FLINT, Michigan — Flint was the most violent city in the nation in 2010, according to FBI statistics released today.

Flint had 22 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, figures show. It was about 4 residents higher than second-place Detroit.

St. Louis, New Haven, Conn., and Memphis round out the top 5.

Flint reported 53 murders for 2010, but a Flint Journal count shows 66. When adjusted, Flint also has the highest murder rate, followed by New Orleans, St. Louis, Baltmore and Detroit.

The FBI

preliminary statistics in May.

Flint reported more than 2,400 violent crimes, including 92 rapes, 670 robberies and 1,597 aggravated assaults, statistics show.

The FBI cautions against rankings, saying that it provides "no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime."

Nationally, violent crime dropped 6 percent in 2010, marking the fourth straight year of declines. And property crime also was down for the eighth straight year, falling 2.7 percent.

Nationwide, there were an estimated 1.2 million violent crimes in 2010 and an estimated 9 million property crimes.

Robbery fell 10 percent, rape dropped 5 percent, and murder, non-negligent manslaughter and aggravated assault fell more than 4 percent.

Each of the property crime offenses decreased in 2010. The largest decline, 7.4 percent, was for motor vehicle thefts. Burglaries decreased 2 percent and larceny-thefts declined 2.4 percent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.