UGA | Population Density (Persons Per Square Mile) |
Bellingham | 2,557.98 |
Lynden | 2,048.96 |
Whatcom County Foothills (Columbia Valley) | 1,794.56 |
Nooksack | 1,568.44 |
Everson | 1,343.90 |
Birch Bay | 1,303.04 |
Ferndale | 1,282.01 |
Sumas | 852.15 |
Blaine | 788.62 |
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Urban Density -- Census 2010
The 2010 U.S. Census shows how many persons per square mile live within Whatcom County. Using some 3-D modeling software, we were able to develop the following image that graphically displays density within Whatcom County. The density for each UGA, in rank order, is presented below the image.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I would like to see the same chart, but with population change 2000 - 2010. Where did the people settle over the last decade?
ReplyDeletePretty!
ReplyDeleteIt is always important when considering density to remember the "water" issue.
ReplyDeleteNote on the Census data, about one-fifth (not gin or burbon) of Bellingham is under water (under lakes Whatcom and Padden and under Bellingham Bay among other places) while Lynden, for example, has less than 1% of its land mass under water.
Nice charting and a nice map. Thanks
whoops... kind of wierd... one fifth in 2000 and only a bit over 6% in 2010... some annexations but that seems odd... oh, well, we will figure it out sometime or another....
ReplyDeleteThe fact remains, the amount of land under water and not usable for other reasons is important in any calculation
Jack, the Census has two fields that calculate the size of an areas (city, UGA, etc.). There is a total area, and a water area field. The folks at OFM did calculations in those spreadsheets available at http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/census2010/data.asp. Look in the last worksheet that says "Variables", I believe, that explains their specific data. Most of their data is direct extract out of the Census, but some of the fields are calculated. The density calculation and the land area calculation is an example of how they used the Census data to make those determinations. The land area was a simple calculation of total area minus water area. The density calculation, then, was against the land area. These numbers were verified by City GIS staff for Bellingham on Friday as being accurate.
ReplyDeleteAs for your "weird" comment above, if you look at Bellingham total area in 2000 Census and total area in the 2010 Census, the City would have shrunk. What happened is that the City boundaries in the Census now go to the harbor line in Bellingham Bay, rather than half way out to Lummi Island. So, the city isn't shrinking, just the lines. But, this is why it is very important to understand these numbers and how they are derived, because doing density calculations out to the middle of the bay makes no sense.
But, I'm sure that you'll be careful with your use of numbers, won't you Jack? :) Thanks for visiting our blog. I hope you learn something.