The Geography of Assault
Overall:
This map gives us a snapshot of where the assault stories published in The True Northerner took place. The newspaper was most interested in what was happening close to home. A whopping 57.5% of the stories focused on events right there in Paw Paw, Michigan, showing a strong local focus.
Key Observations:
- Michigan Matters Most: Looking at the bigger picture, around 70% of the stories happened within the state of Michigan. This tells us that the newspaper was really invested in covering events happening in and around the state.
A Glimpse Beyond the State: While Michigan was the focus, the newspaper didn't completely ignore what was happening elsewhere. They reported on assaults in places like Chicago, Illinois, and even as far away as Alabama, Georgia, and New Jersey. It shows a limited but noticeable interest in events beyond the borders of the state.
Language: An interesting pattern I found was the location of crimes committed if possibly committed, the suspected assaulter was brought to Paw, Paw if a resident. Even if the suspected crime was in another location.