Time-lapsed mapping of the growth of Walmart across the United States over the last 47 years appears, for better or worse, eerily akin to a skin rash or poxvirus.
Sam Walton opened his first two stores in Arkansas by 1965:
Nathan Yao/Vimeo
Ten years later, the retailer had expanded to 104 stores in middle America:
Nathan Yao/Vimeo
By the mid-eighties, Walmart had expanded north and east with 741 stores:
Nathan Yao/Vimeo
Ten years later, there were more than 2000 locations across the country:
Nathan Yao/Vimeo
By 2005, domination was complete, with 3045 locations.
Nathan Yao/Vimeo
Here's the video version:
Rapid Growth of Walmart from Nathan Yau on Vimeo.
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