Why 80% of Americans Live East of This Line

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the geographic distribution of the population in the United States and Canada, particularly focusing on why a significant majority of Americans live east of a certain line. Participants explore factors such as population density, historical insights, and geographical features, while also touching on related trivia and humorous commentary about the Canadian-American border.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference a video discussing population density, topography, orography, and rainfall as factors influencing where people live.
  • John Wesley Powell's insights into the development of the arid West are noted, with some arguing they were timely rather than ahead of their time.
  • Several participants observe that a large portion of the Canadian population also lives near the U.S. border, with estimates varying between 90% and 100 miles or 199 miles from the border.
  • Humorous comments are made about provoking Canadians, including jokes about statehood and cultural stereotypes.
  • Trivia about northernmost settlements in the contiguous U.S. and the unique access challenges to places like Juneau, Alaska, are shared.
  • There is a discussion about the linguistic implications of living east or west of any meridian, with some participants engaging in a playful debate about the definition of meridians.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement on various points, particularly regarding population statistics and geographic trivia. The discussion remains unresolved on several claims, with competing views presented without consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on specific definitions or assumptions about geographic boundaries and population distributions, which are not universally agreed upon. The discussion includes playful banter that may not contribute to the main topic.

Tom.G
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A 20 minute video exploring Population Density, Topography, Orography, and Rainfall.

The narrator is a bit annoying but there is a lot of information in it.

 
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I'd say that John Wesley Powell's insights (thinking) were timely, not centuries ahead of (or before) his (its) time. That's the mark of a good scientist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Powell
John Wesley Powell (March 24, 1834 – September 23, 1902) was an American geologist, U.S. Army soldier, explorer of the American West, professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, and director of major scientific and cultural institutions. He is famous for his 1869 geographic expedition, a three-month river trip down the Green and Colorado rivers, including the first official U.S. government-sponsored passage through the Grand Canyon.

Powell was appointed by US President James A. Garfield to serve as the second director of the U.S. Geological Survey (1881–1894) and proposed, for development of the arid West, policies that were prescient for his accurate evaluation of conditions. He became the first director of the Bureau of Ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution during his service as director of the U.S. Geological Survey,
 
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If you have ever driven across the United States, it wouldn't be a surprise to you that most people live in the east.
 
The N-S line in Canada is also pretty impressive. Something like 90% live within 100 miles of the US. I'm not sure what the largest exception outside of Edmonton is. Halifax might squeak in. Saskatoon, oerhaps?
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
The N-S line in Canada is also pretty impressive. Something like 90% live within 199 miles of the US. I'm not sure what the largest exception outside of Edmonton is. Halifax might squeak in. Saskatoon, oerhaps?
 
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If you really want to make a Canadian angry, ask when Ontario will apply for statehood. That makes them sputtering mad.
 
Surrender pronto or we’ll level Toronto!
 
anorlunda said:
That makes them sputtering mad.
How can you tell?
 
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anorlunda said:
If you really want to make a Canadian angry, ask when Ontario will apply for statehood. That makes them sputtering mad.
Just tell them their beer sucks.
 
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  • #10
Better watch out about giving the Canadians too much grief.
Their many world class comedians might come after you. :eek:
 
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  • #11
Vanadium 50 said:
The N-S line in Canada is also pretty impressive. Something like 90% live within 100 miles of the US.
Imagine a house filled with 300 million people, warmed by 100 million fireplaces.

Now imagine you're one of 30 million people standing outside in the blowing snow and ice, shivering your short & curlies off. You'd be snuggling up as close as you could to the warm walls and lit windows of that house too.
 
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  • #12
DaveC426913 said:
Imagine a house filled with 300 million people, warmed by 100 million fireplaces.

Now imagine you're one of 30 million people standing outside in the blowing snow and ice, shivering your short & curlies off. You'd be snuggling up as close as you could to the warm walls and lit windows of that house too.
Our igloos and toques keep us cozy enough. Besides, the weather keeps our beer cold and the ice frozen.

Vanadium 50 said:
How can you tell?
You can't. We channel all our anger into the geese.
 
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  • #13
Mondayman said:
Our igloos and toques keep us cozy enough. Besides, the weather keeps our beer cold and the ice frozen.
I am one of those 30 million too.
 
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  • #14
Actually 50% of Canada lives south of Seattle.
 
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  • #15
Every province of Canada trades more across its immediate border than it does with the other provinces
 
  • #16
I read a book on a blogger who moved to some town in Minnesota, and I was astonished to find out how much of Minnesota is significantly north of most of the population of Canada.
 
  • #17
Mondayman said:
Actually 50% of Canada lives south of Seattle.
Are you talking about snowbirds?
 
  • #18
Mark44 said:
Are you talking about snowbirds?
in balmy Montreal and Toronto? Thought it would be more than half - the population centers of Ontario and Quebec are S of Seattle and those two provinces are ~60% of Canada’s population

1664498241515.jpeg
 
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  • #19
BWV said:
in balmy Montreal and Toronto?
Gotcha. I live just north of Seattle and on this end of the country, the border between the US and Canada runs east-west. I forgot that it dips south quite a ways around the Great Lakes.
 
  • #20
Just some trivia

Angle Inlet, MN, 49°20′42″N 95°4′12″W Northernmost settlement in US 48 contiguous states.
Maida, ND 48°59′55″N 98°21′53″W
Noyes, MN, 48°59′51″N 97°12′16″W
Portal, ND, 48°59′44″N 102°33′2″W town borders US/Canada border
Morgan, MT, 48°59′36″N 107°49′56″W
Danville, WA, 48°59′33″N 118°30′29″W
Northgate, ND, 48°59′27″N 102°15′44″W
Blaine, WA, 48°59′17″N 122°44′37″W town borders US/Canada border
Molson, WA 48°58′52″N 119°12′02″W

Most towns above are unincorporated

Seattle, WA, 47°36′35″N 122°19′59″W
Estcourt Station, ME, 47.4555°N 69.22877°W

Montreal, QC, 45°30′32″N 73°33′15″W
Ottawa, ON, 45°25′29″N 75°41′42″W
Toronto, ON, 43°44′30″N 79°22′24″W
 
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  • #21
Astronuc said:
Angle Inlet, MN, 49°20′42″N 95°4′12″W Northernmost settlement in US.
Alaskans will feel slighted.
 
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  • #22
anorlunda said:
Alaskans will feel slighted.
I should have indicated in the contiguous 48 states.

For northernmost settlement in US, I should have referenced Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow), AK, 71°17′26″N 156°47′19″W Approximately 100% of Canadians and Americans live south of the latitude of Utqiagvik.
 
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  • #23
BWV said:
Every province of Canada trades more across its immediate border than it does with the other provinces
Economically, that isn't surprising. You trade with people who have different resources and capabilities then you.
 
  • #24
Astronuc said:
I should have referenced Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow), AK,
500+ miles to the nearest McDonalds.
 
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  • #25
Vanadium 50 said:
500+ miles to the nearest McDonalds.
Yep. Apparently, flying is the only option to and from Utqiagvik to Fairbanks (about 500 miles), or take a boat around the coast to Anchorage.
 
  • #26
When I took a cruise to Juneau Alaska, they told me there are is no land access to the state's capital.

There are three ways into Juneau: by water, by air and by birth canal.
 
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  • #27
Astronuc said:
Yep. Apparently, flying is the only option to and from Utqiagvik to Fairbanks (about 500 miles), or take a boat around the coast to Anchorage.

Dog sled might work, too. . . :wink:

.
 
  • #28
Vanadium 50 said:
500+ miles to the nearest McDonalds.
shouldn't this be in the fast food thread :wink:
 
  • #29
>1/6 of Americans live South of Baghdad
 
  • #30
I'm sorry to crash this party, but all Americans live east of any meridian. I'll see myself out...
 
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