Lab 7 - Census 2000

As can be seen in the “Percentage of Black Populations in United States Counties, 2000” map, black populations have a high concentration compared to other populations in the southeastern U.S. States like Mississippi, South Carolina, and Virginia have many counties with 53-86% African-Americans. Most of the rest of the United States has below 5% African-Americans represented in the populations of their counties.

In “Percentage of Asian Populations in United States Counties, 2000,” Asians have a large presence in counties on the West Coast, specifically around Seattle and San Francisco, and around some of the Northeast around New York City. What I find interesting is that no county has a population of more than 47% Asian, which is surprising considering that at many places, like UCLA, Asians are no longer a minority.

The Census Bureau has the option of “Some Other Race” as a write-in entry. For example, many people who classify themselves as multiracial, interracial, or Hispanic/Latino include themselves in the “Some Other Race” category. In 2000, 97% of the respondents who declared themselves as “Some Other Race” were Hispanic or Latino. Interestingly, only 43% of Hispanics of Latinos placed themselves in the category of “Some Other Race.” Counties in Washington, California, Texas, and New Mexico have large concentrations of people who classified themselves as “Some Other Race,” whereas most of the rest of the U.S. has less than 2% of “Some Other Race.”

These maps from the 2000 Census indicate that most minorities tend to live by some coast, whether that be near the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, or the Atlantic Ocean. In the middle of America, Asian, Black and “Some Other Race” do not have a high presence. This is most likely because minorities who immigrate to the United States center around major cities and ports which are generally on the edges of the U.S.

GIS is a great tool to use to display so many different types of information. I am always so excited after I have made a map that I have to show it to all of my friends. The ability to show useful information to an audience that is easy to understand is a priceless asset that GIS has imbedded in itself.