FLINT, MI -- Two Michigan cities

led the nation in violent crime in 2011, with Flint topping the list and Detroit at No. 2, according to preliminary annual

for cities of over 100,000 people.

With 2,337 violent crimes per 100,000 people, Flint residents by far reported the most incidents per capita. Detroit had 2,137 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents.

St. Louis, Oakland and Memphis followed.

Crime actually slightly declined in Flint in most categories, but not enough to knock the city out of the top spot. Flint was

, when Detroit was No. 2.

Nationwide, the preliminary figures show a 4 percent decline in violent crimes reported in 2011.

The violent crime category includes murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

Burglary, larceny, auto theft, arson and property crime were also measured.

Flint saw increases in property crime, larceny, auto theft and aggravated assault compared to 2010, and slight decreases in each other category.

Detroit had notable increases in homicide, from 310 in 2010 to 344 in 2011, and rape, but saw declines in every other category.

This year, Detroit had 149 homicides as of June 10, up from 144 at that date last year.

In Flint, 27 people have been killed this year, compared to 28 at this time in 2011.

for the first six months of 2011 indicated declines in Michigan that would have placed St. Louis No. 1, but with the numbers now in for the rest of the year, the Missouri city ranks well below both Detroit and Flint with 1,857 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

The 10 most violent cities, according to the preliminary FBI statistics:

Flint, 2,337 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

Detroit, 2,137.

St. Louis, Mo. 1,857.

Oakland, Calif. 1,683.

Memphis, Tenn. 1,583.

Little Rock, Ark. 1,490.

Birmingham, Ala. 1483.

Atlanta, Ga. 1,433.

Baltimore, Md. 1,417.

Stockton, Calif. 1,408.

More on the FBI violent crime statistics:

-City leaders focus on public safety plan as Flint tops nation in violent crime



-New patrol strategy will help Flint get off most violent list, says head of public safety



-Report: Flint violent crimes double all "safest cities" crimes combined



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Contact Khalil AlHajal at kalhajal@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter @FlintKhalil or on Facebook at Khalil Flint Journal.



Flint Journal staff writer Kristin Longley and MLive Detroit reporter Gus Burns contributed to this report.

