Injury is the fourth leading cause of death among all persons in the United States and, because of increased risk for injury to the young, is the leading cause of potential years of life lost before age 65 years (1). In 1988, the estimated total national cost attributable to injuries was $180 billion (2). To assist public health agencies in targeting interventions for the control and prevention of injuries in geographic areas of increased risk, CDC developed the Injury Mortality Atlas of the United States, 1979-1987, which presents county-specific maps illustrating the geographic distribution of injury-related death rates. This report summarizes methods used to create the atlas and highlights important patterns and findings.