It has been 38 years since a total solar eclipse has darkened the continental United States, so it wasn’t surprising that so many people gathered in various parts of the 14 states that were able to experience totality. In fact, this was the first continent-wide eclipse that was exclusively visible from the United States since 1776. Cities that were located in the path of totality quickly scrambled to acquire enough resources in preparation of Monday’s eclipse, but some small towns were still in over their heads. For example, a mountain town in northeastern Georgia called Blairsville was expected to host more than 200 percent more visitors than the number of residents that live there. Nevertheless, there have been no major crimes or injuries reported that were directly related to the natural occurrence.
The Path Of Totality
Everyone in North America was able to see at least part of the eclipse, but there was a direct path from Oregon to South Carolina, about 70 miles wide, that allowed people to see the total solar eclipse. The stretch of cities and towns that were fully exposed has been referred to as the path of totality. The initial point of contact occurred at about 6:05 EST in Lincoln Beach, Oregon. Other towns that were able to experience totality included Casper (WY), Lincoln (NE), Jefferson City (MO), and Clayton (GA). There were three notable cities along the illustrious path. The first was Carbondale, Illinois, which is known as the “eclipse capital of the United States.” The other two, Nashville and Columbia, are major metropolitan cities that received their fair share of visitors on Monday.
The Next Solar Eclipse
After such a momentous occasion, it’s hard to believe that people are already talking about the next solar eclipse. According to experts, the next solar eclipse to be visible from the United States will occur on April 8, 2024. The exciting part is that an entirely new group of citizens will be able to witness totality in 2014. The path is expected to cross major cities like San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Buffalo. Interestingly enough, Carbondale will be located smack dab in the middle of the next path of totality. I guess that’s why it received its nickname.