In the United States, a metropolitan area refers to a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like counties or states. As such the precise definition of any given metropolitan area can vary with the source. A typical metropolitan area is centered around a single large city that wields substantial influence over the region (e.g. Chicagoland). However, some metropolitan areas contain more than one large city with no single municipality holding a dominant position (e.g. Minneapolis – Saint Paul).
Some U.S. government agencies publish definitions of metropolitan areas for accounting and tracking purposes. The most widely used are those published by the Office of Management and Budget. These are used by the U.S. Census Bureau for its demographics statistics as well as many other agencies.
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In the United States, a metropolitan area refers to a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like counties or states. As such the precise definition of any given metropolitan area can vary with the source. A typical metropolitan area is centered around a single large city that wields substantial influence over the region (e.g. Chicagoland). However, some metropolitan areas contain more than one large city with no single municipality holding a dominant position (e.g. Minneapolis – Saint Paul).
Some U.S. government agencies publish definitions of metropolitan areas for accounting and tracking purposes. The most widely used are those published by the Office of Management and Budget. These are used by the U.S. Census Bureau for its demographics statistics as well as many other agencies.
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[edit] Definitions
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines a set of core based statistical areas (CBSAs) throughout the country. CBSAs are delineated on the basis of a central urban area or urban cluster—a contiguous area of relatively high population density. The counties containing the core urban area are known as the central counties of the CBSA. Additional surrounding counties (known as outlying counties) can be included in the CBSA if these counties have strong social and economic ties to the central counties as measured by commuting and employment. Outlying counties are included in the CBSA if the employment interchange measure (total of in commuting and out commuting) is 25% or more. Note that some areas within these outlying counties may actually be rural in nature. CBSAs are subdivided into metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and micropolitan statistical areas based on the population of the core urban area. Under certain conditions, one or more CBSAs may be grouped together to form a larger statistical entity known as a combined statistical area (CSA). Other names, such as Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area, have been used in the past but are now discontinued. CBSAs are composed of counties and county-equivalents. In New England, because of the greater importance of towns over counties, similar areas are defined based on town units, known as New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs). U.S. census statistics for metropolitan areas are reported based on these definitions.
[edit] See also
- Geography
- United States
- United States Census Bureau
- Office of Management and Budget
- List of metropolitan areas by population
- List of regions of the United States
- List of United States cities by population
- List of metropolitan areas in the Americas by population
- List of the largest urban areas of the European Union by population
- Megacity
- World's largest cities
[edit] References
- U.S. Census Bureau Glossary
- "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metroarea.html. Retrieved 16 Feb 2010.
- Census Geographic Glossary, U.S. Census Bureau
[edit] External links
- US Census Bureau Population Estimates
- Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005
- U.S. Census 2000 Metropolitan Area Rankings; ranked by population
- U.S. Census 2000 Metropolitan Area Rankings
- Definitions of all Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Metropolitan Divisions
- U.S. Census Metropolitan Area Estimates (1990s)
- U.S. Census Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Definitions
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