This map from OpenHeatMap.com is not “funny” but it sure is interesting. It shows each county in the United States, and the census date at which that county’s population peaked. For many countys that date is 2010 — the last census. But for others the date was way back in the 1800′s. Those counties are pretty much dying. Where does your county fall? The map is interactive, so you can zoom in and move around.
For people who live in the North Texas region, notice the decline in population growth starting two counties west of Fort Worth and extending west and north from there. That’s all ranch and farm territory. As ranching and farming have become big business and more mechanized, the people have moved away. Notice also Sierra County, California. The population there peaked in 1860 — a direct result of the gold rush that began in 1848 and ended soon after 1860.
I don’t know what the deal is with Buckingham County, Virginia. The population there peaked in 1810.
