Question

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are currently more than 288 million people living in the United States. Use the map above to answer the questions below.

Using a Key: Which coast of the United States has the larger population?



Using a Key: In what area of the United States do the fewest people live?



Analyzing Data: Almost 225 soccer fields can fit in one square mile. Approximately how many could you have to yourself if you lived in a region containing 25 people per square mile? Or 100 people per square mile?





Inferring Relationships: Why do you think that the population is distributed the way that it is?



Making Conclusions: Find the general location of your community on the map, if shown. Do you live in an area of high population density or low population density? How could your community’s location affect its population density?

Answer 1

Using a Key — Which coast has the larger population?
- The Atlantic (East) Coast. The Northeast and mid‑Atlantic urban corridor (Boston–New York–Philadelphia–Washington) plus many other populous East Coast cities give the East Coast a larger total population than the West Coast.

Using a Key — In what area of the United States do the fewest people live?
- The interior West / Mountain West and parts of the Great Plains have the lowest population densities (states such as Wyoming, Montana, western Nebraska, and parts of Nevada and New Mexico). Alaska also has very low density.

Analyzing Data — soccer fields per person
- One square mile = 225 soccer fields.
- At 25 people per square mile: 225 ÷ 25 = 9 soccer fields per person (about 9 fields to yourself).
- At 100 people per square mile: 225 ÷ 100 = 2.25 soccer fields per person (about 2¼ fields to yourself).

Inferring Relationships — why population is distributed this way
- People cluster where resources and opportunities are greatest: access to water and ports, milder climates, fertile land, transportation routes, and jobs (industry, services). Historic settlement patterns (early colonial cities on the East Coast), urbanization, and economic centers concentrate population. Mountainous, arid, or very cold areas have fewer people because of challenging terrain, limited water, and fewer economic opportunities.

Making Conclusions — locate your community and its density
- Find your town on the map. If it’s in the Northeast, mid‑Atlantic, California coast, or around the Great Lakes you’re in a higher population density area; if it’s in the Mountain West, the central Great Plains, or much of Alaska you’re in a low‑density area.
- Your community’s location affects density through access to jobs, transportation (highways, ports, airports), natural resources, climate, and land availability. Coastal and river locations, major highways/rail lines, and proximity to big cities tend to increase density; remote, rugged, or resource‑poor locations tend to lower it.

If you tell me the name of your town or ZIP code, I can say specifically whether your community is in a high‑ or low‑density area and explain why.