Map #103: October 22, 2018

Difficulty Level: 6

Click here for a full-size version of this week’s map.

This map is a proportional symbol map of North America. (Do you need a refresher on what a proportional symbol map is? Visit our “Basics” page for a quick primer.) This map is slightly different from previous proportional symbol maps we have produced in that every circle varies in size; that is, we have not assigned a scale with different levels marked by different colors. This approach allows you to appreciate how much bigger the circle for New York is than all the other circles. As always, your job is to figure out what this proportional symbol map represents.

Stumped? Check back Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for hints about where to focus your investigation. The answer will be posted on Monday, November 5, 2018. Good luck!

Monday evening update: We made a change to the map to make sure the circles were proportional by area rather than circumference. Don’t make maps late at night.

Tuesday’s hint: Alas, the city of Seattle is conspicuously absent from this map.

Wednesday’s hint: The reality on which this map was based changed yesterday, so we have updated this map to enlarge Boston’s dot very slightly. Soon, Boston’s dot will equal the size of Chicago’s.

Thursday’s hint: Things keep changing! Boston had to get expanded a little bit again, and now it’s exactly the same size as Chicago. Next up: the dot for Los Angeles will grow as well, though not until after the week’s final hint has been given. Will the Boston dot surpass the size of the Chicago dot next week? We don’t yet know.

Friday’s hint: One reason why New York has such a big dot is that that single dot is drawing from multiple sources—including events that happened at a host of venues that no longer exist such as the Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field, and Shea Stadium.

Final update: The map was updated to enlarge Los Angeles. It will remain current for another year.

Answer: Click here to see an explanation of the answer to this week’s map question.

Next map: Click here to try out our newest map question.