| hairycow.name |
United Status Population Density |
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For the purpose of tabulating census data, the United States is divided into approximately 8.2 million census blocks. In urban areas a census block may be as small as a city block. This image plots the population density of each census block on a logarithmic scale using data from the Census Bureau's TIGER/Line database and Census 2000 Summary File. Areas of high population density appear as dark patches. Rivers, lakes, and mountains are clearly visible as zero-population “holes.” The east-west tendrils in the middle of the country appear to follow rivers. I don't know why there's a sudden drop in density there; perhaps the elevation farther west makes farming more difficult? |
For a closer look, click on a metropolitan area. The detailed image shows the census blocks shaded in brown (on a linear scale) with the roads drawn on top. This map is an unexpected outgrowth of my schedule-based path planner. It was also insipred and influenced by Ben Fry's All Streets project. |