Battleground Map

Mr. Gacek created this map using the website 270toWin.com. Click on the map below to create your prognostication for the 2016 United States Presidential Election.

Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com

Gerrymandering Explained

The Washington Post's Christopher Ingraham wrote an excellent article about gerrymandering and how it will affect the 435 elections for the House of Representatives on November 8. Watch the video first and then read the article here.

Senator Al Franken drawing map of United States from memory

Senator Al Franken from Minnesota has gained some renown for his ability to draw the United States quickly from memory. Watch him in action!

Map of the Day: United States River Basins

This is a stunning map of the river basins of the United States created using GIS software. I highly recommend this article from the Daily Mail (U.K.). Yes, maps can be art. Bonus: Knowing these rivers will be helpful for the Geography Bee.

Map of the Day: Population Cartogram

A cartogram is a map in which some thematic variable is substituted for area. This particular cartogram shows the sizes of the countries of the world relative to their populations.



You can zoom in anywhere on the map on the original version of the cartogram, which can be found here.

Map of the Day: New York Times Interactive College Football Fan Map

This is such a cool map. It uses Facebook likes to determine the most popular college football team in every U.S. zip code. However, it only tabulates 84 major college football programs, so a state like Montana shows up registering support for the Oregon Ducks, when clearly the state's most popular program is actually the Montana Grizzlies. The reach of the Ducks' popularity is perhaps the most surprising aspect of the map. Who knew the team with the most hideous uniforms in college football was so popular in Northern California and Alaska?

The interactive map at The New York Times website can be found here.

Note: Please don't take my enthusiasm for this particular map to be an endorsement of the sport of college football or the NCAA. I have serious reservations about this particular sport and this particular institution. That being said, I do consider myself a fan of the Washington Huskies. And being a Husky fan, I will make digs at the Oregon Ducks whenever I can. Sorry, Mo and Mr. Jeff, Area Code 98501 is firmly Husky Territory.

Map of the Day: MLB Fandom

This map shows the most popular baseball team in each U.S. county, as determined by Facebook likes.  This is incredibly fascinating for baseball fans who are also geography buffs.  I just wish the map included raw data.  Still incredibly cool, though.  Read more here.

Map of the Day: "How much snow it typically takes to close school in the U.S."

Something to ponder as we're getting our first real snow of the season tonight in Olympia.  More info here.

Hank Green likes Maps!

Hank Green (brother of John Green, author of The Fault in our Stars) talks really fast about his favorite maps.