Heatmaps on state and county levels are really difficult to get right. For one thing, the dataset does not do a good job of conveying uncertainty, specifically

Heatmaps on state and county levels are really difficult to get right. For one thing, the dataset does not do a good job of conveying uncertainty, specifically that caused by low-population counties. The second-highest mortality rate county - Buffalo, South Dakota - has a population of 1,912 people, and the "City" which is the county seat is remarkably the least populous county seat in the US with a population of 14. The various mountainous locations (appearing to be mostly ski towns) in Colorado which top the list of lowest-mortality counties have similarly low populations. For another, size and population density are often misleading. That small, orange blotch in the lower left? That's LA County, with a population greater than the 10 lowest-population states combined (including such large areas as Montana, North and South Dakota, Alaska). Information in these low-population areas is over-represented, while the largest cities are under-represented. I suppose those caveats are just something to be aware of. Because I don't know of a good solution for to how to accurately and concisely convey this sort of information.