Comments on: Is it a virus? No, it’s Walmart. http://www.abovetheaether.com/2008/07/12/is-it-a-virus-no-its-walmart/ Stepping over the steaming pile of reality. Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:06:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dave http://www.abovetheaether.com/2008/07/12/is-it-a-virus-no-its-walmart/comment-page-1/#comment-33986 Dave Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:33:28 +0000 http://www.abovetheaether.com/2008/07/12/is-it-a-virus-no-its-walmart/#comment-33986 I'm guessing is has something to do with population density and overall demographics. It takes a lot of shoppers to support a single Walmart. All those western states have very low population density (Nevada has 18 people per square mile and Wyoming has even fewer at 5 per square mile). So it makes sense that you wouldn't see many Walmarts between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. I bet if you look at the same visualization of Burger King or McDonalds you'd see a similar pattern. That's my best guess. I’m guessing is has something to do with population density and overall demographics.

It takes a lot of shoppers to support a single Walmart. All those western states have very low population density (Nevada has 18 people per square mile and Wyoming has even fewer at 5 per square mile). So it makes sense that you wouldn’t see many Walmarts between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

I bet if you look at the same visualization of Burger King or McDonalds you’d see a similar pattern.

That’s my best guess.

]]> By: epiphenita http://www.abovetheaether.com/2008/07/12/is-it-a-virus-no-its-walmart/comment-page-1/#comment-33983 epiphenita Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:23:22 +0000 http://www.abovetheaether.com/2008/07/12/is-it-a-virus-no-its-walmart/#comment-33983 outstanding information design. so elegant. green spots for new stores, a simple total counter in the upper left corner and year counter on the lower right. interesting, too. the poster child state for all that is glitzy and cheap has resisted the walmarting of america: nevada is the least defiled on this map. i'm sure there's a logical explanation for this...dave? outstanding information design. so elegant. green spots for new stores, a simple total counter in the upper left corner and year counter on the lower right.

interesting, too. the poster child state for all that is glitzy and cheap has resisted the walmarting of america: nevada is the least defiled on this map. i’m sure there’s a logical explanation for this…dave?

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