Geospatial Analysis of Population Demographics and Traffic Density in MinneapolisIntroductionThis interactive web map provides a geospatial analysis of population distribution and traffic density for the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. By integrating demographic data at the census tract level with real-time traffic information, the application serves as a critical tool for urban planning, transportation management, and sociological research.Data Visualization and SymbologyThe map employs distinct color schemes to represent the core datasets, allowing for intuitive visual analysis: Traffic Density: The city's road network is symbolized using a color gradient to indicate traffic volume. Segments rendered in deep red represent a high traffic density index, signifying areas of significant vehicular congestion. This transitions to a light yellow for segments experiencing lower traffic flow. Population Density: The demographic landscape is visualized using a green color ramp applied to census tract polygons. Dark green shades correspond to areas with a high population concentration, whereas lighter green shades denote regions with a lower population density. Analytical Utility and ApplicationsThe juxtaposition of these datasets reveals spatial correlations between residential density and transportation bottlenecks. This allows for data-driven inquiry into key urban challenges. The patterns visualized can help city planners and transportation authorities identify specific corridors where infrastructure investment could be most effective. Strategic improvements in these areas have the potential to optimize traffic flow, reduce commuter travel times, and decrease vehicle fuel consumption and emissions, thereby enhancing the overall sustainability and livability of Minneapolis.Interactive Features and Data ExplorationUsers are encouraged to engage with the map's interactive features for a deeper understanding of the data: Layers and Legend: Utilize the "Layers" and "Legend" tools to deconstruct the map's composition and understand the specific values associated with the color symbology. Pop-up Information: Click on individual census tracts or road segments to activate pop-up windows. These provide detailed attribute information, such as total population counts, demographic breakdowns, household income statistics, and spatial relationship metrics like nearest neighbor analysis. This application is built upon a foundational demographic data layer for Minneapolis and is enhanced by the integration of a dynamic traffic layer from the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World.

This EnviroAtlas dataset is a summary of key demographic groups for the EnviroAtlas community. This dataset was produced by the US EPA to support research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas. EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas) allows the user to interact with a web-based, easy-to-use, mapping application to view and analyze multiple ecosystem services for the contiguous United States. The dataset is available as downloadable data (https://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/ORD/EnviroAtlas) or as an EnviroAtlas map service. Additional descriptive information about each attribute in this dataset can be found in its associated EnviroAtlas Fact Sheet (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas/enviroatlas-fact-sheets).

Minneapolis Eras MapIncludes layers that show modern racial demographic, historical redlining, urban renewal, racial covenants, and photographic comparisons from the early 1900's and present day.

The Federal/State Tribal Data Comparison web map can be used to compare the reservation boundaries that appear on the Minnesota State Highway Map with the U.S. Census Bureau reservation boundaries. This map also shows off-reservation trust land owned by tribes. The map is for informational purposes only. It is not a land survey and does not contain coordinate correct data. Boundaries are not recognition, endorsement, or acceptance by MnDOT or the State of Minnesota.

This EnviroAtlas dataset portrays the total number of historic places located within each Census Block Group (CBG). The historic places data were compiled from the National Register of Historic Places, which provides official federal lists of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant to American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. This dataset was produced by the US EPA to support research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas. EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas) allows the user to interact with a web-based, easy-to-use, mapping application to view and analyze multiple ecosystem services for the contiguous United States. The dataset is available as downloadable data (https://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/ORD/EnviroAtlas) or as an EnviroAtlas map service. Additional descriptive information about each attribute in this dataset can be found in its associated EnviroAtlas Fact Sheet (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas/enviroatlas-fact-sheets).

This map provides a spatial illustration of different means by which racial segregation was historically reinforced across the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The map focuses largely on data from the 1940s, and includes the following data layers:Population by Race - Data based on 1940 US Census that shows the percentage of the non-white population at the census tract level. This data was downloaded from NHGIS, with a spatial join performed to combine the census table and historic tracts (Citation: Steven Manson, Jonathan Schroeder, David Van Riper, Katherine Knowles, Tracy Kugler, Finn Roberts, and Steven Ruggles, IPUMS National Historical Geographic Information System: Version 18.0. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS. 2023).HOLC Map Zones by Number of Covenants - This layer displays a summary of the number of racially exclusive covenants within the area of zones designated by grade on HOLC redlining maps. The polygons of each grade zone were digitized by the Mapping Inequality Project (University of Richmond Digital Scholarship Lab) and are symbolized by the grade colors on the original maps. The data on racially exclusive covenants in Twin Cities neighborhoods was downloaded from the Mapping Prejudice Project (University of Minnesota) and is symbolized by the size of each feature.Greenbook Locations - This layer displays locations included on Greenbook travel guides from the 1940s, which indicate safe businesses for African American travelers to American Cities. This data comes from a service layer created by Shana Crosson (University of Minnesota).This spatial extent of this map is limited to the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It was created as part of an in-class exercise in February of 2024.

As included in this EnviroAtlas dataset, the community level domestic water use is calculated using locally available water use data per capita in gallons of water per day (GPD or GPCD), distributed dasymetrically, and summarized by census block group. Domestic water use, as defined in this case, is intended to represent residential indoor and outdoor water use (e.g., cooking, hygiene, landscaping, pools, etc.) for primary residences (i.e., excluding second homes and tourism rentals). For the purposes of this metric, these publicly-supplied estimates are also applied and considered representative of local self-supplied water use. Residential water use reporting in the EnviroAtlas-defined study area is available through the Minnesota Geospatial Commons website. Within the Minneapolis/St Paul study area, there are 45 estimates from 2005 ranging from 42 to 167 GPD. This dataset was produced by the US EPA to support research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas. EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas) allows the user to interact with a web-based, easy-to-use, mapping application to view and analyze multiple ecosystem services for the contiguous United States. The dataset is available as downloadable data (https://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/ORD/EnviroAtlas) or as an EnviroAtlas map service. Additional descriptive information about each attribute in this dataset can be found in its associated EnviroAtlas Fact Sheet (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas/enviroatlas-fact-sheets).

Resident Population in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (MSA) was 3757.95200 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Resident Population in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (MSA) reached a record high of 3757.95200 in January of 2024 and a record low of 2981.61600 in January of 2000. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Resident Population in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (MSA) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Hennepin County, MN was 97813.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Hennepin County, MN reached a record high of 97813.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 68227.00000 in January of 2009. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Hennepin County, MN - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Pros: This map does a better job at portraying the results of the race than the choropleth map. The blue and red are more balanced on the map and the transparency of some of the circles helps to understand the overlap that is happening in the more crowded areas of the map. This map fully shows the two candidates that are neck and neck and displays Skip Sanders as a definite third place candidate. Cons: The overlying circles makes the map a little hard to read in certain areas. Although transparency and color take the map a long ways, the choropleth map does a better job at keeping the information clear cut in each county. Providing a map using ratios or margin would have helped this map, but because only two candidates can be used in those styles, Skip Sanders would have been ignored.

This is a polygon dataset for county boundaries as well as for city, township and unorganized territory (CTU) boundaries in the Twin Cities 7-county metropolitan area. The linework for this dataset comes from individual counties and is assembled by the Metropolitan Council for the MetroGIS community. This is a MetroGIS Regionally Endorsed dataset https://metrogis.org/.

The County CTU Lookup Table here https://gisdata.mn.gov/dataset/us-mn-state-metc-bdry-counties-and-ctus-lookup
is also included in this dataset and contains various data related to cities, townships, unorganized territories (CTUs) and any divisions created by county boundaries splitting them is also included in the dataset.

This dataset is updated quarterly. This dataset is composed of three shape files and one dbf table.
- Counties.shp = county boundaries
- CTUs.shp = city, township and unorganized territory boundaries
- CountiesAndCTUs.shp = combined county and CTU boundaries
- CountyCTULookupTable.dbf = various data related to CTUs and any divisions created by county boundaries splitting them is also included in the dataset, described here: https://gisdata.mn.gov/dataset/us-mn-state-metc-bdry-counties-and-ctus-lookup

NOTES:

- On 3/17/2011 it was discovered that the CTU ID used for the City of Lake St. Croix Beach was incorrect. It was changed from 2394379 to 2395599 to match GNIS.

- On 3/17/2011 it was discovered that the CTU ID used for the City of Lilydale was incorrect. It was changed from 2394457 to 2395708 to match GNIS.

- On 11/9/2010 it was discovered that the CTU ID used for the City of Crystal was incorrect. It was changed from 2393541 to 2393683 to match GNIS.

- Effective April 2008, a change was made in GNIS to match the FIPS place codes to the "civil" feature for each city instead of the "populated place" feature. Both cities and townships are now "civil" features within GNIS. This means that the official GNIS unique ID for every city in Minnesota has changed.

- The five digit CTU codes in this dataset are identical to the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) ''Place'' codes. They are also used by the Census Bureau and many other organizations and are proposed as a MN state data coding standard.

- Cities and townships have also been referred to as ''MCDs'' (a census term), however this term technically refers to the part of each city or township within a single county. Thus, a few cities in the metro area that are split by county boundaries are actually comprised of two different MCDs. This was part of the impetus for a proposed MN state data standard that uses the ''CTU'' terminology for clarity.

- The boundary line data for this dataset comes from each county.

- A variety of civil divisions of the land exist within the United States. In Minnesota, only three types exist - cities, townships and unorganized territories. All three of these exist within the Twin Cities seven county area. The only unorganized territory is Fort Snelling (a large portion of which is occupied by the MSP International Airport).

- Some cities are split between two counties. Only those parts of cities within the 7-county area are included.

- Prior to the 2000 census, the FIPS Place code for the City of Greenwood in Hennepin County was changed from 25928 to 25918. This dataset reflects that change.

Pros: This map does a better job at focusing on the votes for Skip Sanders. Although he is a clear loser in the US Representative race, this choropleth map shows how well he did per county compared to Johnson and Stauber without the stigma of loss. The map also shows very clearly the counties he lacked support in.Cons: The map is misleading if considering the DFL and Republican candidate. Looking at the data first glance, one would assume Sanders won all the dark orange, but he only won the one county as seen in the other map. This map needs supplementary information (besides a legend) to be accurately analyzed. The other map is easier to read at first glance.

Resident Population in Federal Reserve District 9: Minneapolis was 9861.56800 Thous. of Persons in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Resident Population in Federal Reserve District 9: Minneapolis reached a record high of 9861.56800 in January of 2024 and a record low of 6704.08800 in January of 1970. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Resident Population in Federal Reserve District 9: Minneapolis - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

1980 Census include the following subjects: Age cohorts Race 1980 Census data are available for state, county, place, tract and block numbering area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980 Census and Minnesota Population Center, National Historical Geographic Information System: Version 2.0. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota 2011.

Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, White Alone (5-year estimate) in Wadena County, MN was 12825.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, White Alone (5-year estimate) in Wadena County, MN reached a record high of 13256.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 12699.00000 in January of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, White Alone (5-year estimate) in Wadena County, MN - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Martin County, MN was 1352.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Martin County, MN reached a record high of 1352.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 616.00000 in January of 2009. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Martin County, MN - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Map of historical demographics and means of segregation in 1940s Minneapolis.

Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Hennepin County, MN was 167455.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Hennepin County, MN reached a record high of 167455.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 115503.00000 in January of 2009. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Hennepin County, MN - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Ramsey County, MN was 44888.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Ramsey County, MN reached a record high of 44888.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 31745.00000 in January of 2009. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Ramsey County, MN - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Martin County, MN was 160.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Martin County, MN reached a record high of 160.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 46.00000 in January of 2016. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Martin County, MN - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.