The three maps we did for the quiz have several historical applications. The first map, counties that had railroads in 1870, might add to research on nineteenth-century westward migration. One could take population data from the Census in 1800, 1850, 1900, 1950, and 2000 and make several maps to show population growth over time. If the 1870 railroad tracks were included in these choropleth maps, one could see if railroads facilitated migration. (I tried to create these maps, but I was having trouble joining the attribute table.) A similar analysis could also be done with tax records to discover the local economic impact of railroads on counties.
One could also investigate the effects of railroads on Native American populations by mapping the populations over time in areas that intersect with the railroads. Federal reports would also be a useful resource to track instances of forcible Native American removal. These reports might also include information about possible natural resources in the area. These maps and government records would allow for spatial analysis of nineteenth-century Native American populations and movement; they might provide insight into the relative impact of settlers and the United States government.
For the maps with the Lewis and Clark trail, Oregon Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail, analysis could be done to determine if nineteenth-century migration patterns are still present in the twenty-first century. One could estimate the number of people to use each trail by mapping population change over time (along each trail and at their destinations). These maps would include Census data from the height of westward expansion. When compared with with a modern map (data from the 2010 Census), the population distribution in each might reveal any lasting impact of nineteenth-century migration patterns.
Below are a few quick thoughts about Thursday’s quiz.
Downloading the data, georeferencing the Western Trails map, and selecting the counties that intersect with the 1870 railroads went smoothly. We had plenty of practice with these skills in lab and in the Fondren Data Center. However, I temporarily forgot how to export the data after selecting by location (for the 1870 railroads map). It took me a few minutes before I navigated to the right place. I also had trouble adding a legend to my maps. In the past, I simply needed to click on the icon. While working on this exercise after the quiz, I was able to work with the program and get a legend onto the maps.