The object of this quiz is to adjust each circle's diameter so it splits the circle's population as evenly as possible. When you click Start you will be shown a marker on a random US census tract (there are over 80K census tracts in the US). Also you will see an circle between 200 and 500 miles radius. Adjust the diameter by rotating it using the endpoints, trying to split the halves into equal populations. Then click submit. You are scored on how close you have split the circle into 50% population in each half. Circle population is tallied by totaling all census tracts (small census areas of average 4K population) within that circle.
NOTE - population in Canada and Mexico is NOT counted at all, only US population within the circle.
Quiz Takers 
can we get a version where we only have 30 minutes and you have to name it with the state as well
Would anyone be interested if I made a video on how I cracked the Beginner level?
sure.
yeah whats ur yt
if you get 21404 what is the 1 you dont get?
depends where on the map your missing area is. Could be Utqiagvik, the northernmost point of Alaska. Could be Avalon, in the Catalina islands off the coast of California. Could be something in Hawaii. Could be something around Cape Cod, like Nantucket. Could be Key West, Florida. Could literally be any of thousands of spots in mainland US, where there’s a gap between 3 different overlapping circles.
Compass DirectionsEuropean cities and countriesEarly Presidents4-letter “mechanic” namesBend, North Bend, South Bend, East Bend, West BendNome, Hilo, Juneau, Redding, MammothHurricane, Farmington, El Paso, Key West, NantucketBuffalo, Pellston, Marquette, Fargo, Minot, Fort Peck, Havre…and the map’s almost done
How to win: Name all the presidents
There are also websites that list the most common city names, so you can knock out several different places with a single name. Of the cities that don’t have a presidential name: Springfield (and other words that start with “Spring”), Franklin, Manchester, Lexington, Oxford, Richmond, Salem, Ashland, Warren, and Clayton, will all get you loads of coverage.
When you put Springfield as your first answer
You get 2,121 on beginner level. However, not even Springfield is the most prolific starting city name. There a couple others that will get you even more.
Why are some Cities like Spotsylvania Court House for example not in this Quiz?
Those are Census Designated Places, not cities.
What’s interesting about the US is that you can fill out the majority of the map just by naming European cities – sometimes you can get away with just naming COUNTRIES like “scotland” or “sweden.” I think it’s interesting to be able to trace where our immigrants came from by which city names get used vs which don’t.
Or President’s names.
yeah, i’m always starting off with naming every city there is in the uk. also many european capitals.