A LOOK AT THE POPULATION DENSITY OF THE UNITED STATES
Overview:
"Population density" is the term that describes the number of individuals occupying an area in relation to the
size of that area. The population density is derived by dividing the number of people by the area they occupy.
This lesson focuses on the spatial distribution of the population density of the United States at different levels of
scale. Geographers can "see the world in spatial terms" by using different scales of analysis (local, state or
province, national, and global). Geographers use maps as tools to discern patterns and to understand why things
are where they are. Students will create maps showing the population density of the U.S. at different scales.
This will enable students to organize spatial information in categories, analyze the information, and draw
conclusions.
Materials Required:


Blank outline maps of the United States, two per student
Population data table
Objectives:
Students will





extract census data;
produce population density maps of the United States in different scales;
analyze population density maps by observing patterns and drawing conclusions;
determine how different scales of analysis can produce different patterns of population density and
influence interpretations of that data; and
understand population density maps as a tool for marketing products.
P r o c e d u r e:
Opening:
As an analyst for the Wal-Mart Corporation, you are given the task of determining where to open new stores
based on the greatest concentration of people.
Development:
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living
organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key geographic term.
First you need to determine the average population density in the U.S. Add up the entire U.S. population and
land area and use the formula Population density = Population/Land Area. Use miles not kilometers.
What average did you calculate?_________________________
Next you need to calculate the average population density of each state using the same equation from above.
On map A, use a brown colored pencil to color all states that have an average population density higher than the
U.S. average. Ex: If the average U.S. population density is 65% and Alabama has a population density of 70%,
then color it brown. If the state has an average population density lower than the average U.S. population
density then color that state pink.
On map B, shade the states with the following ranges and colors.





less than 70 people (U.S. average) per square mile - yellow
between 70 and 140 - orange
between 140 and 280 - red
between 280 and 560 - blue
560 or more - brown
Questions:
1. What patterns can be seen in the distribution of population densities by state in map A? What inference
can you make by observing the overall spatial distribution of map A?
2. What patterns can be seen on map B? Do you see clusters of populations or is it evenly dispersed? What
factors could account for the patters you see?
3. So, where would you recommend Wal-Mart should open the next 10 stores? (think high density)
U.S. states by population density
Rank
-01
--
State
Population density (2011)
[4]
District of Columbia 10,065 inhabitants per square mile (3,886 /km2)
1,189 inhabitants per square mile (459 /km2)
New Jersey
1,082 inhabitants per square mile (418 /km2)
Puerto Rico
02
Rhode Island
1,006 inhabitants per square mile (388 /km2)
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Maryland
Delaware
New York
Florida
Pennsylvania
Ohio
California
Illinois
Hawaii
Virginia
North Carolina
Indiana
Michigan
Georgia
South Carolina
Tennessee
New Hampshire
Kentucky
Wisconsin
Louisiana
Washington
Texas
Alabama
Missouri
West Virginia
Vermont
Minnesota
Mississippi
Arizona
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Iowa
739.1 inhabitants per square mile (285.4 /km2)
624.1 inhabitants per square mile (241.0 /km2)
596.3 inhabitants per square mile (230.2 /km2)
464.3 inhabitants per square mile (179.3 /km2)
412.3 inhabitants per square mile (159.2 /km2)
353.4 inhabitants per square mile (136.4 /km2)
284.3 inhabitants per square mile (109.8 /km2)
281.9 inhabitants per square mile (108.8 /km2)
241.7 inhabitants per square mile (93.3 /km2)
231.5 inhabitants per square mile (89.4 /km2)
214.1 inhabitants per square mile (82.7 /km2)
204.5 inhabitants per square mile (79.0 /km2)
198.2 inhabitants per square mile (76.5 /km2)
181.7 inhabitants per square mile (70.2 /km2)
173.9 inhabitants per square mile (67.1 /km2)
169.5 inhabitants per square mile (65.4 /km2)
155.4 inhabitants per square mile (60.0 /km2)
155.4 inhabitants per square mile (60.0 /km2)
147.0 inhabitants per square mile (56.8 /km2)
110.0 inhabitants per square mile (42.5 /km2)
105.2 inhabitants per square mile (40.6 /km2)
105.0 inhabitants per square mile (40.5 /km2)
102.6 inhabitants per square mile (39.6 /km2)
98.07 inhabitants per square mile (37.87 /km2)
94.65 inhabitants per square mile (36.54 /km2)
87.26 inhabitants per square mile (33.69 /km2)
77.06 inhabitants per square mile (29.75 /km2)
67.73 inhabitants per square mile (26.15 /km2)
67.14 inhabitants per square mile (25.92 /km2)
63.50 inhabitants per square mile (24.52 /km2)
57.05 inhabitants per square mile (22.03 /km2)
56.43 inhabitants per square mile (21.79 /km2)
55.22 inhabitants per square mile (21.32 /km2)
54.81 inhabitants per square mile (21.16 /km2)
U.S. states by population density
Rank
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
State
Colorado
Maine
Oregon
Kansas
Utah
Nevada
Nebraska
Idaho
New Mexico
South Dakota
North Dakota
Montana
Wyoming
Alaska
Population density (2011)
49.33 inhabitants per square mile (19.05 /km2)
43.04 inhabitants per square mile (16.62 /km2)
40.33 inhabitants per square mile (15.57 /km2)
35.09 inhabitants per square mile (13.55 /km2)
34.30 inhabitants per square mile (13.24 /km2)
24.80 inhabitants per square mile (9.58 /km2)
23.97 inhabitants per square mile (9.25 /km2)
19.15 inhabitants per square mile (7.39 /km2)
17.16 inhabitants per square mile (6.63 /km2)
10.86 inhabitants per square mile (4.19 /km2)
9.916 inhabitants per square mile (3.829 /km2)
6.858 inhabitants per square mile (2.648 /km2)
5.851 inhabitants per square mile (2.259 /km2)
1.264 inhabitants per square mile (0.488 /km2)