[OC] The Distribution of Horses in the US
Posted by haydendking
![[OC] The Distribution of Horses in the US](https://www.byteseu.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8032v41zpdee1-1024x1024.jpg "[OC] The Distribution of Horses in the US")
[OC] The Distribution of Horses in the US
Posted by haydendking
23 Comments
Data: [https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/#192AC790-6279-32C2-9483-94F716CC6D81](https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/#192AC790-6279-32C2-9483-94F716CC6D81)
Tools: R – packages: ggplot2, dplyr, stringr, sf, usmap, ggfx, scales
I love how 5 of the 10 highest horses per square mile are in one single metro area.
Aiken SC is horse-country in SC
Horse racing and Amish folks
Image 1: Wow, are there *no* horses in Alaska? Oh wait, no, there MIGHT be horses in Alaska, just none within the same square mile.
Image 2: I refuse to believe there’s not a single horse in Alaska. Even if ONE person uses a horse instead of sled dogs. I know this legend means there COULD be zero horses in Alaska but that’d be wild.
Image 3: Horses in Alaska!!!
edit: While I like the shades of blue for easy readability, part of me wishes there was a version that was a little more, I don’t know, horse-colored.
I’m next door to Holmes Co, OH. Can confirm this is accurate
Pretty much everything per square mile declines in this part of the country.
https://preview.redd.it/4r54afa0vdee1.jpeg?width=2046&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da6802216902e247af2bfed0d68ae3424c01ec3a
Finally, some information that applies to everyone.
Image 1 is some /r/peopleliveincities shit.
Reddit: “All maps are just population maps”
OP: “Hold your horses.”
Each state is surrounded by an impenetrable wall of horses
WV is interesting. With the terrain and trails you would think there would be more. But its likely more related to finances.
I really like Kentucky’s state slogan. The two main things that the state is known for are bourbon and horses. Both are described in their slogan “Unbridled Spirit”.
I’m surprised that Mackinac Island, MI isn’t shown but than again many of the horses leave for winter. At least that’s my understanding.
Are they taking in to account wild horses? We have large groups here in NV.
What about the wild ones in NV?
I had no idea the practice of owning horses was big in Florida until I moved here. There is a lot of horse country in north-central FL. They migrate just like people do, people bring their horses from the midwest or northeast on trailers for the winter.
I’d really suggest updating your key at the bottom there. It’s hard to instinctively attribute the numbers to the symbols when they’re all evenly spaced in between them. My brain kind of even wanted to think that it was saying there was a smooth color gradient with the symbols as checkpoints.
How do they know?
It’s not like the United States has a centralized horse database, or do they?
It has mostly to do, historically, with the availability of fresh water. It runs out once you get too far west of the Mississippi.
So #10 Parker County Texas. Where all the rich, cowboy wannabe, exurban, microfarms are? Tracks.
I misread that as houses and was very confused at first
Thank you for putting the horse per capita map on there. I was ready to say “oh great, another population map” on that first image.