As Americans, we all grow up looking at the same map of the United States. Some of us might even be able to label all 50 states without looking them up. But below you’ll see that so much of how you view the country is due to limited perception from the same traditional map. These 12 maps of the US will open your eyes to the past and possibly even the future.

Note: if you’re on a small device, you can click the image to see the full size.

1. How the population has increased each decade.
movoto
It's only a matter of time, Western states...

 

2. If all the cities kept their original names.
crasstalk.com
I can't seem to find a flight to Last Chance, Montana.
3. How much space the Great Lakes would take up if they were in Europe.
greatlakesguru.com
They probably wouldn't like this too much.
4. What the country would look like if borders were redrawn to evenly distribute population.
gawker
Every region has an approximate population of 5.6 million people. Hey, how did Missouri get to keep its name?
5. And another take on the same concept.
fakeisthenewreal.org
I'm moving to Shiprock for the name alone.
6. A map showing light pollution across the US.
survivalblog.com
Well, this makes sense given the population density.

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7. How Google Auto-complete describes the 50 states.
flipcollective.com
These are real. Go try them on Google. Map created by Matt Shirley.
8. What New Yorkers complain about, by area.
visualizingstage.geready.com
Absurd cost of rent didn't top the list?
9. The never-going-to-happen USA highspeed rail system map.
californiarailmap.com
We can dream.
10. A rare map from 1814 showing a US that could've been.
antiquemaps4u.com
This didn't happen. In case you didn't get the memo.
11. Breaking it down by most popular surname.
visualnews.com
Being a "Williams" must be a genealogical nightmare.
12. And finally, an awesome map of the United States drawn as if it's from a fantasy novel.
reddit.com
Where do the Lannisters live?

Hopefully this made you see our country in a new light.

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