The maps that segregated America in the 1930s predict who dies in heat waves today. Explore how racist housing policies created lasting climate vulnerability.
← Back to All ProjectsIn the 1930s, the Home Owners' Loan Corporation drew maps that rated neighborhoods for mortgage lending. Areas with Black residents were colored red—"hazardous" for investment. This practice, called redlining, wasn't just about housing. Those same neighborhoods had fewer trees planted, less infrastructure investment, and more industrial facilities. Today, 90 years later, they're up to 12°F hotter than other parts of the same city.
Historical Redlining Maps: University of Richmond's Mapping Inequality project
(digitized HOLC maps for 239 cities)
Heat Island Data: NOAA/NASA Landsat thermal imagery, EPA Climate Change Indicators
Tree Canopy: USDA Forest Service Urban Tree Canopy Assessment
Flood Risk: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
Health Outcomes: CDC WONDER heat-related mortality data (county-level)
• Does your neighborhood have a redlining grade? What does that mean for climate risk today?
• Which cities show the strongest correlation between 1930s grades and modern heat islands?
• How much hotter are historically redlined areas compared to "best" graded areas?
• Are redlined neighborhoods also in flood zones? (Compound climate risk)
• What's the relationship between tree canopy loss and heat-related deaths?
• Can I predict future heat vulnerability using historical patterns?
Data Acquired: HOLC shapefiles from Mapping Inequality
⏳ Data Collection: NOAA heat island data, EPA indicators
📋 Planned: Interactive map with year slider, temperature overlays
📋 Planned: "Find your neighborhood" lookup tool
📋 Planned: Correlation analysis visualizations