Map Challenge: New Federal Reserve Districts

The Federal Reserve Banks and associated Districts were drawn in 1913 based upon the US economy at that time. Say they wiped the slate clean today - where would the banks be, and how would the districts be drawn?
 
Good point.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Federal_Reserve_Districts_Map.svg
Federal_Reserve_Districts_Map.svg
 

Japhy

Banned
While an interesting discussion to toy with there are some issues before I would feel comfortable with suggestions (Besides California like New York being its own district, that would be bound to happen) such as what Senators and Congressmen would have the most impact with the drawing of borders? For example the reason that Missouri hosts two banks is because the Missouri delegation in Congress at the time had some big names Wilson needed to appease.
 
You could even argue that CA could be divided into two districts - one with a bank in SF and one in LA.
 

Japhy

Banned
You could even argue that CA could be divided into two districts - one with a bank in SF and one in LA.

A point I hadn't considered. I was just thinking one of the worlds 10 largest economies would probably prefer to keep under one district.
 

Japhy

Banned
Alright, the issues of Senators and Congressmen temporarily aside (We can discuss that after a general idea is developed) Here are my thoughts

-First and Second Districts: (New England and New York, plus NYC's Out of state Suburbs, PR and the Virgin Islands) would basically remain the same
-Third District: would probably be the "Old East Coast Ports" District and would extend down into Maryland and possibly Washington DC
-Fourth District: Drops Eastern Kentucky, Takes in Indiana and the Mitt of Michigan, and Possibly West Virginia and thus takes a major chunk of the Rust belt.
-Fifth District: If it keeps West Virginia, it'll be the one to pick up Eastern Kentucky, if not, it just keeps Virginia and the Carolinas
-Sixth District: Gets All of Mississippi, Tennessee, and takes Kentucky, loses Louisiana
-Seventh District: Cut it down to Illinois and anything that can be Chicago's Out of State Suburbs
-Eighth District: All of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma and Louisiana
-Ninth District: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, Iowa
-Tenth District: Nebraska, Wyoming, the Dakotas and Montana
-Eleventh District: Tejas
-Twelfth District: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada
-Thirteenth District: Idaho, Washington, Oregon (Possibly Western Montana?)
-Fourteenth District: California
-Fifteenth District: Hawaii, Alaska, and Pacific Territories
 
Sounds good but I would split Texas up. The panhandle and west Texas are more aligned with Colorado and New Mexico economically than the rest of Texas. Also what about Florida as one that would include the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico? They are more aligned than New York.

California presents a problem because basically North and South are two different economies.
 

Japhy

Banned
Sounds good but I would split Texas up. The panhandle and west Texas are more aligned with Colorado and New Mexico economically than the rest of Texas. Also what about Florida as one that would include the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico? They are more aligned than New York.

All of that sounds rather good. I cant believe I forgot Florida though :eek:, perhaps it as its own District (Maybe including Georgia?) and PR/VI would make the most sense.

California presents a problem because basically North and South are two different economies.

Where do you draw the line though? Because in the process you're breaking up a state that combined is an economic powerhouse.
 
I looked at that and thought 'what a weird map'. I suspect that if you replayed history with the Fed districts getting created at different times, that most of the scenarios would have entire states in districts. Some of the state divisions here look really odd to my eye.
 
Sounds good but I would split Texas up. The panhandle and west Texas are more aligned with Colorado and New Mexico economically than the rest of Texas. Also what about Florida as one that would include the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico? They are more aligned than New York.

California presents a problem because basically North and South are two different economies.

Well for Florida I would associate it more with Cuba than Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. I more associate PR with New York...."Nuyoricans" and all. Florida has Little Havana and Little Haiti....
 

Japhy

Banned
Yes but even then Kansas City and St Louis getting District Headquarters clearly was appeasing the Politicians.
 
For example the reason that Missouri hosts two banks is because the Missouri delegation in Congress at the time had some big names Wilson needed to appease.

Based on population distribution (electoral map of 1916 shown), it made sense to select Kansas City over Denver:

350px-ElectoralCollege1916.svg.png
 

Japhy

Banned
Based on population distribution (electoral map of 1916 shown), it made sense to select Kansas City over Denver:

350px-ElectoralCollege1916.svg.png

Yes, At the time Kansas City beats out Denver, but do note that Missouri is the only state that has two Districts based in it. This was to appease Champ Clark, the Speaker of the House and Congressmen from Missouri.

In regards to redrawing the borders today we wouldn't be in a position where we have to draw such borders, though if it was being realistically done any actual commission would probably be required to adjust their borders to appease several committee in Both Houses as well as the Legislative leadership.
 
Yes, At the time Kansas City beats out Denver, but do note that Missouri is the only state that has two Districts based in it. This was to appease Champ Clark, the Speaker of the House and Congressmen from Missouri.

Sure, Champ Clark and Tom Pendergast had their say. But the districts reflected lines of commerce at the time. For instance, it looks more sensible to put Iowa and more of Wisconsin in the Minneapolis district, based on population. You could further unload Chicago by putting Detroit in the Cleveland district.

Fed districts.png
 
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