Maps
in the News: Mapping United States Immigration
The
Ball State University Libraries GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) provides
research assistance for students writing papers and presentations. Staff in the GRMC conduct instructional
sessions for professors to introduce students to using cartographic resources
as a primary source. Students (and other
researchers) can learn about the vast world of maps, atlases, and other
cartographic resources.
Many
Web pages feature unique maps that portray geographic trends and depict current
world issues in a truly visual format.
One site used by the GRMC for research projects is Metrocosm. Metrocosm is a
collection of maps created by Max Galka, an entrepreneur and computer engineer. These unique maps provide dynamic depictions
of numerous topics. The latest maps on
the site describe the flow of international trade, show election results in
3-D, map the waste management of New York City, and show traffic patterns
across the United States.
One
of the maps used by the GRMC in recent current events presentations is “Here’s Everyone Who’s Immigrated to the U.S. Since 1820: Two Centuries of U.S. Immigration.” According to the site, 79
million people obtained lawful permanent resident status in the United States
from 1820 to 2013, and the map shows their migration patterns. On the map, each dot represents 10,000
people. A timeline at the bottom of the map shows which countries had the most
people migrating to the U.S, so users can track events that influenced
migration--like the Irish Potato Famine (above, click to enlarge). The top three countries for each decade and
the total number of people migrating are listed in the corner.
Another
popular map is “All the World’s Immigration Visualized in One Map.” This map shows the inflows and outflows of
immigration by origin and destination country between 2010 and 2015.
For
more information about using maps as a visual aid in research and learning,
please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.
