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The Rust Belt: Seeking Refuge in Bowling?

28 March 2010 6 Comments

Thanks to Rust Wire reader Mark Golbach for pointing out this quirky but interesting map from the Floatingsheep blog:

us_bowling_100113

What do those little dots represent? The relative concentration of listings of bowling alleys in the Google Maps directory, the Floatingsheep tells us, which are heavily concentrated in the Rust Belt. The highest index value is in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, Michigan.

Like the folks at Floatingsheep, however, I have no idea what this means. Interesting though.

-KG

  • http://blog.robpitingolo.org Rob

    When I was growing up people used to tell me that Wickliffe, Ohio has more bowling lanes per capita than any other place in America. Not sure if it’s true, but it seems plausible.

  • http://sstrudeau.com Scott T.

    I was told the same thing about Macomb County, Michigan (mostly blue-collar suburbs of Detroit).

  • http://eachlittleworld.typepad.com LINDA from Each Little Wolrd

    I sent this map to a friend who is a pro bowler and he said “these were traditional bowling hotbeds from the days of industrial company leagues, strong beer areas, etc.” So some beer/bowling confluence, if nothing else!

  • Special K

    Linda: That definitely makes sense. Thanks everyone for sharing!

  • Neil

    Let’s rename our region the “Bowl Belt”

  • Special K

    Go for it, Neil. I’m counting on you to start that trend!