Sheriff's Office: Crime rate hits historic low in Polk County

POLK COUNTY, Fla - Reported crimes have hit their lowest level in Polk County in 40 years, the sheriff's office reported on Monday.

The crime rate was down 9.1% in 2011 from 2010. The crime rate is the number of crimes per 100 residents. It was 2.70 in 2011, compared to 2.97 in 2010.

The 2.70 crime rate is the lowest ever measured and breaks the previous low of 2.97 crimes per 100 people from last year, authorities said. The crime rate in Polk County has fallen by 59.5% since 1997, according to the sheriff's office.

Reliable crime statistics in Polk County started in 1971.

The crime statistics are reported annually to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and cover unincorporated areas of Polk County and cities in which the sheriff's office is contracted to provide service.

Violent crime is down 1.53% in Polk's unincorporated area and Sheriff's Office contract cities. There were a total of 1,308 violent crimes in 2010 and 1,288 in 2011, authorities said.