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Admit it, once Google Earth was rolled out, you absolutely took a disproportionate amount of time checking out all the localities and areas on it to see if you can find something nostalgic, cool, or flat-out bizarre. And then Google Street View appeared and it was a game changer. Needless to say, you like maps. We’re all nerds like that.
And, well, there’s more to maps than just that. Check out these interesting takes on the US as seen from a top-down perspective, but instead of seeing vast landscapes and the occasional architectural screw-up, you see fun facts and information that might just make you smarter. I mean, it will if it’s not something you already know.
Scroll on.
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#1
Topography Of USA
#2
Tree Cover Map Of The US
David Paterson 8 months ago
Hold on, so the USA has a large Nullarbor (ie treeless) plain in the middle? Not just Australia?
#3
States With A Smaller Population Than Los Angeles County
It goes without saying that the United States is a pretty big country. And, as such, there's ample opportunity to spot differences and variation on a slew of variables across the entire map.
Like, you probably never really needed to know how thick light pollution is across the US, but, hey, now you know that it’s the eastern part that’s very intense, and the western part is more or less not as polluted.
#4
More People Live Inside The Red Area Than The Grey Area
Trisec Tebeakesse 8 months ago
Proof the electoral college is bogus. People vote, not land area.
#5
Abandoned And Out-Of-Service Railroad Lines
#6
Map Showing The Loudest And Quietest Areas In The US
And there is definitely a small contingent of people who benefit from this information—researchers, people who want to move states—it’s also there to make you look cool at parties with all that trivia you now know
All jokes aside, it’s useful to know where you’re going to live: what’s the crime rate there, how natural is the landscape, how populated it is—all of these factors are nice to know since you are deciding on moving there permanently.
#7
Countries With Bases In The USA
#8
If US Land Were Divided Like Us Wealth
#9
Most Oddly Named Town In Each US State
But if that example is too specific, then maybe consider this: if you own a car, it’s likely that you use navigation on the regular. Apps like Google Maps and Waze have made it possible for people to have a bit more comfort in the car as at least you know where you’re going and why it’s taking you an extra 14 minutes to get there (darned traffic jams).
#10
United States Population Lines
#11
US States Scaled Proportionally To Population Density
#12
Light Pollution In The United States
But seeing that arrow in your navigation is one thing. There’s an entire surrounding everywhere you go—knowing what’s around us brings us comfort and safety. And you never know when a beautiful lake will be sitting right next to where you keep passing by, but never look beyond that patch of trees that disguise it, making you think it’s just more forest there. Maybe taking a bicycle might help fix that problem. But check your map first!
#13
The Most Efficient Route Between Every Springfield In The United States
#14
US States By Violent Crime Rate
#15
Average Color Of US State Based On Satellite Imaging
Another argument for the importance of maps is the idea of seeing where you’re going, where you are, and where you’ve been. It doesn’t really have to be a literal geographical map at this point, but a literal one might work too—just think of Google Maps Timeline.
If you’re unaware, Google Maps Timeline is a monthly service by Google that sends you recaps of where you’ve been over the past month, showing how many countries, cities and places you’ve visited in retrospect.
#16
US Racial/Ethnic Diversity Map
Gaming Elementalist 8 months ago
I'm happy about Texas, but the number of people in Texas not happy about Texas makes me sad.
#17
Most Spoken Languages In The US Beside English/Spanish
#18
Most Popular Dog By US State
Outside their practicality, maps also ground us in reality. That can be either a good or bad thing depending on a number of factors, but there’s the idea that maps remind us we all live on the same planet. Sure, there's a great divide among nations and countries in terms of social, economic and climate factors. But we’re all in this together—we’re all citizens of this world. And that’s what folks ought to focus on.
#19
Usage Of 'Dang' In The United States
#20
Map Of The United States' 8 Million Miles Of Roads, Streets And Highways
EarthGrowl 8 months ago
And I have driven 2 million miles of them. The only states I have not driven every inch of Interstate in are Montana and North Dakota.
Some might argue that maps help us stay curious. Just like a change of scenery can help us gain some perspective and learn something about ourselves and others, i.e. travel, the idea of looking at a map and plotting your next adventure might just inspire an extra bit of curiosity and make you think “hey, I’ve never heard of this place.”
#21
US Obesity Map
#22
How America Utilizes Its Land
#23
US Territories
TheAmericanAmerican 8 months ago
No need to be an Empire of Conquered Land when you can just be the Empire of Global Capitalism. Would be nice if we actually were the "Empire" of Democracy, but unfortunately we don't live in that timeline...
#24
The Most Dangerous Cities In The US
#25
Which Coffee Shops Has The Most Locations Per State
Lastly, maps are an integral part of how we function as human beings. There’s a geographical map (of which there are many types), a building evacuation map, a website map, a mind map, process maps, network maps, story maps, treasure maps, and, to some degree, flowcharts. Needless to say, we need all of these. Especially treasure maps.
#26
Highway Signs For Each US State And Territory
#27
Red And Orange Areas Have Equal Populations
#28
Origin Of US State Names
#29
Air Traffic Control Zones In The USA
#30
Average Money Spent On Weddings In US States
So, what are your thoughts on any of this? Have some maps that you were blown away by? Share them, or anything map related, really, in the comment section below!
And if you need more maps, we’ve got tons. No, that’s not an overstatement. Yep, it keeps on going. OK, that’s enough.
#31
Here’s A US Map Showing Where Horror Movies Took Place (By Andrew Brick)
#32
Purchased Territories Of The USA
#33
US State Mottos
Petra 8 months ago
I don't think North Dakota understood the assignment. That's way too long for a motto.
aldebar 8 months ago
It's hard to see, but those are two separate mottos. There's a teeny, tiny little "and" in the middle.
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Emily 8 months ago
I fear many of these states have forgotten their own mottos...mine included. Friendship.
alison ponce 8 months ago (edited)
I think the Indian word Tejas also means friendship.
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Krod Mandoon 8 months ago
"Thus always to tyrants" I think VA wins, especially since our motto is accompanied on our flag with a tyrant being murdered.
ReadBannedBooks 8 months ago
South Carolina's unofficial motto is "Thank God for Mississippi." Because they usually keep us off the very bottom of rankings.
MaryHadaLittleLamb 8 months ago
Montana's just lays it out there unapologetically: gold and silver. Nuff said.
Analyn Lahr 8 months ago
Florida wasn't very creative were they? Their motto is literally the same as the whole country's.
the human bean 8 months ago
California: "I have found it"... Oregon: "She flies with her own wings"... New Mexico: "It grows as it goes" 😭 what the hell sort of mottos are these
Awesome At Being Autistic 8 months ago
I read Oregon's as "She lives with her onion rings." The font is too cräppy on my phone.
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Linda Robinett 8 months ago
So most of our mottos are in English, classical languages, maybe Spanish and only Hawaii has the language of the people who live there.
Tracy Wallick 8 months ago (edited)
Ronnie Chieng did a really funny standup bit on state mottos- NH wins with "live free or die", which is pretty hardcore. EDIT: Eureka! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o62WBI0pBDY
3 Trash Pandas (She/They) 8 months ago
I’ve also seen Kansas’s translated as “To the stars, through the thorns” which I like better.
Apatheist Account2 8 months ago
How does one go North (to the future) from Alaska? That's about as far north as it gets (and west and east, technically).
#34
Regions Of The U.S. That Don't Officially Celebrate Christopher Columbus Day
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 8 months ago
South Dakota observes it, and "indigenous peoples Day" on the same day. Basically it's celebrate whichever one you want. No school, banks and post offices are closed.
#35
Most Expensive Toll Roads In The US
#36
US States By Wikipedia Article Length
#37
The Most Popular Unisex Baby Names By US State (2020)
#38
The Safest Cities In The US
Janet Ryan 8 months ago
So apparently I live in the safest town, we definitely didn’t just have a triple homicide, domestic abuse that I’m pretty sure ended in death, someone stealing a bike and returning it with a bloody shoe, and bomb threats at school, were real safe
#39
US Pronunciation Of Pecan
#40
Most Popular US Female Baby Names 2022
#41
Illegality Of Women Going Topless In Public In The US
S. E. in Indiana 8 months ago
So, you are telling me in all the states in white, it is not illegal? Yeah well, I think this map is a little skewed.
#42
US Housing Shortage
#43
US Counties With GDP Over $100b
EarthGrowl 8 months ago
The cities. Boston, MA - Philadelphia, PA - Atlanta, GA - Miami, FL - Houston, TX- San Antonio, TX - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX - Phoenix, AZ - San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, CA - Minneapolis, MN - Chicago, IL - Detroit, MI.
#44
Seat Belt Laws In The US
CrunChewy McSandybutt 8 months ago
After living in CA for most of my life, I feel super weird to be in a car without a seatbelt on.
#45
US States By Human Development Index
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What do you think ?
Chris Landrum 8 months ago
it is interesting how many maps have a distinct division just west of the Mississippi River
3 Trash Pandas (She/They) 8 months ago
Bored Pandas done multiple articles like this covering the whole world, just search “Maps” and im sure it will pull them up :)
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General Anaesthesia 8 months ago
A quick not exhaustive search turned up: two weeks to seven years.
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General Anaesthesia 8 months ago
Use the top of page search field: "maps europe" or just "maps"
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Pandasizing World Peace 8 months ago
I love stuff like this because I am very visual, I like charts too.
Bruce Horton 8 months ago
Shouldn't the title of this post be "Random Stuff Which Gives an Opportunity for All the Doomer Trolls to Dump on the United States "?
Chris Landrum 8 months ago
it is interesting how many maps have a distinct division just west of the Mississippi River
3 Trash Pandas (She/They) 8 months ago
Bored Pandas done multiple articles like this covering the whole world, just search “Maps” and im sure it will pull them up :)
Load More Replies... General Anaesthesia 8 months ago
A quick not exhaustive search turned up: two weeks to seven years.
Load More Replies... General Anaesthesia 8 months ago
Use the top of page search field: "maps europe" or just "maps"
Load More Replies... Pandasizing World Peace 8 months ago
I love stuff like this because I am very visual, I like charts too.
Bruce Horton 8 months ago
Shouldn't the title of this post be "Random Stuff Which Gives an Opportunity for All the Doomer Trolls to Dump on the United States "?
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