Submitted by bubbastars t3_126l1b4 in massachusetts
Comments
Hoosac_Love t1_je9jeoj wrote
A lot of black in eastern and central Mass,more than I expected
Federal-Emphasis-934 t1_je9jpr7 wrote
The big ones in central are lakes. The ones near the cape line up with some state parks.
Hoosac_Love t1_je9kdg3 wrote
BannedMyName t1_je9kv2b wrote
Now do one for all of New England
TerpeeAF413 t1_je9los5 wrote
The biggest black spot in Western Massachusetts is actually the Quabbin Reservoir which, along with the Wachusett Reservoir, provides drinking water for Boston and several towns in the Metro Boston area.
Hoosac_Love t1_je9lvsp wrote
I saw that for sure yea
Giving_Cat t1_je9mnvg wrote
It would even cooler if you had included the density area note in the chart.
Th1s1sChr1s t1_je9n6su wrote
Hey everyone, I found the newcomer!
EDIT: That's so funny people hatin' ... Hoosac's expression just sounded Wisconsin or Minnesotan to me, I didn't mean anything by it. (please don't tell your Minnesota or Wisconsin friends I suggested they may be similar)
munkmunk49 t1_je9n8dh wrote
I'm surprised the highest density isnt somewhere in Somerville considering it's in the top 10 most dense cities in the US
KateBushFuckingSucks t1_je9ng72 wrote
What's interesting is if you pull the data at 8am on a weekday, it's just a bright fucking line on 93, 95 and 90 and black absolutely everywhere else.
midday_marauder t1_je9ntja wrote
That would probably be Myles Standish State Forest and it looks like the one on Cape could be Joint Base Cape Cod
DeliPaper t1_je9ofm7 wrote
Almost exclusively parks and forests
somegridplayer t1_je9p4nx wrote
The one immediately on the cape is the USAF/USCG/USSF base.
somegridplayer t1_je9p5k3 wrote
You nailed it.
A_Man_Who_Writes t1_je9pnsd wrote
That would be cool to see
Everyday_Balloons t1_je9pv6k wrote
except highways and cars are so inefficient, a single subway train is probably more densely populated
WinsingtonIII t1_je9pwww wrote
I would guess it's because though Boston has some (relatively) lower density areas than Somerville which drag its overall average down, places like Back Bay are denser than anywhere in Somerville due to the higher density of higher-rise housing. Somerville doesn't really have any neighborhood that is entirely 4-5 story brownstones plus high rise condo buildings. There are a lot more three-deckers in Somerville, which don't house quite as many people.
Hoosac_Love t1_je9pxrk wrote
I'm from Berkshire county ,do you think I'd been to eastern MA outside of Worcester or Boston
Carbonated-Man t1_je9qhjo wrote
I don't know the numbers myself, but tbh I wouldn't be surprised if someone said the entire population of western mass was lower than the population of New Bedford or Fall River.
-CalicoKitty- t1_je9qoau wrote
Somerville is the most dense overall, but Boston has a lot of low density neighborhoods like Brighton and West Roxbury that bring it's average down. Parts of Back Bay and South End are more dense than anything in Somerville.
Hoosac_Love t1_je9qvxo wrote
Western is about a million Metro Springfield is substantial,600K people in that area All the little towns add up Berkshire county in about 130K Franklin about 90K
bubbastars OP t1_je9r30a wrote
Plus the huge parks/cemeteries.
-Anarresti- t1_je9t0lf wrote
Lynn is dense, yo
nataphoto t1_je9t7xj wrote
> I wouldn't be surprised if someone said the entire population of western mass was lower than the population of New Bedford or Fall River
hows that work considering springfield alone is the third largest city
Hoosac_Love t1_je9vink wrote
Total western MA population as of 2020 is 828,188
Hamden co about 465K
Hampshire co about 168K
Berkshire co about 129K
Franklin co about 71K
trahoots t1_je9vpss wrote
Population sizes:
- New Bedford: 100,941
- Fall River: 93,884
Western Mass Counties:
- Hampden County: 462,718
- Hampshire County: 161,572
- Berkshire County: 128,657
- Franklin County: 71,015
Western Mass total: 823,962
GyantSpyder t1_je9vqpf wrote
You don't have to build vertically to get density. But if you want the densest single 1/4 square mile in an entire state it's probably going to involve building up.
megmatthews20 t1_je9wmo6 wrote
That reservoir always makes me think of Stephen King's Dreamcatcher.
NativeMasshole t1_je9xt7q wrote
I don't know about that. The one between Quabbin and Worcester seems a lot bigger than Long Pond, and Oakaham and Rutland State Forests.
Markymarcouscous t1_je9y3f0 wrote
I live in JP near Roxbury I assume that is in the hexagon that is outlined in green
stevewmn t1_je9yv0k wrote
Some lakes and wetlands too. I'm pretty sure I can identify Crystal Lake and Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, and there are larger black areas not far north of them which are just swamps in Lynnfield.
UniWheel t1_je9yv9b wrote
>The biggest black spot in Western Massachusetts is actually the Quabbin Reservoir
Yes, though there are also lots of large parcels that haven't been inhabited in a century or twp and many of which are now preserved - it was pretty much all farmed at one point, but now only the rich river floodplains and select hilltops are, so there are huge tracts of more difficult terrain that's regrown woods with only old foundations and stone walls. And trails. Lots of trails.
Federal-Emphasis-934 t1_je9yz5i wrote
Moore state park or Moose Hill? There is a lot of green space near Barre.
nickjacksonD t1_je9zf87 wrote
This clearly doesn't count John Quabbin, the lovely but eccentric lake monster who lives in the middle of the Quabbin reservoir.
[deleted] t1_je9zwon wrote
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bigcalvesarein t1_jea0yus wrote
Okay where on this map is the cheap rent with a reasonable commute into Boston? s/
3720-To-One t1_jea17uy wrote
Boston also has lots of commercial space and other stuff like museums, hospitals, and other non-residential facilities.
3720-To-One t1_jea1ahc wrote
Also commercial spaces.
Nobody lives in the financial district.
rolandofgilead41089 t1_jea4pw2 wrote
You need to get out more.
MissIz t1_jea6l2i wrote
You make joke.
MissIz t1_jea6nqv wrote
Wetlands
MissIz t1_jea6tbf wrote
There's a Springfield in almost every state.
es_cl t1_jea7o6q wrote
From western Mass too, there’s only a couple of things I know about the southeast region of the state. 1) Gillette stadium and Tweeter/Comcast Center(old name) are around the Attleboro area of the state because I’ve been to concerts there. 2) Sandwich and Hyannis is where I pass by to get to Provincetown/Cape Cod. Lol
Just like we can’t expect folks in the eastern side of the state to know much about western Mass, eastern folks shouldn’t expect us to know much about the eastern side unless it’s a tourist destination like Boston, Gillette, Comcast Center and the Cape area.
Hoosac_Love t1_jea8kj9 wrote
I've been to Gillette and Tweeter maybe back when it was Great Woods.I have been to Hyannis but never Provincetown.
garethashenden t1_jea95bk wrote
BRB, moving to the middle of Quabbin
Enragedocelot t1_jea95ho wrote
Is the section that is glowing with a neon line around it where you live?
PREClOUS_R0Y t1_jeab687 wrote
Don't do it! There has been talk for years about moving rattlesnakes onto one of the islands.
Kind_Midas t1_jeah1aa wrote
bostonmacosx t1_jeahyvo wrote
Give me the purple and high speed transportation....
potentpotables t1_jeajdgd wrote
looks like they suspended that plan https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2017/04/20/rattlesnake-island-plan-canceled/
potentpotables t1_jeajgim wrote
densest section in the map
Hoosac_Love t1_jeak9km wrote
Northeastern Vermont through northern New Hampshire through northwest Maine would be virtually nothing
very_random_user t1_jeakxh8 wrote
This is a beautiful map. Thank you OP.
zephepheoehephe t1_jeampk2 wrote
A subway train has peak capacity of 1000 people. To fit the same number of people bumper-to-bumper would take almost 3 acres in area and more than 3 miles of length.
Of course, cars are never bumper-to-bumper. Instead, at a 2s following distance at 60mph, it would take about 30 miles.
elite_tablespoon t1_jeaod04 wrote
Black is a population of 1, it's perfect!
brightlocks t1_jeaqj3n wrote
Don’t even worry about them. Timber rattlers? We had them when I lived in Jersey, and they are all over the Hudson valley. They are comically lazy.
I was out hiking with my kids in jersey once and this rattlesnake was sunning in the middle of the trail. We waited like 20 minutes for it to move or something before we finally just stepped over it. When we got a few feet down the trail, it rattled at us twice. Before you @ me with the snake was sick…. Nah. They are like this. Bites are incredibly rare.
tbirdpow t1_jeaqmf4 wrote
I think I see my dad
heklakatla t1_jeavdaz wrote
Would be interesting to see the first 10-to-15 miles of the bordering states included in this
Carbonated-Man t1_jeaw332 wrote
Wasn't aware of that. Like I said, "wouldn't be surprised if", was not a statement of fact. Was just a guess.
Carbonated-Man t1_jeaweog wrote
That is a LOT more people than I figured lived out that way. 😆
Kylesmile347 t1_jeayh3u wrote
Prolly why a lot of shit goes down there 😂
Theonekid44 t1_jeazv72 wrote
If you could make one for New England as a whole that would be pretty cool
madtho t1_jeb0z20 wrote
Love this, do you have a source? Or your own math?
bubbastars OP t1_jeb25fz wrote
Thank you for the kind words!
Atzadio2 t1_jeb45tk wrote
Go down diagonally to the left about 3
CausticOptimist t1_jeb4ai0 wrote
I used to run on this trail in western ma that went around a reservoir up against a rocky mountainside, their absolute favorite hangout. There was at least one person that got bitten and had to be airlifted to Boston.
I asked an EMT once what I should do if I got bit on the far side of the reservoir, about two miles from the nearest ambulance accessible area. Like I was curious to know if trying to walk closer to civilization would spread the poison faster or if I should just lie still and wait.
He told me the best thing to do in this situation is capture the snake which seems like the very last thing on earth I’m going to be inclined to do. Sure buddy, I’ll just grab a poisonous snake by the face and hold onto it for 30 minutes
qmccaffery t1_jeb6jqx wrote
don’t worry you’re not missing out. wmass superiority😎
Hoosac_Love t1_jeb8tnb wrote
LOL awesome
CausticOptimist t1_jeb8zw8 wrote
No, but that’s really interesting! It was at Whiting Street res in Holyoke probably in 2014? Ish?
Ashleej86 t1_jeb9o0i wrote
Look at all that black or very low density in the most west countries. It could all be affordable housing if Massachusetts got it together. Thus pulling many people towards the west , out of the cities to have cheap housing and more fun people out west. We're lonely in western Massachusetts. Come on over. Everyone basically gets an acres out here.
TiredPistachio t1_jebaejh wrote
Wow you can actually SEE the border of Weston, wild.
AlexeiMarie t1_jebam0z wrote
60mph? during rush hour? when have you ever seen that happen lol
iamanalog t1_jebkhva wrote
I've been here 90% of my life and I've never been west of 91, I've probably been to every town in central and most of eastern mass though. One of these days I'd love to check out the town square in all 351.
GlowInTheDarkNinjas t1_jebkxie wrote
Black gang!
Well, no, wait...
[deleted] t1_jebky6m wrote
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wadledo t1_jebqmmi wrote
I'm actually surprised how high the density of Cape Cod is in general. Really doesn't feel like it.
RandomThrowaway410 t1_jebrkcl wrote
> Somerville considering it's in the top 10 most dense cities in the US
I would believe that Somerville is the most dense from a "number of residential properties per unit area" standpoint. But when each of those properties contain only 3 to 5 people living in them each, the actual population density isn't going to be crazy high. Compare Somerville to places that have a lot of multistory condominiums (with hundreds of people living in them each) from a "number of people per unit area" measurement... and the Condo's will blow Somerville out of the water from a population density standpoint
penismanboy t1_jebrlu2 wrote
WOH OKAY BUDDY LITTLE RACIST YOU THINK?
Hoosac_Love t1_jebto1r wrote
Not race ,the black color on the map is places without population
wiserTyou t1_jebuk4q wrote
Really though, you should keep your heart rate as low as possible and cover the bite with a clean bandage. It takes a lot of antivenin for a timber rattlesnake bites and many hospitals don't have it because it's expensive and expires. Realistically if you're far from help and also far from a hospital, you could end up in a very bad situation.
Fortunately, timber rattlesnakes are not very aggressive and prefer to leave. They're ambush predators so be careful around bush and fallen logs you have to step over. Make noise while hiking,they'll likely leave and you will never know they were there. Copperheads prefer to hang out on sunny rocky areas, be careful climbing rocks.
wiserTyou t1_jebvn2n wrote
Ugh, don't invite the Boston people over. They'll never leave. There's also a lot of protected land out here we probably shouldn't clearcut.
Ashleej86 t1_jebvs4z wrote
A few acres here or there. Like 100 and we get 5000 new friends. Come on.
wiserTyou t1_jebw4lt wrote
The Ashfield lake house and Montague book mill are nice.
Current-Photo2857 t1_jebzgt0 wrote
Do not come on over, we don’t have the jobs or resources to support you.
wiserTyou t1_jebzio3 wrote
The line at dunkin is long enough already. One major benefit if western mass is we don't have to listen to that ridiculous accent every day.
Ashleej86 t1_jec7hcs wrote
We can work on that. Building houses in the woods is what Pioneer type Massachusettians did right? They can do that.
Ashleej86 t1_jec7npg wrote
Cumberland farms. It's cheaper. $1.06. Easier to stop in a few times a day , if you love iced coffee as I do.
Mikes_Movies_ t1_jec8fal wrote
Have you considered car go vroom?
thicc-gompei t1_jec8mrx wrote
Wait… people live in western mass?
Ashleej86 t1_jec9tbu wrote
Not that many. There's room.
Ashleej86 t1_jec9y7s wrote
Amherst, northampton, Holyoke. 5 top tier colleges is one area.
Current-Photo2857 t1_jeca9hc wrote
Houses isn’t the problem. I’ve live in western MA my whole life, but I and all my siblings had to move away from home because there are no jobs available in our home region. Even in my new region, there’s a shortage of healthcare and jobs.
Ashleej86 t1_jecaqkf wrote
I'm in Amherst. There's a ton of mental health related jobs here so that works for me. Teaching isn't that lucrative but it exists out here. Construction. Retail. I mean what do you want ?
peeja t1_jecbjie wrote
I love how clearly you can see the Metacomet Ridge.
Current-Photo2857 t1_jecc1p2 wrote
One sister is in the medical field, has to live out east bc she could only get a job at MassGen (her specialty is nonexistent out here); sister who is in early education had to go to CT to get a job. My BIL is in construction and spends half the year unemployed. I’m a teacher in a district of about 500 staff, 25+ of us will be laid off next month because the district can’t afford to pay us. Meanwhile, I can’t keep a steady GP because my medical provider’s offices keep closing, first the one in Wilbraham, then Westfield, so now I’m stuck going to Springfield with my third different doctor who is impossible to get an appointment with because the few doctors who did stay in the area have too many patients.
Ashleej86 t1_jecd09w wrote
I believe you. I keep losing doctors too. I have masshealth and it has a lot of turn over true. Amherst is probably the best town in terms of best paid teachers. I see construction workers all the time here.
swedejay53 t1_jecg698 wrote
This map is amazing to my early 90's kid self who'd try some way to make a board game out of this.
MAELATEACH86 t1_jecgvsj wrote
No there isn’t. We’re good.
MAELATEACH86 t1_jech8tm wrote
That’s kind of sad. We’re in one of the smallest states in the country. It takes like 2.5 hours to get from one part of the state to the other. It’s not hard to get here.
ScottyBoy75 t1_jeckqd2 wrote
yeah, we're full..
SileAnimus t1_jeclgxb wrote
Springfield doesn't exist and I wish people stopped pretending that it does
Ashleej86 t1_jeclkls wrote
Clearly according to the map not.
Official-Zomia t1_jectgox wrote
looks like i was right when i said "boston is probably 1/3 our state"
as someone from western mass the western mass part was more then i thought
zephepheoehephe t1_jed2jwl wrote
Car sizes are public and everything is very basic math...
Loose_Unit6452 t1_jed4y9f wrote
“10 miles west of Boston”
Qubed t1_jed9lju wrote
I'm guessing that big black hole in the middle...bears be there.
DeadassBdeadassB t1_jedb8b2 wrote
That is correct the black area on cape is the base. That particular section is the largest area of woods on cape. Nothing out the except woods and a few training sites. 19000 acres of woods total out there if I remember correctly
Cheap_Coffee t1_jee7gcu wrote
Especially New Hampster.
Cheap_Coffee t1_jee7jdo wrote
They didn't count people who use underwater breathing apparatus.
midday_marauder t1_jeeejzw wrote
Grew up just down the street from the Falmouth gate. People underestimate the size of JBCC. It’s large enough that sections touch 4 different towns.
wittgensteins-boat t1_jeeh8tw wrote
Is itvpossible to overly municipal boundary lines in an updated version?
heklakatla t1_jeexh7l wrote
I was thinking along the lines of the Portsmouth/Salem/Nashua, Pawtucket/Providence/Woonsocket, and Enfield/Windsor/Hartford areas in particular.
bubbastars OP t1_je9ihgd wrote
I made this using Kontur's global population density dataset and overlaid it on some files from MassGIS. Each hexagon is roughly 1/4 sq. mile, and the most populated hex (outlined in teal if you zoom WAY in) is where Tremont meets Mass Ave in the South End.