Visualizing Hierarchies - Spatial Mathematics: Theory and Practice through Mapping - page 163

Figure 7.11 USA Population Change, 2000-2010, by State. Source of base map: Esri
software.
access the map layers, and change to the USA Population Change 2000-2010
(Figure 7.11).
Click the button to the left of the map to access the legend. What are the range
and the mean of population change by state? The range is 0.1% growth to 3.2%
growth over those 10 years, and the mean change is 0.9% growth. What pattern
of population change do you notice by state? You should notice much variabil-
ity, but generally, the higher growth states are in the west and south. Click on
a sample of states to access the variables, the “I” part of the GIS. What state has
the highest rate of population change? It is Nevada. What state has the lowest
rate of population change? It is Rhode Island. What are some of the reasons
for the patterns that you see? The reasons are many, but include migration to
“sunbelt” states caused in part by the aging of the population and many retirees
fueling this migration, agricultural mechanization and rural-to-urban migration,
economies and the employment base of different regions, international migra-
tion, and other factors. How are the highest- and lowest-rate states predicted to
change between 2010 and 2015? Nevada is predicted to grow at a slower rate in
the near future, and Rhode Island is predicted to decline in population.
Zoom in to the county level by drawing a box with your mouse in a small
area or by using the zoom controls on the side of the map. You should see