These Maps of America Might Have You Seeing Things Differently

Published on December 26, 2021
The United States has 328.2 million people within, and they are all completely unique and different. However, everyone tends to group people together who have similar views, values, and opinions. Sometimes, this is done for those who live close together. Even though each one is their own person, those groups are what make the world.

These maps can show you many of the differences and groups out there. Plus, you can get a better estimate of how big your country truly is. The maps offer a totally different viewpoint for the red, white, and blue. Let’s get started!

Surprising Total Population

The areas on the map that are highlighted in red indicate places that have a total population that’s greater than the rest of the country combined, which is shown in gray. It’s crazy to think that more people are crammed into these red areas than elsewhere!

Surprising Total Population

Surprising Total Population

Mongolian Empire, 1279

Most people feel that the US is the center of the universe, but you must remember history. The region shown in orange was the full reach for the Mongolian Empire back in 1279. It spans a total landmass that’s larger than the United States!

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Mongolian Empire, 1279

Mongolian Empire, 1279

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See the Sound

This map is interesting because it offers a visual representation of the loudness of certain areas in the country. The white-yellow colors mean those places are louder, with the blue/dark blue areas being quieter. Though it might not be surprising, it’s cool to see that visual.

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See The Sound

See The Sound

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8 Million Miles of Highway

The highways in the United States make up 8 million miles total. That’s a lot of paving! In this picture, you see how interconnected they really are. Does it make you want to take a road trip?!

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8 Million Miles Of Highway

8 Million Miles Of Highway

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Light Pollution

Light pollution happens when there’s too much artificial light, making the natural night sky get drowned out. Here, you get a visual representation of light pollution. More populated areas have more, as does the south.

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Light Pollution

Light Pollution

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Population Spikes

It’s interesting to see how the numbers change, and there’s a trend of increased populations throughout the world. This map shows the increase for the United States. Overall, the east coast contributes much to this.

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Population Spikes

Population Spikes

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No Metric System

The measurement system for the United States is the Imperial system, which comes from when it was part of the British colonies. Most other countries don’t use it, and this map shows the visual representation of the places that do.

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No Metric System

No Metric System

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Tree Cover

Everyone knows that the forests and trees should be protected, but how much of the US is made of trees? This map indicates the actual land that’s covered in forests. While it looks like a lot, conservation efforts are crucial to ensure that they don’t die.

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Tree Cover

Tree Cover

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Visit Every Springfield

Have you noticed that many states in the US have a Springfield city? Somebody was very clever to make a map to indicate an efficient way to hit each Springfield. That looks pretty fun and exciting!

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Visit Every Springfield

Visit Every Springfield

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Out of Service Railways

The US isn’t known for its railways and public transportation. It’s a shame because it’s nice not to need a vehicle. Regardless, railways were more popular before the automobile came into play. This map shows the defunct railways throughout the country!

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Out Of Service Railways

Out Of Service Railways

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Air Traffic Control Zones

Air travel is a great thing about living in the present times. Many centuries ago, people only dreamed of flying from place to place, but now we have Wi-Fi aboard the airplanes. Here’s a map showing air traffic control zones over the US.

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Air Traffic Conrol Zones

Air Traffic Conrol Zones

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States Resized Based on Population Density

People often forget how vast the United States actually is because they look at states individually. With this map, you can see each state resized based on its population density. That explains the electoral vote distribution, too.

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States Resized Based On Population Density

States Resized Based On Population Density

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Red and Orange for Equal Populations

The population method in the United States is fascinating. People often gravitate toward the east and west coasts and cram themselves into small areas with high populations. In this photo, you can see those small orange slivers are equal to the population marked in red.

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Red And Orange For Equal Populations

Red And Orange For Equal Populations

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Australia vs. the US

In the US, you don’t usually think about other countries unless you’re planning a vacation. Who ponders the size of Australia? This map superimposes the United States over Australia to show how big it is. They’re pretty similar in size!

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Australia Vs. The US

Australia Vs. The US

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Dang in the US

People in different areas of the US use various phrases, and that’s primarily reflected in the slang used. For instance, this map shows how common “dang” is throughout the country. Red is the most used, and blue is the least.

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Dang In The US

Dang In The US

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Popular Coffee Shop Chains – Number of Locations

The map below shows that America likes Starbucks more than Dunkin’ Donuts, except for Florida, the Carolinas, and New England. They still prefer Dunkin. Plus, you can’t forget Minnesota, which is the only state that likes Caribou Coffee.

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Popular Coffee Shop Chains Number Of Locations

Popular Coffee Shop Chains Number Of Locations

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The Top States Literally

Some maps show facts that are pretty hard to see, but others state the obvious. Here, you can see the top states of the United States, and that’s literal. You can’t argue with the facts. Hopefully, they like Canada because they’re pretty close to it!

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The Top States Literally

The Top States Literally

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Underwater Cables for the Internet

Did you know that the Internet is powered from underwater cables around the globe? It’s quite fascinating to see it all visually, too. Though it seems like a miracle, it’s more about impressive engineering to make it happen.

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Underwater Cables For The Internet

Underwater Cables For The Internet

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Google Street View Covers These Areas

Google Street View is popular for letting people see the world on the Internet. How much does it actually cover? This map indicates that most of the world is covered by that program, but it still has many more places to chart, too!

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Google Street View Covers These Areas

Google Street View Covers These Areas

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Railway Networks around the Globe (20

Though railway systems are present in the United States, they’re often used for cargo. In Europe, people rely on the railways for most of their travels. This map indicates the railway networks from around the world.

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Railway Networks Around The Globe

Railway Networks Around The Globe

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Counties with a Gross Domestic Product of More than $100 Billion

The US is known as a world superpower, and that’s because of many wealthy individuals and companies. Where are those people found? This map indicates the counties throughout the country with a GDP of more than $100 billion. That’s not too shabby!

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Counties With A Gross Domestic Product Of More Than $100 Billion

Counties With A Gross Domestic Product Of More Than $100 Billion

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Illustrated Land Use

Another great way to think of how the US is divided is by its actual land usage. This map indicates how each area of land is used and how. Who knew that most of the country was made up of cow pastures?!

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Illustrated Land Use

Illustrated Land Use

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Finding Flamingos in Nature

Everyone loves to see flamingos with their pink feathers. Where can you find them around the world? This map indicates the areas where flamingos are found naturally. If you don’t want to travel that much, you might find some at a local zoo!

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Finding Flamingos In Nature

Finding Flamingos In Nature

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Montana in Mongolia

Though Montana is a large state, it’s hard to understand how it compares to other areas. Here, you can see that Montana actually fits into Mongolia with more space to spare. It’s great to have that perspective!

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Montana In Mongolia

Montana In Mongolia

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Peninsula vs. Peninsula

Most people don’t know that Italy and Florida are peninsulas. That means both places get surrounded by water on most of the borders but are connected to the mainland, too. Which one is better? That’s for you to decide!

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Peninsula Vs. Peninsula

Peninsula Vs. Peninsula

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Nevada in Iran

How big is Nevada? It’s home to Las Vegas, so it feels like it’s really large. However, you can see on the map below that it’s not comparable in size to Iran. Still, many other countries are smaller than it, such as Israel and Jordan.

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Nevada In Iran

Nevada In Iran

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California vs. Italy

California is a huge state that could actually be its own country. That’s part of the reason it gets 55 electoral votes. However, when superimposed on Italy’s map, you can see it’s wider but the same length.

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California Vs. Italy

California Vs. Italy

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Blue States Mean Smaller Populations than LA County

This might be shocking to some, but each state shown in blue has a combined population smaller than that of Los Angeles County alone. That is quite wild, but it’s completely true!

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Blue States Mean Smaller Populations Than LA County

Blue States Mean Smaller Populations Than LA County

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Locate Ukraine – 2,066 Americans Fail

Over 2,000 Americans were asked to indicate where Ukraine is on a map, and the below picture is the result. Some people were confused and thought it was in the US, while many others thought it was actually in Africa. Maybe they should have paid attention in Geography class!

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Locate Ukraine 2,066 Americans Fail

Locate Ukraine 2,066 Americans Fail

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Worldwide Super Bowl Champions

Americans love football (the pig-skin ball, that is.) This map shows a visual representation of the countries that have won the Super Bowl. Surprisingly, it’s just the United States because it’s the only one involved!

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Worldwide Super Bowl Champions

Worldwide Super Bowl Champions

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New Zealand and the Midwest

You know that Australia is quite large, but what about New Zealand? Most Americans think they’re the same place, but they’re actually separate and different sizes. Here’s the comparison of New Zealand in the United States.

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New Zealand And The Midwest

New Zealand And The Midwest

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The Trick for Locating Kentucky

Kentucky is known for the restaurant chain KFC. Do you find it hard to locate it on the map? The illustration below shows a chef holding fried chicken to help. In the picture, Kentucky is the iconic fried chicken!

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The Trick For Locating Kentucky

The Trick For Locating Kentucky

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South America vs. Greenland

It’s hard to think about how large the land masses are. That’s why it’s great to compare them to make sense of it all. The picture below shows Greenland next to South America. Brazil is huge by contrast!

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South America Vs. Greenland

South America Vs. Greenland

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Texas in Africa

While the saying is that things are bigger in Texas, that’s mainly when compared to the United States. It’s actually smaller than African countries. The map below indicates how small it really is!

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Texas In Africa

Texas In Africa

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Shipping Log Lines from 1945

Shipping is a huge industry throughout the world, and it has been for decades. Below, you can get the visual representation of shipping lines from around the globe back in 1945. They truly are interconnected!

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Shipping Log Lines From 1945

Shipping Log Lines From 1945

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United States. vs. India

India actually has a large population, with about 1.33 billion people living in it. The United States has about 328.2 million, and it’s much bigger than India as a whole. That’s quite crazy when you think about it!

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United States. Vs. India

United States. Vs. India

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United States vs. China

China is the most populous country in the world, with about 1.39 billion people. However, China is actually as large as the United States. The shocker is that China has a population about three times the size of the United States and is about the same size.

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United States Vs. China

United States Vs. China

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Africa Is Massive

Most people don’t know how big the continent of Africa is. You know that the US is huge, but when you look at the map, you see that the United States fits into Africa. There’s just no comparison here. It’s three times bigger than the US.

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Africa Is Massive

Africa Is Massive

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Regions Not Officially Celebrating Columbus Day

Some people feel that Christopher Columbus isn’t someone to celebrate, so Columbus Day is controversial. Many areas in the country celebrate Indigenous People’s Day instead. Here, you can see where that’s official (the yellow states).

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Regions Not Officially Celebrating Columbus Day

Regions Not Officially Celebrating Columbus Day

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Countries Executing People Between 2015 and 2016

While it’s a grim one, you might want to know which countries executed people between 2015 and 2016. The map below indicates them. Sometimes, the executions were justified, but there were also places where it was done unfairly.

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Countries Executing People Between 2015 And 2016

Countries Executing People Between 2015 And 2016

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