Map of the Week-Census Preview

Last week the New York Times put out this nice interactive map showing some of the latest data released from the Census Bureau. The dot maps are the most interesting. They nicely illustrate patterns of race:

and income:

The entire country is covered so you can zoom, pan or choose a location. If you zoom too far in you lose the patterns a bit and also get some misleading information because each dot represents multiple people, not individual households.

 To really see the patterns of segregation, zoom out.

Here's a larger city with a more diverse breakdown.

The income map reveals the inner city income holes that are prevalent in older cities like Baltimore, but less so in Washington D.C. where there is much more inner city wealth.

If you zoom out a ways the dots seem to follow county boundaries. Zooming in arranges them in a more realistic pattern. I'm not sure what algorithm produces that result.

Happy Holidays and may your next year be filled with new census maps!

Map Changes for 2010 and beyond

New State in India?

 

New transit line for Vancouver                                           

  - opened in August, 2009


















Proposed Purple Line would serve the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC.  The line would run from Bethesda to New Carrollton.

Rerouting the Chicago River? 

Michigan's attorney general has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to seal off the most direct routes from the Chicago River into Lake Michigan to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.










Stay tuned for these and other exciting map stories as the year progresses.

Map of the Week 113-L(a)titudes Exhibit

Tonight is the opening reception for L(a)titudes - a multimedia exhibit at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center where artists "explore mapping borders and boundaries of Israel and Palestine". Among the artists featured is MOTW fan favorite Nikolas Schiller who made this map quilt from a CIA map of Israel - the image on the right is zoomed in.











Unfortunately the JCC web site does not provide much information about the artists so I had to do some digging to find other materials such as the map below from Karey Kessler. I guess you just have to go to find out more. The exhibit will be open until June 2nd so if you're in the neighborhood it's probably worth a visit.

MOTW #85

I don't even remember where I dug this one up but it's the classic problem of what poor neighborhood to dump the nudey bars on. You can't wish them away so you have to put them somewhere. In Washington DC they are looking at a location by Gallaudet University (they may be deaf but they're not blind!) and also right near a playground though those two things would theoretically be in operation at different times. Since the map doesn't give you much surrounding detail all you need to know is it's a very short drive from Congress so your reps will have easy access. Here's the text from whatever web site I originally grabbed it:

D.C. Council Member Jim Graham, D-Ward 1, wants to help relocate several bars that permit nude dancing that were put out when the city decided to build the new Washington Nationals stadium in Southeast Washington.

But where Graham sees helping some former business owners, he said he also anticipates a possible "not in my backyard" style backlash from residents in the areas of Ward 5, into which the businesses plan to move.

Graham's Committee on Public Works and the Environment is scheduled to mark up and vote on a bill that would allow for the one-time relocation of the businesses.

The problem is that lighter commercial zones often act as a buffer between heavier commercial and residential areas, officials in Graham's office said.

The businesses are unable to relocate near the stadium because it was rezoned and other areas of the city that would allow them, including downtown, are too expensive.

MOTW #82

Sorry - I'm a day late on this one but you can save it for next year and start planning now. This is a map of the prime viewing sites for the Washington DC Fireworks. If they use this same site every year then save it for future reference.

Yes I know its sideways!