Population Geography

Geography 460 | Spring 2009

Department of Geography, California State University, Long Beach

Class Information


FINAL TEAM PROJECT GUIDELINES



READINGS

 
 

POWERPOINTS


 
AMERICAN FACTFINDER
CENSUS GEOGRAPHY
AGE
SUMMARY FILE 1
SUMMARY FILE 3




 

  MAPPING RESOURCES  (sorry about the in-class demo disaster!)
  • Mapping Software:
    • Smaller, Faster version of ArcExplorer -- that WORKS!

    • During installation, specify a new folder name such as 'Maps.'  This will allow you to find data and map files later.

      Sample maps for World Countries and US themes are included in a DATA subfolder.
       

    • ARCVoyager Software -- Get the 'Special Edition' -- Stand-alone ArcViewLITEWindows and MacVersions!
  • Data Table Editor

  • This is a simple .DBF editor to add your data to the map.

    "Shape files" contain both geographic features (points, lines or areas) AND feature "Attributes" or thematic data.

    When you locate a 'base map' ( a shapefile which has the outlines of your area features and/or locations of your points or lines), the shape file component map_name.DBF contains the attribute features database.

    The important element of this table is the name-link between the data and the map features -- usually an abbreviation such as the Two-Letter State abbreviation:  CA, NV, ...etc.

    Other columns in the table contain the actual thematic data -- Population, Area, and so forth.

    Unfortunately, rarely do we find a basemap that has all  the attribute data that we need. SO...we usually have to EDIT the .DBF file to either manually enter our own data OR calculate a new column using existing data (for example, a new column 'Density' can be calculated by the formula/expression ' Population / Area'. Note: New column names should be <=8 letters, no spaces.

    ALWAYS make a backup copy of the original file!  Mistakes happen.
     

  • Maps and Data

  •  

     
     
     

    Lots of Stuff

    More Websites that offer free, downloadable shapefiles

    (naturally, the caveat is that websites blink in and out of existence like semidemiquarks)

    WebGIS US one degree data- DLG and DEMs

    National Atlas of the United States

    Country Shapefiles

    Shapefiles for EPI Info

    Arizona GeoServer

    Geography Network

    ESRI
     



Practice Exercises and Graded ASSIGNMENTS

MIGRATION -- In and Out of Your Country

  • Net Migration -- Which is more, in-migration or emmigration?
  • Where do migrants go?  Nearby countries?  Former colonial powers?
  • Where do immigrants (if any) come from?
  • When and Where did people from your country emmigrate to the US?
    • What time periods?
    • Where did they settle?
    • What is the distribution in the US like today?
Using the Data for Your Country, CALCULATE the following:
  • Population_Density[aka "Arithmetic Density"] = Total_Pop / Total_Land_Areakm
  • Physiological_Density = Total_Pop / Arable_Land_Areakm
  • SexRatio =  ( Total_Male_Pop / Total_Female_Pop ) * 100
  • FertilityRatio =  ( M 0- 4 + F 0- 4 ) / F15- 44
  • DependencyRatio =  ( Pop 0-15 + Pop 65+ ) / Pop16- 64

Updated: 4.23.2009
© 2009 Frank Gossette, CSULB