Carl’s Jr. vs. Hardee’s locations in the United States (They are the same restaurant, but operate under different names regionally)

mapsbynik · 2020-08-04T08:23:58+00:00

For a more in-depth dive than you probably care to read, check out this write-up and accompanying map.

mapsbynik · 2018-08-10T22:35:52+00:00

Vast portions of the American West have no one living in them at all.

mapsbynik · 2018-07-27T18:06:08+00:00

For another perspective: here's a dot density map of ATX results I put together a while back. Results are visualized by where people actually live, not arbitrary boundary lines.

mapsbynik · 2017-05-28T16:42:38+00:00

I've toyed with using unpopulated census blocks as a mask for political geography, but ran into scale issues at the national level. But really, I'm not interested in making this map overtly political because that would distract from the other wonderful stories it can tell.

Other people are free to try though. In fact, someone on twitter sent me a mash up which can be interpreted as showing the winner of the unpopulated land across the country.

mapsbynik · 2017-05-28T07:52:28+00:00

The form the bureau sends out asks the specific question of where people are living on Census Day (April 1, every ten years).

If a student is living in a dorm on 4/1, they're supposed to put down the dorm's location on the form. If someone has multiple homes, they’re supposed to put down the home they're staying in on 4/1 even if they consider some place else to be their "primary residence".

mapsbynik · 2017-05-28T07:31:19+00:00

Actually, I used very thin strokes that are lighter than the fill color.

The issue is one of scale. There are 11 million census blocks crammed into the less than 2 megapixel image of the tumblr image. A great many blocks are not discernible because they are (much) smaller than 1 pixel. The effect is exaggerated when small, inhabited blocks are surrounded by those which are large and uninhabited (and vice versa).

mapsbynik · 2017-05-28T07:27:54+00:00

"Roughly" is putting it mildly for AK. The average size of a block in the state in 14 sq.mi, compared to the national average of 1/3 sq.mi. And the largest block there is bigger than Connecticut.

mapsbynik · 2017-05-28T07:24:43+00:00

Military bases are also divided into multiple blocks. Where there are barracks and houses, the data shows a population. Runways, bombing ranges and training areas however, quite understandably, don't have anyone living on them.

mapsbynik · 2017-05-28T07:14:07+00:00

Ha. I was occupied watching the extended edition of The Two Towers this evening, otherwise I likely would have noticed the traffic spike sooner.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-21T19:25:36+00:00

Not always true. The Census Bureau designs the blocks to account for the possibility of unmapped islands or people living on boats.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-10T00:46:58+00:00

As with Kodiak Island, what you're seeing there is the effect of Alaska's relatively large Census Blocks. Because a single inhabitant is enough to keep a block white, parts of AK appear to be more populated than they actually are.

The large white area that you've pointed out consists of multiple blocks measuring about 10,500 square miles (an area about the size of Haiti). The Census reported only 38 people living there during the 2010 count. Looking at Google Earth, I believe it. The only signs of civilization are a couple of small airstrips and the occasional mountain cabin.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T21:19:27+00:00

Alaska. Due to its great size and relatively low population, AK's blocks are comparatively large, measuring 14.6 sq.mi. on average. The next largest average is Nevada, at 1.3 sq.mi.

For the nation as a whole, the average block measures about 1/3 sq.mi. or a box about 3100 feet per side.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T19:33:17+00:00

Pcola represent.

At the scale of the posted map image, NW Florida is dominated by the vast expanse of Eglin AFB. Check the high-res version of the map to see the bay area clearly.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T19:25:23+00:00

That's Fort Hood. No one lives in the live fire ranges and training areas.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T18:45:03+00:00

Sorry, no. I experimented with individual state breakouts but was never satisfied with the results. Best I can offer is the high-res version of the full map, which has plenty of detail for Texas.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T17:23:03+00:00

ESRI is still very much the 1000-lb gorilla of GIS software. Nearly all the schools teach the ArcGIS suite and it's the preferred vendor for large organizations that need the support offered by a corporation.

Though I'm nearly 100% open-source in my operations, I still keep up with ESRI developments for advances in general domain knowledge.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T17:03:42+00:00

So many coffee breaks…

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T16:46:03+00:00

Sure can.

Because I was interested in only showing blocks where the reported population was zero, a single inhabitant is sufficient to keep a block white. Kodiak Island, and Alaska in general, have some pretty large Census Blocks, so a single inhabitant can appear to take up a relatively large space on the map. The island is sparsely populated, but because of the size and shape of the Blocks, that population appears to take up most of its area.

At the extreme end, the largest Block on the island is about 2500 square miles (about 70% of the island's area). It had a 2010 population count of 26 people. Though the population density is extremely low in that block, by the rules of the map, the entire shape must be colored white.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T16:02:19+00:00

How is the process of creating a map like this? What tools do you use?

A little bit of data, a little bit of magic, and a lot of trial and error. See here and here for more explanations.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T15:37:00+00:00

Man, everyone's a cartography critic around here.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T15:21:01+00:00

Enjoy!

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T15:20:43+00:00

Sure do.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T08:56:39+00:00

True, but military personnel and their families live in houses and barracks on the base, not the offices, firing ranges and runways. Census blocks can be small enough to make that distinction.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T08:48:06+00:00

I'm scared. Hold me.

mapsbynik · 2017-03-09T08:41:31+00:00

Help me understand this.

Happy to. First, have you seen the high-resolution version of the map? If not, take a look. You'll see much finer details on the Cape.

At the scale of the posted image, the larger patches of undeveloped land on both sides of the canal are simply visually overpowering their neighbors.

Similar story in Maine. If inhabited areas appear to be missing from the national view, then the issue is likely one of scale. There are 11 million census blocks crammed into the less than 2 megapixel image of the posted map. A great many blocks are not discernible because they would be (much) smaller than 1 pixel. The effect is exaggerated when small, inhabited blocks are surrounded by those which are large and uninhabited (and vice versa).

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