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Starbucks end up clustering, as you might expect, around cities and around highways. (Image courtesy IfWeAssume.com)

The United States of Starbucks: An astronomy student's map

BY Alyssa Kleven  on March 14, 2013 @ 7:49 am (Updated: 8:37 am - 3/14/13 )

There are Starbucks everywhere. As a PhD candidate at the University of Washington, James Davenport was well aware of this. He calls the Northwest home, and as he put it - grad students drink a lot of coffee.

So Davenport did what all other scientists do with their free time: mapping.

"I found when you map out about 17,000 Starbucks locations you trace the United States," Davenport told Seattle's Morning News.

Starbucks end up clustering, as you might expect, around cities and around highways. Davenport also point out nodes in the middle of the Southwest and Midwest where you can find airline hubs.

You also find dense clusters around major cities - especially Starbucks' hometown Seattle, and the largest city in the country, New York.

Davenport's research found that 80 percent of Americans live within 20 miles of a Starbucks. He said it's because they're often concentrated around shopping centers.

While most people wouldn't drive 20 miles to buy a cup of coffee, they might drive 20 miles to get to a Costco, a hardware store, or somewhere where they might buy home goods. Then, they might stop for that frothy and delicious caramel macchiato.

But if you want to get away from "the green monster" Davenport has pinpointed the furthest spot away from a stand-alone Starbucks in the lower 48: seven miles east of Alta, Wyoming.

The spot is located in Grand Teton National Park.

But, if you're willing to settle for a Starbucks located inside a grocery store - Davenport believes there is one in the Safeway about 18 miles away.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (6)


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  • Fatwa wrote...
    Isnt this data Starbucks would already have?
    December 31, 2001 4:04 pm
    Or does Starbucks not know where each of it's stores are? Sounds like duplication of effort (or someone with nothing better to do) ...
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  • Nickatnyt wrote...
    Waste of time, dude.
    March 14, 2013 8:11 am
    The same results would occur looking at McDonald's, WalMart, car dealerships, bars, etc, etc.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • The Dude Abides wrote...
    17,000 stores...
    March 14, 2013 8:54 am
    and not a good cup of coffee to be had. They burn their beans something awful. Not to mention how much of a d o u c h e bag the owner is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    As a PhD candidate at the University of Washington
    March 14, 2013 8:56 am
    Are you kidding me

    THIS is what we pay for at Uof W

    And you wonder why WA state is BROKE

    Alyssa should finish the article about how much State money was spent on her boyfriend

    rather than try to make this out to be something of Social value

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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