Safety in Philadelphia is not uniform across the city. Traditionally, its central part is the calmest, while its main problem is the northern suburbs, which are the dangerous areas of Philadelphia.
At one time, this area was home to European settlers, but after they gradually moved to more prestigious suburban neighborhoods, their place was taken by residents from depressed districts.
Today, about half of North Philadelphia’s residents are African Americans, and around 30% are Spanish-speaking, mostly from Mexico. Consequently, the crime rate here is extremely high, with most offenses related to drugs. Tourists are advised not to walk around this neighborhood — sooner or later, locals may approach them with intrusive questions or aggressive behavior.
