Assess to what extent the distribution of the US population is
determined by physical features
Website/tool usedMap maker on nationalatlas.gov
By Pierrick Millet
One must agree that the population distribution in the US (like
in other countries) is greatly influenced by the geography.
Topologic map showing population density
One can note how the population is clustered at the coasts, away
from the mountains and other such physical features.
This is something most of us know. However I believe that this
is not the only factor that will influence population distribution
in the United States.
Population distribution (including density) influenced by a
multitude of factors. These include:
Climate (percipitation)
Water bodies
E on E (Ethics influence on other ethics)
Health on ethics
Climate
Hypothesis
A higher population density will be located in areas subject to
regular and steady amounts of annual rainfall (35-50
inches/year).
Map showing annual percipitation
Topologic map showing population density
One aspect we can notice about percipitation is that (referring
to the state of Texas), less people are situated where it rains
less. However we may also note that in certain regions (southern
California and New Mexico) where there is very low rain fall there
is also a fair amount of people living there (50-250 persons/sq
mile).
Percipitation is a factor that varies and cannot be accounted
for entirely in population distribution.
Water bodies
Hypothesis
Water bodies and other similar landmasses linked with water will
attract populations.
Due to the extensive water mass in the US, I recommend focusing
on the where there is the least amount of water bodies to
understand the population distribution.
Nightime lights with stream and water bodies
One can notice that aside from population clusters of being
close to the oceans, many cities and towns (clusters) are situated
practically on top of rivers and other water bodies.
Rivers and water bodies are factors that influence population
distribution. They are factors that attract people and
settlements.
Ethics influence on other ethics
E on E
or
Hypothesis
The cluster of one ethic will repel another. This said, there
can be no complete solubility of ethics or no perfect mixture. The
ethics will always be clustered within themselves seperate from
other ethics.
Race and Ethnic Population 1980 - White
Race and Ethnic Population 2000 - White
One can notice a slight change in the white population density
over the past 20 years: a small migration south for those living on
the east coast and a migration south west for those living in
central or west coast.
Now let's take a look at the black or african american
population density over the past 20 years.
Race and Ethnic Population 1980- Balck or African American
Race and Ethnic Population 2000- Black or African American
One can notice that the black or african american population has
migrated for over the past 20 years south or south east from their
initial position.
We can deduct that the white ethic and the black ethic were
never initially really mixed into one another. In addition to this
they one has moved onto another. The confirms our hypothesis,
ethics do have an influence on one another for population
distribution; in this one ethic seems to take over another.
Health on ethics
Hypothesis
Some clusters of ethics (as we saw in the previous slides) are
more subject to poor health services (we will take infant mortality
as an example and refer to the black or african american population
as an example).
Race and Ethnic Population 2000- Black or African American
Now comparison to the infant mortality map.
Fetal and Infant Mortality (All ethics and groups) 1995-1999
There is an apparent infant mortality in the same area most of
the black or african american population is located in.
One can conclude that areas which have poor health services or
conditions are therefore subject to the major population
distribution of certain ethics, in this case, blacks or african
americans.
This presentation was made with no prejudice or discrimination
whatsover.
