Last winter The New York Times published an interactive map based on preliminary 2010 US Census data. Now the US Census Bureau has published their own interactive population map. The US Census Bureau’s interactive population map allows you to view demographic data about the US population on a Google Map. You can view data in five demographic categories; total population, ethnicity, race, sex and age,  and housing status. The data display can be refined down to counties and census blocks within each state.

Applications for Education
This interactive population map could be a good way for students to learn more about their home states and counties. You could also have students use this map as part of a research assignment in which they other parts of the country and compare it with their own communities. You could then have students research the possible causes of the differences in demographics.