Author: Ricky Holzer
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Where do Monarch Butterflies Live?
Using research grade observations logged on iNaturalist.org, this map shows where you can see monarch butterflies across the world. I was surprised to learn that monarchs live in Australia, New Zealand, and Spain in addition to the Americas. Related Maps
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Beyond Taco Bell: Where Regional Mexican Chains Dominate
Unlike Taco Bell which serves all 50 states, smaller Mexican fast food chains operate on a regional basis. Del Taco covers the largest area, followed by Cheyenne, Wyoming based Taco John’s (which owned the trademark for “Taco Tuesday” from 1989 until 2023). Newcomer Taco Cabana mostly has restaurants in Texas. Taco Time has stayed true…
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This Burrito Chain has the Most Restaurants
Chipotle dominates the United States, having more locations than any other fast casual burrito chain in 40 of 50 states. Moe’s Southwest Grill has the most locations in Alabama and Hawaii. Qdoba has more locations in 8 states: Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Michigan. Related Maps
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This State has the Most Taco Bells
Despite having its roots in Southern California, Taco Bell has more restaurants per capita in the middle of the country. The Northeast has the lowest number of Taco Bells per capita. Perhaps the concentration of restaurants in America’s heartland is due to the lack of decent Mexican food? Related Maps
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This Popular Donut Chain has the Most Locations
Turns out there is truth in advertising and America does in fact run on Dunkin. Dunkin Donuts dominates other donut chains and has more locations in nearly every state. Both New York and Massachusetts have over 1,000 Dunkin Donuts locations. Krispy Kreme is more popular on the west coast. Of the states with more Krispy…
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7 Amazing Map Creators You Need to Check Out
With AI taking over the internet, it’s a struggle to find serious human creativity. Luckily, I’ve created this list to help you out in the map department. Some of these blogs I’ve followed for a long time, while some are recent discoveries. Whether you’re trying to improve your mapmaking skills or just enjoy looking at…
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Mapping Washington State Representative Districts
Election season is upon us! And if you’re like me, you might be wondering what district you live in and what area your representative covers. I made a series of maps in QGIS to answer that question for Washington and Seattle residents. Check out the maps below: If you enjoyed these maps, follow me on…
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Recreating a Historic Railroad Map of Washington in QGIS
One bar I frequent has old maps under the glass tabletops in each of the booths. I’ve spent quite a lot of time staring at the map pictured below, and decided I wanted to try to recreate its old-timey style. Despite its beauty and charm, however, I do not think this is a well designed…
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Visualizing the Barrier Effect of Roads in Seattle Using BlenderGIS
I was inspired by Mapbox designer Topi Tjukanov’s 3D map called “Barrier Effect” that tries to illustrate the dividing effect roads can have on cities. Pedestrian accessibility is something I am passionate about, so I wanted to see what his concept would look like in my own city of Seattle. To get started, I downloaded…
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Mapping Trekking Routes in Nepal’s Langtang National Park Using QGIS
This past January I had the pleasure of visiting Nepal and trekking through the Langtang Valley, a wonderfully scenic place tucked away in a remote corner of the Himalayas. As is now required by law, I hired a guide to navigate the backcountry trails. After a bumpy ride in a packed SUV over some of…