Should You Use ZCTA Boundaries?

The ZIP code is commonly used in business applications for two primary reasons – they are well recognized and utilized as the core geographic identifier in a wide range of both postal and non-postal sources. Because they are created by the post office for the purpose...

Rising Heating Costs

It’s hard to ignore it: things are more expensive than they ever have been. In December, inflation hit a 40-year high of 7%, and the most vulnerable Americans are having a hard time putting food on their table and keeping their homes warm. We are paying 15.2% more for...

The Geography of Los Angeles Police Chases

I’m going to make a very embarrassing admission: I love watching police chases on TV. Maybe growing up in Los Angeles after the infamous Bronco chase taught me to enjoy watching these intense car chases on TV. When I lived in LA, they would break into local news or...

Washington D.C. Traffic Explained

When you think Washington, D.C., you think about government. You might also think about traffic. Washington, D.C. is consistently ranked as one of the worst cities for commuting traffic in the United States. Heading into the capital are thousands and thousands of...

Wanna Get Away?

If the last year and a half of isolation hasn’t been enough for you (or you have realized that you really don’t need as many friends as you thought you did), you might be looking for somewhere remote to go. So, where is the most remote places that you can live? Or go...

Echoes of Settlement Strategies

Watching the Hurricane Ida coverage a few weeks ago had us thinking about odd geography in the United States. What is a Parish? Why can’t they just say county? Much of our geography today was shaped by those who settled there. Earliest settlements were by three...