Geography 201 • Human Geography • Dr. Sarah Bednarz • Spring 2006 Activity 1 Introduction There are several objectives to this activity. You will: l) think geographically (the spatial perspective), 2) produce and interpret two maps, and 3) review the locations of the states of the United States (which you already know--that is why it is a review!!). In class we discussed two key ideas: 1) that geographers "see the world in spatial terms" and 2) that the scale of analysis (one category vs. four; local scale, state scale, national scale) determines the patterns and relationships we can observe. We also discussed the tools geographers use to see patterns and to understand why things are where they are. One of the most important tools is the map. As you produce the maps for this activity, remember that you are not "just coloring maps," you are organizing spatial information in categories in order to analyze it and draw conclusions. Procedure 1. Fill in the required information (state, land area, population) on the accompanying worksheet. Use 2000 cens us data. Finding accurate information is your first task. Population data can be found on the web http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/respop.html and land area can be found in the Statistical Abstract of the United States in the Library in the Reference Section or on-line as a PDF file at http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/statab/sec06.pdf . Use data for LAND AREA (not including bodies of water). 2. Use this formula: Populat ion Dens ity = P op ulation/ Land Area to calculate the arithmetic density for each state and the entire United States. Do not include the District of Columbia in your calculations. Be sure to record your correct answers in the accompanying table. You do not need to hand in the table, just the maps and your analysis of the maps. Hint : To calculate the average for the entire United States, first, add the population for each of the 50 states. Then add the total land area for each state. Last, divide the TOTAL population by the TOTAL land area. 3. On the map of the United States, using a different color or pattern for each, indicate those states which have a population density GREATER than the United States average, and those states with a population density LESS THAN the United States average. Hint : The convention is lighter color = less; darker color = more. Try to use your lightest shade for the least category and darkest color for the greatest category.Geography 201 • Human Geography • Dr. Sarah Bednarz • Spring 2006 4. What p atterns can be seen in the distri but ion of populati on densi ties by stat e? Typ e/wr ite ne atly yo ur answer in t his s p ace: 5. Now, look at this information from a different, more detailed scale of analysis. On the second map of the United States, using a different color or pattern for each, indicate: • states with a population density LESS THAN the U.S. average. • states with a population density GREATER THAN the U.S. average • states with a population density GREATER THAN TWICE the U.S. average pop. density • states with a population density GREATER THAN FOUR TIMES the U.S. average pop. density • states with a population density GREATER THAN EIGHT TIMES the U.S. average pop. density For example, if you calculate that the average is 75, you would have five categories of states: • less than 75 • 75-150 (greater than average) • 151-300 (greater than twice) • 301-600 (greater than four times) • 601 + (greater than eight times) 6. What p atterns can be seen in ter ms of the distribution o f the pop ulatio n density on this map? Do y ou observe clus ters of population or is p opul atio n e venly dis perse d across the US ? Type/ write ne atly y our a nswer i n t his s p ace:Geography 201 • Human Geography • Dr. Sarah Bednarz • Spring 2006 Thinking like a geographer requires looking at issues from a variety of perspectives and at a variety of scales of analysis. 7. Co mpar e the first map an d th e second map. How does t he d etai l of the data (two categories vers us f ive cate gor ies) affe ct t he w ay in w hic h t he population dens ity is interpr eted and the patter ns you obser ve ? Ty pe /writ e ne atly yo ur answer in this space: 8. Which map w ould you use to deter mine t he best place to marke t a new pr oduct? Why? T yp e/wr ite neatly your a nswer in t his s pace :Activity 1STATELAND AREA (SQ.MI.)POPULATIONDENSITYSTATELAND AREA (SQ.MI.)POPULATIONDENSITY45°N45°N45°N40°N40°N40°N35°N35°N35°N30°N30°N30°N25°N25°N25°N100°W100°W100°W 80°W80°W80°W105°W105°W105°W 95°W95°W95°W45°N45°N45°N40°N40°N40°N35°N35°N35°N30°N30°N30°N130°W 120°W 110°W 100°W 90°W 80°W 70°W125°W 115°W 105°W 95°W 85°W 75°WCourtesy: Arizona Geographic Alliance Department of Geography, Arizona State University Barbara Trapido-LurieMiles0 100200300Kilometers0300Projection: Lambert Conformal ConicStandard Parallels 33°N, 45°NThe United States000 100 Mi100 Mi100 Mi000100 Km100 Km100 Km000 200200200400 Mi400 Mi400 Mi000200200200 400 Km400 Km400 Km65°65°65° N N N90°W85°W 75°W20°20°20°NNN155°W155°W155°W160°W160°W160°W140°W140°W140°W45°N45°N45°N40°N40°N40°N35°N35°N35°N30°N30°N30°N25°N25°N25°N100°W100°W100°W 80°W80°W80°W105°W105°W105°W 95°W95°W95°W45°N45°N45°N40°N40°N40°N35°N35°N35°N30°N30°N30°N130°W 120°W 110°W 100°W 90°W 80°W 70°W125°W 115°W 105°W 95°W 85°W 75°WCourtesy: Arizona Geographic Alliance Department of Geography, Arizona State University Barbara Trapido-LurieMiles0 100200300Kilometers0300Projection: Lambert Conformal ConicStandard Parallels 33°N, 45°NThe United States000 100 Mi100 Mi100 Mi000100 Km100 Km100 Km000 200200200400 Mi400 Mi400 Mi000200200200 400 Km400 Km400 Km65°65°65° N N N90°W85°W