home

Where People Live: Population Density

Population density is the average number of people who live in a unit of area, such as a square mile.
 * Geoterms:**

Population density measures how crowded an area is. Geographers show differences between high population and low population areas by using a population density map.
 * Chapter Summary:**

Geographers calculate the density of a place by dividing the total number of people living there by the location's total land area. If the result is high, the place is crowded. If the result is low, the place is not very crowded.

Population Density affects how people live, like for example in Skwentna houses are spread out that people rarely see their neighbors. There are no roads so residents use boats, airplanes, and snow mobiles.

In New York city the population density is very high. People live in close quarters and everyday millions of people get on subways and ferries to get to work.People who ride the subways are sometimes called "straphangers".



1.) How would you determine a place's population density?
 * Multiple Choice:**

a. divide the location's total land area by the total number of people b. divide the total number of people by the location's total land area c. multiply the total number of people by the location's total land area d. none of the above

2.) What does population density affect?

a. how people sleep b. who lives in the area c. fashion in an area d. how people live

3.) What do population density maps show?

a. patterns of where people live b. weather patterns c. vegetation zones d. economic activity

Key: 1.) b. 2.) d. 3.) a.