily, but not solely, in the Iron Triangle district.

The black dots mark the location of homicides in the city. Using data supplied by the Richmond Police Department, the dots indicate each homicide committed between January 1, 2009 and August 31, 2009.

The map shows that homicides in Richmond do occur in green areas, but that most homicides are committed in and around neighborhoods where people are living in the greatest poverty.