PURPOSE
The
goal of this lab was to create maps of population and housing data from the
2010 US Census, then create a webmap. The pedagogical goal was to learn how to
display downloaded data spatially from the US Census, practice joining skills, cartography,
and create a webmap.
METHODS
First,
I downloaded population totals for counties from Fact Finder through the US
Census Bureau. Additionally, the spatial data for these counties was downloaded.
To display the population data spatially, these tables were joined, then mapped
using graduated colors and Jenks Natural Breaks. This same process was repeated
for the dataset “General Housing Characteristics: 2010” from Fact Finder. This
map displays the total number of housing units in each county. Finally, using
only the first map created (of population), I learned how to share my map as a
service on ArcGIS online. Through this process, I sharpened my cartography
skills and who I can reach with them.
MAP
RESULTS
The maps are very similar,
since a larger number of housing units could be assumed to follow higher
populations. What is interesting is the disparity between the two, but much of
this may be due to the natural breaks used to display the data ranges. It would
be interesting to display total housing units per person.
Below is a screenshot of my online map:
SOURCES
Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M.,
Soderlund, L., & Brizee, A. (2010, May 5). General format. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Hupy,
C (Spring 2016). Lab 2: Downloading GIS
Data.
US
Census Bureau (2010). General Housing
Characteristics: 2010. Data set.
US Census Bureau (2010). Total
Population. Data set.
