I looked at the Census Bureau's visualization called "100 Cities and Towns With the Largest Population Gains: July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024." It was interesting to see how different parts of the country are growing!

Link:

https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/2025/demo/100-cities-towns-largest-pop-gains-2023-2024.html

What is the primary purpose of the visualization? The main goal of this map is to show which cities and towns across the U.S. had the biggest population increases over a one-year period. The dots on the map vary in size depending on how much the population grew, which makes it easy to spot the areas with the most growth.

How could this visualization benefit society? This kind of data can really help leaders and planners make smarter decisions. If a town is growing quickly, it might need more schools, roads, or healthcare services. Seeing where people are moving can help communities plan for the future and avoid problems like overcrowding or lack of resources.

What decisions do you think governments will make based on this data? Federal, state, and local governments could use this information to decide where to invest in new infrastructure or services. For example, states might use it to figure out where to build more housing or improve transportation. Counties could look at it to plan for things like new parks, emergency services, or water systems in fast-growing areas.

What is one takeaway from the data? One thing that stood out to me is that many of the cities with the biggest growth are in the South and Westespecially in Texas, Florida, and Arizona. It shows a trend of people moving to warmer climates or more affordable places, maybe for job opportunities or a better lifestyle.

Please respond to the post above by answering the following questions:

1. What are potential harms that may be done if this data is misused/misinterpreted?

2. What are some of the damages that might result if the data was originally mishandled or incomplete?

3. What is one change or addition that you would make to this visualization to make it easier to understand?

4. How could generative artificial intelligence disrupt or enhance the visualization?