MapQuest, the “OG of online mapping,” has seen its app surge to the top after refusing to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, despite a presidential order. The company’s decision has resulted in a significant spike in app downloads, with its iOS app reaching the No. 4 position in the U.S. App Store. MapQuest’s app has also gained traction in Canada, reaching the No. 2 position in the Canadian App Store.
“Hundreds of thousands of people signaled to us this weekend that we got it right by downloading our app,” said Doug Berger, general manager of MapQuest, in a statement. The company released a tool allowing users to jokingly rename the lake, reflecting its stance on the issue.
Despite the surge in downloads, MapQuest remains a 30-year-old company that has changed hands several times, most recently being sold to internet advertising company System1 in 2019. In contrast, Google Maps and Apple Maps have complied with the name change, with only Apple Maps yet to make a statement about its future plans.
As trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada continue to escalate, MapQuest’s decision could serve as a reminder of the power of sticking to one’s principles, even in the face of political pressure. The company’s app has seen a 29% year-over-year increase in downloads so far this year, with 97% of those installs coming from the United States.







