Monday, June 28, 2010

Part IV

Office of Management and Budget 2010 Standards for Delineating Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas; Notice

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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ nonstatistical activities or for use in BUDGET omb/fedreg_default/. program funding formulas. Furthermore, the Metropolitan and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 2010 Standards for Delineating Micropolitan Statistical Area Standards Suzann Evinger, Office of Management Metropolitan and Micropolitan do not produce an urban-rural and Budget, telephone number (202) Statistical Areas classification, and confusion of these 395–3093, fax number 202–395–7245. concepts can lead to difficulties in AGENCY: Office of Information and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: program implementation. Counties Regulatory Affairs, Office of Outline of Notice included in Metropolitan and Management and Budget (OMB), Micropolitan Statistical Areas and many Executive Office of the President. A. Background and Review Process other counties may contain both urban ACTION: Notice of decision. B. Summary of Comments Received in and rural territory and population. For Response to the February 12, 2009 Federal instance, programs that seek to SUMMARY: This Notice announces OMB’s Register Notice adoption of 2010 Standards for C. OMB’s Decisions Regarding strengthen rural economies by focusing Delineating Metropolitan and Recommendations From the Metropolitan solely on counties located outside Micropolitan Statistical Areas. The 2010 and Micropolitan Statistical Area metropolitan statistical areas could standards replace and supersede the Standards Review Committee Concerning ignore a predominantly rural county 2000 Standards for Defining Changes to the Standards for Defining that is included in a metropolitan Metropolitan and Micropolitan Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical statistical area because a high Areas percentage of the county’s residents Statistical Areas. In arriving at its D. 2010 Standards for Delineating commute to urban centers for work. decision, OMB accepted the Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical OMB urges agencies, organizations, and recommendations of the interagency Areas and Key Terms policy makers to review carefully the Metropolitan and Micropolitan goals of nonstatistical programs and Statistical Area Standards Review A. Background and Review Process policies to ensure that appropriate Committee (the Review Committee) as 1. Background geographic entities are used to published in the February 12, 2009 determine eligibility for the allocation of Federal Register. The metropolitan and micropolitan Federal funds. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION in statistical area program, under various this Notice provides background names, has provided standard statistical 2. Review Process information on the standards (Section area delineations for approximately 60 years. In the 1940s, it became clear that From the beginning of the program, A), a brief synopsis of the public OMB (or its predecessor) has reviewed comments OMB received in response to the value of metropolitan data produced by Federal agencies would be greatly the metropolitan (and now the February 12, 2009 Federal Register micropolitan) statistical area standards enhanced if agencies used a single set of notice (Section B), and OMB’s decisions and, if warranted, revised them in the geographic delineations for the Nation’s on the recommendations of the Review years preceding their application to new largest centers of population and Committee (Section C). The 2010 decennial census data. During the activity. OMB’s predecessor, the Bureau standards appear at the end of this 1990s, OMB conducted a of the Budget, led the effort to develop Notice (Section D). comprehensive review of the 1990 what were then called ‘‘standard The adoption of the 2010 standards standards, leading to the development metropolitan areas’’ in time for their use will not affect the availability of Federal of the core based statistical areas in 1950 census publications. Since then, data for geographic areas such as States, (CBSAs) (metropolitan and micropolitan comparable data products for counties, county subdivisions, and statistical areas) and combined municipalities. For the near term, the metropolitan areas have been available. statistical areas as contained in the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau will tabulate and The general concept of a metropolitan standards (available at: http:// publish data from the 2010 Census for statistical area is that of an area www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/ all metropolitan, micropolitan, and containing a large population nucleus metroareas122700.pdf). Periodic review combined statistical areas in existence and adjacent communities that have a of the standards is necessary to ensure at the time of the census. high degree of integration with that their continued usefulness and DATES: Effective Date: This Notice is nucleus. The concept of a micropolitan relevance. The current review of the effective immediately. OMB plans to statistical area closely parallels that of metropolitan and micropolitan announce delineations of areas based on the metropolitan statistical area, but a statistical area standards is the sixth the 2010 standards and 2010 Census micropolitan statistical area features a such review. data in 2013. Federal agencies should smaller nucleus. The purpose of these In 2008, OMB charged the begin to use the new area delineations statistical areas is unchanged from when Metropolitan and Micropolitan to tabulate and publish statistics when metropolitan areas were first delineated: Statistical Area Standards Review the delineations are announced. The classification provides a nationally Committee with examining the 2000 ADDRESSES: Please send correspondence consistent set of delineations for metropolitan and micropolitan about OMB’s decision to Katherine K. collecting, tabulating, and publishing statistical area standards and providing Wallman, Chief Statistician, Office of Federal statistics for geographic areas. to OMB recommendations for revising Management and Budget, Room 10201, OMB establishes and maintains these the standards that would be issued no New Executive Office Building, areas solely for statistical purposes. In later than December 2010. Agencies Washington, DC 20503, telephone reviewing and revising these areas, OMB represented on the Review Committee number (202) 395–3093, fax number does not take into account or attempt to included the Census Bureau (Chair), (202) 395–7245, or E-mail anticipate any public or private sector Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of [email protected] with the nonstatistical uses that may be made of Labor Statistics, Bureau of subject 2010 MetroAreas. the delineations. These areas are not Transportation Statistics, Economic Electronic Availability: This notice is designed to serve as a general-purpose Research Service/U.S. Department of available on the Internet from the OMB geographic framework applicable for Agriculture, National Center for Health

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Statistics, and ex officio, OMB. The establishing a minimum employment during the past decade, and Census Bureau provided research interchange measure of 15 for the recommended only some modest support to the committee. automatic qualification of combined specific changes on which OMB sought During the five years between the statistical areas. Two commenters public comments. The comments 2000 standards’ implementation in 2003 supported the elimination of local summarized below relate to aspects of and the commencement of the Review opinion in combined statistical area the statistical area standards that were Committee’s deliberations in 2008, OMB qualification, with one of the two not open for public comment. received very few inquiries from the expressing concern about setting the One commenter suggested alternative public questioning the conceptual minimum employment interchange means of titling metropolitan statistical framework of the 2000 standards and measure threshold at 15. Two other areas with more than one county: (1) the resulting area delineations. commenters expressed concern about Titling based on the county seat of each Therefore, the Review Committee both the potential consequences of county in the metropolitan statistical concluded early in its deliberations that eliminating local opinion and setting area; or (2) listing the most populous the 2000 standards worked well and the automatic threshold at 15. One urban centers of each county. Another were generally accepted. Thus, the commenter supported setting the commenter suggested that titling a Review Committee determined that it employment interchange measure at 15 merged metropolitan statistical area be would not be necessary or appropriate for combining areas. based on the names of the areas being to seek wide-ranging public comment Two commenters remarked on the merged. Two commenters asked OMB to on all aspects of the 2000 standards, proposed combined statistical area consider shorter titles for areas. particularly since a multiyear titling criteria. One commenter One commenter suggested that the conceptual review, with several rounds supported the committee’s central county criteria be modified so of public comment, had been conducted recommendation, while the other that section 2(b) is used in a much more prior to their adoption. Instead, the commenter wondered if eliminating limited fashion, only applying that Review Committee decided to limit its local opinion would end potentially criterion to those potential metropolitan review, and subsequent positive means of allowing individual and micropolitan statistical areas that recommendations, to a small set of areas to express their opinions. would otherwise not contain a central issues associated with the Five commenters remarked on aspects county. implementation of the 2000 standards. of the Review Committee’s One commenter suggested an OMB published the Review recommendations concerning the alternative method of qualifying Committee’s recommendations for update of metropolitan and outlying counties that measures revisions to the 2000 standards in a micropolitan statistical areas, including commuting to the central counties and February 12, 2009 Federal Register (1) the limiting of yearly updates as well does not require adjacency to the notice entitled ‘‘Recommendations From as (2) the planned update in 2018. All balance of the area. One commenter the Metropolitan and Micropolitan five commenters who offered views on questioned the sole reliance on Statistical Area Standards Review limiting yearly updates agreed with the commuting for outlying county criteria, Committee to the Office of Management Review Committee, as did all four who while two other commenters suggested and Budget Concerning Changes to the offered views on the planned update in that the outlying county criteria should 2000 Standards for Defining 2018. be modified to follow the outlying Metropolitan and Micropolitan Three commenters remarked on the county criteria in the 1990 OMB Statistical Areas’’ (74 FR 7172–7177). Review Committee’s recommendation to standards, rather than the 2000 OMB replace the term ‘‘definition’’ with standards. One commenter suggested B. Summary of Comments Received in ‘‘delineation’’: Two agreed, while one the use of the employment interchange Response to the February 12, 2009 was indifferent. One of the three measure, as well as a measure of Federal Register Notice commenters wondered if it would take ‘‘outleakage’’ of consumer spending, to The February 12, 2009 Federal a long period for the new term to gain qualify counties to a county that Register notice requested comment on general acceptance. contains a principal city. the Review Committee’s OMB has reviewed these comments, Thirteen commenters expressed recommendations to OMB concerning giving them careful consideration. In concern about the current delineations revisions to the 2000 Standards for some cases, however, we have of the Greensboro-High Point, Winston- Defining Metropolitan and Micropolitan concluded that we could not adopt the Salem, and Burlington, North Carolina Statistical Areas, namely its suggestions made by commenters, metropolitan statistical areas, and recommendations concerning (1) the particularly with respect to the suggested that OMB find ways to merge qualification and titling of combined qualification and titling of combined or otherwise bring together the three statistical areas; (2) the updating of statistical areas, without undermining individual areas—and in the case of a metropolitan and micropolitan efforts to achieve a consistent, national few commenters, additional territory— statistical areas; and (3) the replacement approach designed to enhance the value into a single metropolitan statistical of the word ‘‘definition’’ with the word of data produced by Federal agencies. area. ‘‘delineation.’’ To help ensure the clarity In addition to the recommendations Four commenters expressed concerns of the 2010 recommended standards, on which OMB requested comment, about the current delineations of OMB also requested comments on the individuals also offered comments—not selected CBSAs in Michigan. All four wording of the standards. requested by OMB—on other aspects of commenters suggested a reconfiguration OMB received 40 comment letters in the standards and the program. As of the Grand Rapids area, with two of response to the February 12, 2009 indicated in the February 12, 2009, the four also questioning the delineation notice. Federal Register notice, the 2000 of selected other areas in the State. Five commenters remarked on aspects standards were the result of an One commenter suggested that the of the Review Committee’s extensive and comprehensive review. In term ‘‘metropolitan statistical area’’ only recommendations for eliminating local conducting the recent review, the apply to those areas that do not belong opinion from the qualification of Review Committee concluded that the to combined statistical areas. This combined statistical areas and 2000 standards have worked well commenter further suggested that

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components of combined statistical Bureau and the Review Committee, may the sum of the percentage of commuting areas should be designated using some give further consideration to the out-of- from the smaller area to the larger area other category name. scope comments relating to the and the percentage of employment in One commenter suggested that OMB presentation of data when it updates the the smaller area accounted for by consider separate coding sequences for guidance on uses of the areas in its workers residing in the larger area. metropolitan statistical areas and for statistical areas bulletin. In reviewing the 2000 standards, OMB micropolitan statistical areas, and that agrees with the Review Committee that OMB consider using headings such as C. OMB’s Decisions Regarding combined statistical areas can serve as ‘‘Metropolitan CBSAs’’ and Recommendations From the an important geographic tool for the ‘‘Micropolitan CBSAs.’’ Also, one Metropolitan and Micropolitan Federal statistical data community. commenter asked OMB to consider Statistical Area Standards Review Under the current system—in which maintaining the same statistical area Committee Concerning Changes to the adjacent metropolitan and/or codes for areas delineated in the update Standards for Defining Metropolitan micropolitan statistical areas combine scheduled for 2018 as will have been and Micropolitan Statistical Areas automatically if they have an established in the review scheduled for This section of the Notice provides employment interchange measure of 25 2013, including cases where titles have information on the decisions OMB has or more, while areas with an changed but where boundaries have not made on the Review Committee’s interchange measure of less than 25 but changed. Furthermore, the commenter recommendations. In arriving at these at least 15 qualify with the support of also suggested that OMB consider an decisions, we considered the public local opinion—the universe of interagency process to investigate the comment on the Review Committee’s combined statistical areas is feasibility of creating classifications of recommendations published in the heterogeneous and incomplete. This territory within metropolitan statistical Federal Register on February 12, 2009. calls into question the comparability of areas. OMB also benefited from the the areas. Applying only statistical rules Some out-of-scope comments focused deliberations of the Review Committee when delineating areas—the means by on the use of the statistical areas, as well as the research support provided which the other statistical areas including the presentation of data. One by Census Bureau staff. We have relied delineated by OMB currently qualify— commenter asked OMB to consider upon and very much appreciate the minimizes ambiguity and maximizes the researching the uses of statistical areas. technical and subject-matter expertise, replicability, transparency, and integrity The commenter also asked OMB to insight, and dedication of the Review of the process. OMB agrees with the mandate that data provided for Committee members and the Census committee on applying only statistical metropolitan and micropolitan Bureau staff. rules, automatically combining all areas statistical areas be displayed with data OMB presents below its decisions on with the minimum employment for the combined statistical area the Review Committee’s specific interchange measure of 15. associated with those metropolitan or recommendations: Under the 2000 standards, local micropolitan statistical area 1. Recommendations Concerning opinion also was used for determining titles for combined statistical areas. components, and that data displayed at Combined Statistical Areas the metropolitan division level be OMB agrees with the committee that displayed with data for the metropolitan OMB accepts the Review Committee’s just as the qualification of combined statistical area of which the recommendation to eliminate the use of statistical areas should be based on the metropolitan division is a component. local opinion in the qualification of application of statistical rules, so too In addition, five commenters requested combinations with employment should combined statistical area titling. that OMB consider elimination of the interchange measures between 15 and OMB agrees with the committee’s prohibition against commingling in 25. Adjacent core based statistical areas recommendation for the elimination of ranking combined statistical areas, on (CBSAs) should automatically qualify local opinion from combined statistical the one hand, and metropolitan for combination if they possess an area titling and instead titling combined statistical areas that do not belong to employment interchange measure of 15 statistical areas in essentially the same combined statistical areas, on the other or higher. OMB also accepts the manner as their component hand. recommendation to eliminate the use of metropolitan and or micropolitan One commenter asked for the local opinion in combined statistical statistical areas: The title of a combined inclusion of local opinion in the area titling; each combined statistical statistical area should be based on the metropolitan and micropolitan area should be titled using the names of names of the two principal cities with statistical area qualification process, and the two principal cities with the largest the largest populations in the another requested using local opinion in populations in the combined statistical combination, as well as the name of the metropolitan division qualification. area, as well as the name of the third- third-largest principal city, if present. Another commenter more generally largest principal city, if present. To avoid a source of potential advocated some use of local opinion in The 2000 standards provided for confusion, however, OMB also agrees the standards. combined statistical areas to recognize with the committee’s recommendation Sixteen commenters offered ties between contiguous metropolitan for dropping the name of the third-most- suggestions on an unidentified Federal and/or micropolitan statistical areas that populous principal city from the title of program that appears to be unrelated to are less intense than those captured by a combined statistical area if the the metropolitan and micropolitan mergers, but still significant. (Mergers combined statistical area title duplicates statistical areas program. occur when adjacent CBSAs become a that of one of its component CBSAs. We have reviewed the out-of-scope single CBSA because the central county comments and concluded that we could or counties (as a group) of one CBSA 2. Recommendations Concerning not accept suggestions that would alter qualify as outlying to the central county Postcensal Updates the underlying concepts and framework or counties (as a group) of the other OMB accepts the Review Committee’s of the 2000 standards, adhering instead CBSA.) These combinations were based recommendation that OMB: (1) Limit its to a more focused update. However, on the employment interchange yearly updates after the initial OMB, in consultation with the Census measure between two CBSAs, defined as delineation based on the 2010 standards

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to the identification of new existing combined statistical area.) OMB adjacent territory that has a high degree metropolitan and micropolitan would continue to reflect changes to of social and economic integration with statistical areas (and reflect certain principal cities based on changes in the core as measured by commuting ties. changes to principal cities such as their names and legal status. For The standards designate and delineate names and legal status) and (2) conduct example, if a principal city two categories of CBSAs: Metropolitan a broader update in 2018 based on those disincorporates or changes its name, Statistical Areas and Micropolitan aspects of delineation that can be that would be reflected in the yearly Statistical Areas. performed using Census Bureau update of the inventory of principal The purpose of the Metropolitan and Population Estimates Program total cities, CBSA titles, and codes. Micropolitan Statistical Area standards population estimates as well as the OMB agrees with the Review is to provide nationally consistent 2011–2015 American Community Committee’s recommendation for a delineations for collecting, tabulating, Survey 5-year commuting and more comprehensive update of and publishing Federal statistics for a employment estimates. metropolitan and micropolitan and set of geographic areas. The Office of For some purposes, frequent updates related statistical areas in 2018 based on Management and Budget establishes and of the areas are desirable, but for other those parts of delineation that can be maintains these areas solely for purposes stability of the inventory of updated using Census Bureau statistical purposes. areas has advantages. Population Estimates Program total Metropolitan and Micropolitan OMB notes that the committee population estimates and the 2011–2015 Statistical Areas are not designed as a examined the criteria for statistical area American Community Survey 5-year general-purpose geographic framework updates in the 2000 standards as well as commuting and employment estimates. for nonstatistical activities or for use in the application of those criteria. Annual The urbanized areas and urban clusters program funding formulas. The CBSA postcensal updates of statistical areas used in the 2018 update will be those classification is not an urban-rural since 2003 have been extensive and delineated with 2010 Census data, plus classification; Metropolitan and have included: (1) Qualification of new any urban areas delineated later through Micropolitan Statistical Areas and many micropolitan statistical areas; (2) special censuses. The central counties of counties outside CBSAs contain both qualification of new metropolitan CBSAs identified on the basis of a 2010 urban and rural populations. statistical areas; (3) qualification of new Census population count, or on the CBSAs consist of counties and and expanded combined statistical basis of population estimates or a equivalent entities throughout the areas, (4) qualification of new principal special census count in the case of United States and Puerto Rico. In view cities; (5) deletion of principal cities; postcensally delineated areas, would of the importance of cities and towns in and (6) changes in the titles of constitute the central counties for New England, a set of geographic areas metropolitan statistical areas, purposes of this set of area delineations. similar in concept to the county-based micropolitan statistical areas, and CBSAs also will be delineated for that metropolitan divisions, based on the 3. Recommendation Concerning the Use region using cities and towns. These addition and/or deletion of principal of the Word ‘‘Definition’’ New England City and Town Areas cities as well as changes in the relative OMB accepts the Review Committee’s (NECTAs) are intended for use with population size rankings of principal recommendation that OMB replace the statistical data, whenever feasible and cities.1 word ‘‘definition’’ with the word appropriate, for New England. Data OMB agrees with the Review ‘‘delineation’’ in the proposed 2010 providers and users desiring areas Committee’s observation that aspects of standards. delineated using a nationally consistent yearly updates can present potential During much of the history of the geographic building block should use difficulties to producers and users of metropolitan and micropolitan the county-based CBSAs in New metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area program, the term England. statistical area data, including the ‘‘definition’’ has been used to refer to the The following criteria apply to both potentially considerable workload that boundaries or geographic makeup of an the nationwide county-based CBSAs yearly postcensal update titling and area (e.g., the definition of the Altoona, and to NECTAs, with the exceptions of coding changes can pose for PA Metropolitan Statistical Area). While Sections 7 and 9 in which separate maintaining large databases. OMB the program’s use of the term has been criteria are applied when identifying supports a more limited yearly update, careful and consistent, it is not intuitive and titling divisions within NECTAs identifying only new metropolitan and for those first encountering the program. that contain at least one core of 2.5 micropolitan statistical areas.2 (The OMB agrees with the committee that million or more population. Wherever identification of a new metropolitan or the program’s use of the term the word ‘‘county’’ or ‘‘counties’’ appears micropolitan statistical area can lead to ‘‘definition’’ occasionally has caused in the following criteria (except in the creation of a new combined misunderstandings and accepts the Sections 7 and 9), the words ‘‘city and statistical area or the expansion of an committee’s recommendation to replace town’’ or ‘‘cities and towns’’ should be ‘‘definition’’ with ‘‘delineation’’ to substituted, as appropriate, when 1 The 2000 standards also included criteria for reference the geographic boundaries of delineating NECTAs. Commuting and updating areas in 2008 based on American Community Survey 5-year commuting and the statistical areas. employment estimates are derived from the Census Bureau’s American employment estimates. Given a subsequent change D. 2010 Standards for Delineating in the American Community Survey production Community Survey. and release schedule, that 2008 update could not Metropolitan and Micropolitan be implemented. Statistical Areas and Key Terms Section 1. Population Size Requirements 2 A metropolitan statistical area that qualifies The Office of Management and Budget for Qualification of Core Based under the yearly update due to a special census or Statistical Areas population estimate will not contain an urbanized will use these standards to delineate area as delineated by the Census Bureau, unless that Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) Each CBSA must have a Census special census generates a new urbanized area. beginning in 2013. Bureau delineated urbanized area of at Also, the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program produces and disseminates the official A CBSA is a geographic entity least 50,000 population or a Census total population estimates of cities that are used in associated with at least one core of Bureau delineated urban cluster of at the update process. 10,000 or more population, plus least 10,000 population. (Urbanized

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areas and urban clusters are collectively (b) Any additional incorporated place contiguous main county with which it referred to as ‘‘urban areas.’’) or census designated place with a 2010 has the highest employment interchange Census population of at least 250,000 or measure of 15 or more. After all main Section 2. Central Counties in which 100,000 or more persons work; counties and secondary counties are The central county or counties of a and identified and grouped (if appropriate), CBSA are those counties that: (c) Any additional incorporated place each additional county that already has (a) Have at least 50 percent of their or census designated place with a 2010 qualified for inclusion in the population in urban areas of at least Census population of at least 50,000, but Metropolitan Statistical Area falls 10,000 population; or less than 250,000, and in which the within the Metropolitan Division (b) Have within their boundaries a number of workers working in the place associated with the main/secondary population of at least 5,000 located in a meets or exceeds the number of workers county or counties with which the single urban area of at least 10,000 living in the place; and county at issue has the highest population. (d) Any additional incorporated place employment interchange measure. A central county is associated with or census designated place with a 2010 Counties in a Metropolitan Division the urbanized area or urban cluster that Census population of at least 10,000, but must be contiguous. accounts for the largest portion of the less than 50,000, and at least one-third (b) A NECTA containing a single county’s population. The central the population size of the largest place, urbanized area with a population of at counties associated with a particular and in which the number of workers least 2.5 million may be subdivided to urbanized area or urban cluster are working in the place meets or exceeds form smaller groupings of cities and grouped to form a single cluster of the number of workers living in the towns referred to as NECTA Divisions. central counties for purposes of place. A city or town will be a ‘‘main city or measuring commuting to and from town’’ of a NECTA Division if it has a Section 6. Categories and Terminology potentially qualifying outlying counties. population of 50,000 or more and its Section 3. Outlying Counties A CBSA is categorized based on the highest rate of out-commuting to any population of the largest urban area other city or town is less than 20 A county qualifies as an outlying (urbanized area or urban cluster) within county of a CBSA if it meets the percent. the CBSA. Categories of CBSAs are: After all main cities and towns have following commuting requirements: Metropolitan Statistical Areas, based on (a) At least 25 percent of the workers been identified, each remaining city and urbanized areas of 50,000 or more living in the county work in the central town in the NECTA will fall within the population, and Micropolitan Statistical county or counties of the CBSA; or NECTA Division associated with the (b) At least 25 percent of the Areas, based on urban clusters of at least city or town with which the one at issue employment in the county is accounted 10,000 population but less than 50,000 has the highest employment interchange for by workers who reside in the central population. Counties that do not fall measure. Each NECTA Division must ‘‘ county or counties of the CBSA. within CBSAs will represent Outside contain a total population of 100,000 or A county may be included in only one Core Based Statistical Areas.’’ more. Cities and towns first assigned to CBSA. If a county qualifies as a central A NECTA is categorized in a manner areas with populations less than county of one CBSA and as outlying in similar to a CBSA and is referred to as 100,000 will be assigned to the another, it falls within the CBSA in a Metropolitan NECTA or a qualifying NECTA Division associated which it is a central county. A county Micropolitan NECTA. with the city or town with which the that qualifies as outlying to multiple Section 7. Divisions of Metropolitan one at issue has the highest employment CBSAs falls within the CBSA with Statistical Areas and New England City interchange measure. Cities and towns which it has the strongest commuting and Town Areas within a NECTA Division must be tie, as measured by either 3(a) or 3(b) contiguous. (a) A Metropolitan Statistical Area above. The counties included in a CBSA containing a single urbanized area with Section 8. Combining Adjacent Core must be contiguous; if a county is not a population of at least 2.5 million may Based Statistical Areas contiguous with other counties in the be subdivided to form smaller groupings CBSA, it will not fall within the CBSA. (a) Any two adjacent CBSAs will form of counties referred to as Metropolitan a Combined Statistical Area if the Section 4. Merging of Adjacent Core Divisions. A county qualifies as a ‘‘main employment interchange measure Based Statistical Areas county’’ of a Metropolitan Division if 65 between the two areas is at least 15. Two adjacent CBSAs will merge to percent or more of workers living in the (b) The CBSAs thus combined will form one CBSA if the central county or county also work within the county and also continue to be recognized as counties (as a group) of one CBSA the ratio of the number of workers individual CBSAs within the Combined qualify as outlying to the central county working in the county to the number of Statistical Area. or counties (as a group) of the other workers living in the county is at least .75. A county qualifies as a ‘‘secondary Section 9. Titles of Core Based CBSA using the measures and Statistical Areas, Metropolitan thresholds stated in 3(a) and 3(b) above. county’’ if 50 percent or more, but less than 65 percent, of workers living in the Divisions, New England City and Town Section 5. Identification of Principal county also work within the county and Divisions, and Combined Statistical Cities the ratio of the number of workers Areas The Principal City (or Cities) of a working in the county to the number of (a) The title of a CBSA or NECTA will CBSA will include: workers living in the county is at least include the name of its Principal City (a) The largest incorporated place 75. with the largest 2010 Census with a 2010 Census population of at A main county automatically serves population. If there are multiple least 10,000 in the CBSA or, if no as the basis for a Metropolitan Division. Principal Cities, the names of the incorporated place of at least 10,000 For a secondary county to qualify as the second-largest and (if present) third- population is present in the CBSA, the basis for forming a Metropolitan largest Principal Cities will appear in largest incorporated place or census Division, it must join with either a the title in order of descending designated place in the CBSA; and contiguous secondary county or a population size. If the Principal City

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with the largest 2010 Census population population, or a population estimate of consisting of a locally recognized, is a census designated place, the name 10,000 to 49,999 for two consecutive unincorporated concentration of of the largest incorporated place of at years from the Census Bureau’s population that is identified by name. least 10,000 population that also is a Population Estimates Program, or Central county—The county or Principal City will appear first in the (2) A Census Bureau special census counties of a Core Based Statistical Area title followed by the name of the census results in the delineation of an urban containing a substantial portion of an designated place. If the Principal City cluster of 10,000 to 49,999 population urbanized area or urban cluster or both, with the largest 2010 Census population that is outside of any existing CBSA. and to and from which commuting is is a census designated place, and there (c) Also in subsequent years, the measured to determine qualification of is no incorporated place of at least Office of Management and Budget will outlying counties. 10,000 population that also is a designate a new Metropolitan Statistical Combined Statistical Area—A Principal City, the name of that census Area if: geographic entity consisting of two or designated place Principal City will (1) A city that is outside any existing more adjacent Core Based Statistical appear first in the title. Metropolitan Statistical Area has a Areas with employment interchange (b) The title of a Metropolitan Census Bureau special census count of measures of at least 15. Division will include the name of the 50,000 or more population, or a Core—A densely settled concentration Principal City with the largest 2010 population estimate of 50,000 or more of population, comprising either an Census population located in the for two consecutive years from the urbanized area (of 50,000 or more Metropolitan Division. If there are Census Bureau’s Population Estimates population) or an urban cluster (of multiple Principal Cities, the names of Program, or 10,000 to 49,999 population) delineated the second-largest and (if present) third- (2) A Census Bureau special census by the Census Bureau, around which a largest Principal Cities will appear in results in the delineation of a new Core Based Statistical Area is the title in order of descending urbanized area of 50,000 population or delineated. population size. If there are no Principal more that is outside of any existing Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA)— Cities located in the Metropolitan Metropolitan Statistical Area. A statistical geographic entity consisting Division, the title of the Metropolitan (d) Outlying counties of CBSAs that of the county or counties associated Division will use the names of up to qualify after the first delineation (in with at least one core (urbanized area or three counties in order of descending 2013) will qualify, according to the urban cluster) of at least 10,000 2010 Census population size. criteria in Section 3 above, on the basis population, plus adjacent counties (c) The title of a NECTA Division will of American Community Survey 5-year having a high degree of social and include the name of the Principal City commuting estimates. economic integration with the core as with the largest 2010 Census population (e) The Office of Management and measured through commuting ties with located in the NECTA Division. If there Budget will review the delineations of the counties containing the core. are multiple Principal Cities, the names all existing CBSAs and related statistical Metropolitan and Micropolitan of the second-largest and (if present) areas in 2018 using 2011–2015 5-year Statistical Areas are the two categories third-largest Principal Cities will appear commuting and employment estimates of Core Based Statistical Areas. in the title in order of descending from the Census Bureau’s American Delineation—The establishment of the population size. If there are no Principal Community Survey. The urbanized boundary of a statistical area, or the Cities located in the NECTA Division, areas and urban clusters used in these boundary that results. the title of the NECTA Division will use delineations will be those based on 2010 Employment interchange measure—A the names of up to three cities or towns Census data or subsequent special measure of ties between two adjacent in descending 2010 Census population censuses for which urban areas are entities. The employment interchange size. created. The central counties of CBSAs measure is the sum of the percentage of (d) The title of a Combined Statistical identified on the basis of a 2010 Census workers living in the smaller entity who Area will include the names of the two population count, or on the basis of work in the larger entity and the largest Principal Cities in the population estimates from the Census percentage of employment in the combination and the name of the third- Bureau’s Population Estimates Program smaller entity that is accounted for by largest Principal City, if present. If the or a special census count in the case of workers who reside in the larger entity. Combined Statistical Area title postcensally delineated areas, will Geographic building block—The duplicates that of one of its component constitute the central counties for geographic unit, such as a county, that CBSAs, the name of the third-most- purposes of the these area delineations. constitutes the basic geographic populous Principal City will be dropped New CBSAs will be designated in 2018 component of a statistical area. from the title of the Combined on the basis of Census Bureau special Main city or town—A city or town Statistical Area. census counts or population estimates that acts as an employment center (e) Titles also will include the names as described above in Sections 10(b) and within a New England City and Town of any State in which the area is located. 10(c); outlying county qualification will Area that has a core with a population be based on 5-year commuting estimates of at least 2.5 million. A main city or Section 10. Updating Schedule from the American Community Survey. town serves as the basis for delineating (a) The Office of Management and (f) Other aspects of the Metropolitan a New England City and Town Area Budget will delineate CBSAs in 2013 and Metropolitan Statistical Area and Division. based on 2010 Census data and 2006– related statistical area delineations are Main county—A county that acts as 2010 American Community Survey 5- not subject to change between decennial an employment center within a Core year estimates. censuses. Based Statistical Area that has a core (b) In subsequent years, the Office of with a population of at least 2.5 million. Management and Budget will designate Section 11. Definitions of Key Terms A main county serves as the basis for a new Metropolitan Statistical Area if: Census designated place—A delineating a Metropolitan Division. (1) A city that is outside any existing statistical geographic entity that is Metropolitan Division—A county or CBSA has a Census Bureau special analogous to an incorporated place, group of counties within a Core Based census count of 10,000 to 49,999 delineated for the decennial census, Statistical Area that contains an

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urbanized area with a population of at towns as building blocks and that is another secondary county within a Core least 2.5 million. A Metropolitan conceptually similar to the Core Based Based Statistical Area that has a core Division consists of one or more main/ Statistical Areas in New England (which with a population of at least 2.5 million. secondary counties that represent an are delineated using counties as A secondary county may serve as the employment center or centers, plus building blocks). basis for delineating a Metropolitan adjacent counties associated with the New England City and Town Area Division, but only when combined with main/secondary county or counties (NECTA) Division—A city or town or a main county or another secondary through commuting ties. group of cities and towns within a county. Metropolitan Statistical Area—A Core NECTA that contains an urbanized area Urban area—The term used by the Based Statistical Area associated with at with a population of at least 2.5 million. Census Bureau to refer collectively to least one urbanized area that has a A NECTA Division consists of a main urbanized areas and urban clusters. population of at least 50,000. The city or town that represents an Metropolitan Statistical Area comprises employment center, plus adjacent cities Urban cluster—A statistical the central county or counties and towns associated with the main city geographic entity delineated by the containing the core, plus adjacent or town, or with other cities and towns Census Bureau, consisting of densely outlying counties having a high degree that are in turn associated with the main settled census tracts and blocks and of social and economic integration with city or town, through commuting ties. adjacent densely settled territory that the central county or counties as Outlying county—A county that together contain at least 2,500 people. measured through commuting. qualifies for inclusion in a Core Based For purposes of delineating Core Based Micropolitan Statistical Area—A Core Statistical Area on the basis of Statistical Areas, only those urban Based Statistical Area associated with at commuting ties with the Core Based clusters of 10,000 more population are least one urban cluster that has a Statistical Area’s central county or considered. population of at least 10,000, but less counties. Urbanized area—A statistical than 50,000. The Micropolitan Outside Core Based Statistical geographic entity delineated by the Statistical Area comprises the central Areas—Counties that do not qualify for Census Bureau, consisting of densely county or counties containing the core, inclusion in a Core Based Statistical settled census tracts and blocks and plus adjacent outlying counties having a Area. adjacent densely settled territory that high degree of social and economic Principal City—The largest city of a together contain at least 50,000 people. integration with the central county or Core Based Statistical Area, plus counties as measured through additional cities that meet specified Cass R. Sunstein, commuting. statistical criteria. Administrator, Office of Information and New England City and Town Area Secondary county—A county that acts Regulatory Affairs. (NECTA)—A statistical geographic as an employment center in [FR Doc. 2010–15605 Filed 6–25–10; 8:45 am] entity that is delineated using cities and combination with a main county or BILLING CODE P

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