Crime and evil have always been a part of humanity. Since the founding of the United States, crime has fluctuated significantly over time for various reasons. Amazingly, violent crime in the United States has declined since colonial times. The homicide rate has been estimated to be over 30 per 100,000 people in 1700, dropping to under 20 by 1800 and to under ten by 1900.

However, there was a sharp rise after 1900 and another after World War II, peaking from the 1970s to the early 1990s. Since then, contrary to common misconceptions, crime in the United States has declined steadily.

Over the years, most crimes are quickly forgotten, but many are remembered. From the American Revolution to the Civil War, Old West days, to the Great Depression, and beyond, here can be found many famous crime stories.