Dot Distribution Map

Dot Distribution Map

Dot distribution maps use dots to show the density of information over a region. The map below is a dot distribution map of the U.S. population in 2000. The map was distributed by the U.S. census bureau and is commonly referred to as the "Nightime Map" because the white dots, representing the population of an area, are also similar to the amount of light that might be distributed by these areas at night because of the amount of people there.

http://www.census.gov/geo/www/mapGallery/2kpopden.html