A method displays a graphical user interface for a data visualization application. The user interface includes shelves for specifying data visualization characteristics for a dataset. The method selects a map view based on geographic location field name(s) placed onto the shelves, and displays a geographic map. A user selects a visual encoding by placing a first field name onto a first shelf, which specifies a visual property of displayed marks. The property for each mark is determined by values of the first field in records of the result set. A mark displays for each record in the result set. When the first shelf specifies color of marks, each displayed mark fills the respective geographic region with a color based on the value of the first field. When the first shelf specifies size of marks, point marks are displayed with a respective size corresponding to the value of the first field.