GIS in the Social Sciences

The MAP Center began Web-based display of demographic and other data for NE PA in 1996. Our experience in this field is applicable to the social sciences which often use thematic maps to show patterns of demographic variables. The Center administers an extensive database of Census data which is available to all researchers at King's.

Sample themes

Poverty in the Wyoming Valley

Native/Foreign Born Population in the Wyoming Valley

Ancestry

Part of the King's Community Ethnic Initiative is to identify geographically our region's major ethnic groups. The series below shows the distribution of reported ancestry by census tract. Click on the thumbnails for a full scale map of the data.

Polish

Slovak

Italian

Irish

Reference sites

The National Atlas of the United States of America is an excellent tool for online exploration of the country.The interactive maps allow one to select, change and display "layers" of data which include everything from butterflies to urban areas. The Atlas uses the latest multimedia map technology to let students explore areas with active volcanoes, the growth of vegetation and terrain relief with tinted elevation ranges.

National Geographic's Map Machine puts the mapping expertise of the National Geographic at your fingertips. The interactive map themes include world physical, political and cultural geography, world and U.S. climate, U.S. and Canadian street maps and some U.S. census data.