If you believe sprawl just magically happened, here's something that visually suggests otherwise. Thanks to researchers at the University of Richmond, Mapping Inequality offers unprecedented online access to the national collection of 'security maps' produced between 1935 and 1940, that doomed thousands of inner city neighborhoods to the negative effect of redlining.

Other U.S. Cities in 1940

San Francisco - 634,536

New Orleans - 494,537

Indianapolis - 386,972

Atlanta - 302,288

Dallas - 294,734

San Diego - 203,341

Jacksonville - 173,065

Miami - 172,172

Tampa - 108,391

San Jose - 68,457

MAPPING INEQUALITY Redlining in New Deal America Digital Platform Here

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Davis is a certified senior planner and graduate of Florida A&M University. He is the author of the award winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.” Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is the co-founder of Metro Jacksonville.com and ModernCities.com — two websites dedicated to promoting fiscally sustainable communities — and Transform Jax, a tactical urbanist group. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com