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Welcome to the National Atlas of the United States of America® You've seen other atlases. They're typically big books of paper maps. The pages in this atlas are here on the Internet whenever you need them. This is a new portrayal of America in maps. We use new technologies, but we honor traditions of accuracy, reliability, and innovation. You've found the single best Federal source for national maps and geographic information on the Web. The people and places of the United States are here. - See What's New - What you can do in the National Atlas of the United States® Customize your own map for printing or viewing. Map Maker Investigate the layers that you can mix and match when making your own map. Map Layers Print pre-formatted maps on a variety of topics. Printable Maps Order larger maps suitable for the wall of your office, home, or classroom. Wall Maps Play with interactive maps. Dynamic Maps Learn about topics that interest you. Articles Download documented, accurate, reliable, and integrated data to use in your GIS application. Mapping Professionals

Children In Poverty
In this edition of the National Atlas, we've added several maps from the Census Bureau that illustrate the geographic distribution of poverty in the United States. The official poverty rate in 2004 was 12.7 percent. In 2004, 37 million Americans were in poverty, up 1.1 million from 2003. Thirteen million of those in poverty were kids under 18 years old. American children represent a disproportionate share of the poor. They are 25 percent of our total population, but 35 percent of the poor population. One third of black children under 18 in the United States live in poverty and more than a quarter of all Hispanic children do too.

With this release you can explore these poverty maps at national, regional, and local levels for a clearer understanding of the geographic dimensions of this national challenge. The South continues to have the highest poverty rates, but the maps clearly indicate that poor children are found across America. Take a look at your county and its surrounding counties. You might be surprised to learn how extensive the problems of child poverty are close to home. For example, the National Atlas is published in Fairfax County, Virginia where six percent of children under 18 lived in poverty in 2002. That same year, more than 31 percent of children under 18 lived in poverty just across the Potomac River in the District of Columbia.

National Atlas of the United States^®
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The Next National Atlas
For the past year, the National Atlas of the United States^® has been published on a quarterly basis. While we offer geographic information contributed by many Federal partners, each issue is produced by staff at the U.S. Geological Survey. For an undetermined time, our staff members will focus their efforts on integrating the National Atlas with the Geospatial One Stop. This will delay the release of the next issue of The National Atlas of the United States of America^®.

December 2005