Mapping data isn’t just about geography - it’s about telling stories hidden in numbers. Recently, I created a cartogram that tiles all U.S. counties into a uniform grid of hexagons. This approach transforms our traditional view of the nation, offering fresh insights into population, density, and other socio-economic variables that are often obscured on conventional maps.
Why Hexagons?
Hexagons have a unique property: they tile a plane without gaps, and each cell maintains a consistent shape and size. Unlike traditional maps where county areas can vary dramatically, a hexagonally tiled cartogram normalizes visual weight. Every county gets an equal base representation, which means that attributes like population and density can be highlighted more clearly through additional visual cues - like color intensity, size adjustments, or overlaid metrics - without being skewed by the arbitrary sizes of the counties themselves.
Compared to square grids, hexagonal tiling reduces the “edge effect” where corners in squares can mislead the interpretation of adjacency. Hexagons, with their more circular appearance, tend to convey neighborhood relationships more accurately, making them an excellent choice for representing complex, interlinked data such as county-level statistics. The hexagonal tiling of counties also enables an arrangement of circles to fill an approximately similar space.
From States to Counties
Hexagon tiling is not a new concept in the realm of data visualization. In fact, many state-level maps have long embraced this method to simplify comparisons and highlight trends that are often masked by the geographical quirks of actual state boundaries. From political analyses to economic indicators, state-level hexagon maps have been widely used for decades. Their popularity stems from the ability to standardize the spatial representation, making it easier to focus on the data rather than on geographic size or shape differences.
By extending this concept to the county level, we can now explore even more granular details while maintaining the clarity and consistency that hexagonal tiling offers. It is worth noting that much of the decision on where to place hexagonally tiled counties is done here subjectively.
A Clearer Picture of Population and Density
Consider the case of contrasting counties in the same state: a sprawling rural county versus a compact urban county. On a conventional geographic map, a large rural county might dominate visually because of its expansive area, even though its population density is low. Meanwhile, a small urban county, bustling with residents, might barely register in terms of area.
In our hexagonally tiled cartogram, however, each county is represented by a uniform hexagon. Now imagine applying a color gradient where deeper hues represent higher population densities. Suddenly, the stark differences become visually apparent.
A county like San Francisco or New York, which packs thousands of residents into a small area, now stands out with an intense red, drawing the eye immediately to where the people actually are. Conversely, a vast county with a sparse population adopts a blue tone, accurately reflecting its lower density without the distraction of an oversized area.
Using the size of counties as a dimension to represent population can also showcase population centers and free up the color dimension to show another dimension like population density.
Beyond Population: Hypothetical Applications
While population and density are crucial, the hexagonal cartogram framework opens doors to visualizing a myriad of other datasets:
1. Economic Indicators:
Imagine overlaying unemployment rates or median income levels on the cartogram. The uniform shape of each county allows for direct comparisons, highlighting economic disparities across regions that might otherwise be masked by geographical distortions.
2. Public Health Data:
In a scenario such as tracking vaccination rates, disease outbreaks, or healthcare accessibility, a hexagonal map can quickly reveal clusters of concern. Decision-makers can pinpoint regions that might require urgent intervention or additional resources.
3. Education and Infrastructure:
Mapping data like school performance scores or broadband internet access can be more insightful when presented on a uniform grid. Schools or facilities in densely populated areas would be immediately identifiable, facilitating targeted policy actions.
4. Political Trends:
Election data often grapples with the “large county, small vote” problem on traditional maps. A hexagonal cartogram levels the playing field, offering a more balanced visual representation of voting patterns, irrespective of county size.
The Power of Filtering
One of the exciting features of this approach is the ability to filter by state or group of states. Imagine zooming in on the Midwest or focusing exclusively on New England.
Researchers can tailor their views to specific regions, making comparisons more meaningful within similar cultural, economic, or political contexts. By narrowing the focus, visual noise is reduced, allowing for a clearer interpretation of the data relevant to that particular area. Local government officials can concentrate on their state or neighboring counties to better coordinate regional development, disaster response, or resource allocation.
Filtering transforms the cartogram from a static picture into a dynamic tool, adapting to the needs of diverse analytical tasks.
The hexagonally tiled cartogram is more than just a creative reimagining of county maps—it’s a powerful visualization tool that reorients our perspective on how we interpret data. By standardizing the shape and size of each county, we place emphasis on the attributes that truly matter, like population density and socio-economic variables. Whether used to highlight urban centers, track public health crises, analyze economic trends, or even understand political dynamics, this approach brings clarity where traditional maps sometimes fall short. And with the added benefit of state or region-specific filtering, this tool becomes even more versatile for anyone looking to dive deep into the data of the United States.
Building on the proven success of hexagon tiling at the state level, extending this technique to counties provides an even more detailed canvas. It reminds us that sometimes, seeing the data from a new angle can make all the difference. Happy mapping!