Gallery: Fascinating Old Census Maps, Updated for a Modern America

  • Image may contain Diagram Map Plot and Atlas
    Nathan Yau / Flowingdata
    01

    yau-water

    Thanks to satellite data and other sources, the modern map of waterways is incredibly detailed.
  • Image may contain Plot Diagram Map Atlas Plant Vegetation Art and Painting
    Nathan Yau / Flowingdata
    02

    yau-forest

    Yau's map of forested areas has far more detail than the 1870 version (next slide).
  • Image may contain Diagram Map Plot Atlas Art and Painting
    Library of Congress, Geography & Map Division
    03

    1870-woodlands

    But the pattern is similar.
  • Image may contain Diagram Map Atlas Plot and Rug
    Nathan Yau / Flowingdata
    04

    yau-sex

    The 2015 map shows pockets where the population of males (blue) or females (red) is higher than average.
  • Image may contain Diagram Map Atlas and Plot
    Library of Congress, Geography & Map Division
    05

    1870-sex

    In the 1870 version, western territories had an abundance of males.
  • Image may contain Diagram Map Plot Atlas Plant and Vegetation
    Nathan Yau / Flowingdata
    06

    yau-foreign-parents

    Yau's map of people born to foreign parents, according to the 2010 Census.
  • Image may contain Diagram Map Atlas and Plot
    Library of Congress, Geography & Map Division
    07

    1870-foreign-parentage

    The 1870 map of foreign parentage.
  • Image may contain Advertisement Poster Flyer Paper Brochure and Text
    Nathan Yau / Flowingdata
    08

    yau-gainful-occupation

    Detail from a chart of occupations based on 2010 Census data.
  • Image may contain Advertisement Poster Collage and Rug
    Library of Congress, Geography & Map Division
    09

    1870-gainful-occupation

    The 1870 version of the occupation chart.
  • Image may contain Diagram Map Atlas and Plot
    Nathan Yau / Flowingdata
    10

    yau-mortality-circulatory

    Contemporary data on mortality from circulatory disease.
  • Image may contain Diagram Map Atlas and Plot
    Library of Congress, Geography & Map Division
    11

    1870-malaria

    Mortality from malaria, mapped in the 1870 atlas.
  • Image may contain Book Text Scroll and Page
    Library of Congress, Geography & Map Division
    12

    1870-cover

    Cover page of the 1870 Statistical Atlas.
Read More
US Special Forces Soldier Arrested for Polymarket Bets on Maduro Raid
The master sergeant allegedly used classified intel to profit on the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, marking the first US arrest for insider trading on a prediction market.
Kate Knibbs
Newly Deciphered Sabotage Malware May Have Targeted Iran’s Nuclear Program—and Predates Stuxnet
Researchers have finally cracked Fast16, mysterious code capable of silently tampering with calculation and simulation software. It was created in 2005—and likely deployed by the US or an ally.
Andy Greenberg
Rednote Draws a Line Between China and the World
As the platform expands abroad, it’s taking steps to separate Chinese users from the international audiences it once brought together.
Zeyi Yang
Apple’s Next Chapter, SpaceX and Cursor Strike a Deal, and Palantir’s Controversial Manifesto
In this week’s episode of Uncanny Valley, we talk about Tim Cook’s legacy as CEO at Apple and what his long-rumored departure means for the future of one of the world's biggest companies.
Brian Barrett
At 'AI Coachella,' Stanford Students Line Up to Learn From Silicon Valley Royalty
CS 153 has gone viral on the Palo Alto campus—and on X. Not everyone is happy about it.
Maxwell Zeff
Palantir Employees Are Starting to Wonder if They're the Bad Guys
Interviews with current and former Palantir employees, along with internal Slack messages obtained by WIRED, suggest a workforce in turmoil.
Makena Kelly
This Is the Only Office Lamp That Does Double Duty on My Nightstand
Portable lamps are rarely, if ever, as powerful, precise, and multipurpose as the Lume Cube Edge Light Go.
Matthew Korfhage
These New Smart Glasses From Ex-OnePlus Engineers Have a Hidden Cost
The Kickstarter-funded glasses from L'Atitude 52°N have AI features bundled for one year, but the company doesn't know yet how much it will charge for access after that.
Boone Ashworth
The Best Pool-Cleaning Robots for a Truly Automated Summer
Send the pool guy packing. One of these robotic buddies can maintain your water quality instead.
Christopher Null
The Best Fitbit Models for Every Lifestyle
The fitness trackers I'd recommend to beginners, athletes, and kids.
Boutayna Chokrane
Robot Vacuums That Don't Suck (Unless It's Dirt)
Tired of vacuuming? Hand the reins to a robot vacuum.
Nena Farrell
They Made D4vd a Star. Now They Want Him Convicted of Murder
A legion of young fans propelled the singer D4vd to viral fame. Now that he’s been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, they say the clues were in their Discord all along.
Jennifer Swann