11 October 2007

Demographic mapping online

We've come a long way from the old TIGER maps online.

Now there is a speedy and elegant tool called Social Explorer that lets you make Census maps lickity split. while it doesn't give the user the same level of control as a full-featured GIS would, it is amazingly smooth. It lets users pick a study area, select a demographic feature and map it out in just seconds. This isn't just the usual population density map or income map.

For instance, we can map the percentage of residents using public transportation. It shows that even on Staten Island people are very clearly more actively using mass transit than here on the mainland. There is more commuting around the Princeton Junction train station and the NE Corridor is moderately visible.

Compare that with this map of percent of residents working for non-profits. Either Princeton has some of the most compassionate and caring people or there are some large 501(c)s there.

And look where the Hungarians are. Ever since the Hungarian Revolution it has been clear that New Brunswick was a hub, but the Census data really helps show how significant this area still is for Hungarian-American culture.


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