Maps are powerful tools for communicating information that may be difficult to express in words.  A well made map should be easy to read and should express the point being made without further in-text explanation.  Maps show data in a geographic context and save space and effort in the body of a report.  They also add color and visual impact to reports, websites, and presentations. 

There are several convenient online mapping applications available to economic development practitioners.    The U.S. Department of the Interior provides National Atlas, a comprehensive national mapping platform.  National Atlas allows the user to make maps using 12 different categories of data such as agriculture, people, and transportation among others. 

The Census Bureau provides several convenient mapping platforms.  The Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics or LED OnTheMap page displays detailed workforce and commuting patterns for a given area.  The program maps where residents of a certain place work or conversely where those that work in a certain area live.  The data can be displayed with graduated symbols (larger symbols equate to more people) or with a density display (more dots equals more people).  LED OnTheMap is a powerful tool for studying workforce and commuting patterns. 

Another useful online mapping tool provided by the Census Bureau is American FactFinder Data Sets with Thematic Maps.  The format is similar to National Atlas but offers a wider variety of data sets for display.  American FactFinder Thematic Maps can display data for the entire nation, regions, states, and even counties. 

For general, non-thematic, mapping needs there are several user friendly commercial websites out there.  Some of the most common are Google Maps, Microsoft Live Search Maps, and Mapquest.  Each website provides the ability to easily zoom in and out, get point to point directions, and view aerial photos.  Maps can be captured for use in a report by typing “Alt + Print Screen” and then pasting the image in your report.  Be sure to cite your source no matter which application, public or private, you use. 

If you want to get serious about making maps, check out two of the most popular mapping software programs: Microsoft’s MapPoint  and ESRI’s ArcGIS Suite.  These programs aren’t cheap but provide a wide variety of mapping applications and powerful data analysis tools.