Appendix II Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: Concepts, Components, and Population

The Office of Management Defining Metropolitan and and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan Micropolitan Statistical Areas— and micropolitan statistical areas accord- The 2000 standards provide that each ing to published standards that are CBSA must contain at least one urban applied to U.S. Census Bureau data. The area of 10,000 or more population. Each general concept of a metropolitan or mic- metropolitan statistical area must have ropolitan statistical area is that of a core at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or area containing a substantial population more inhabitants. Each micropolitan nucleus, together with adjacent communi- statistical area must have at least one ties having a high degree of economic and urban cluster of at least 10,000 but less social integration with that core. Currently than 50,000 population. defined metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas are based on application Under the standards, the county (or coun- of 2000 standards (which appeared in the ties) in which at least 50 percent of the Federal Register on December 27, 2000) population resides within urban areas to 2000 decennial census data. Current of 10,000 or more population, or that metropolitan and micropolitan statistical contain at least 5,000 people residing area definitions were announced by OMB within a single urban area of 10,000 or effective June 6, 2003, and subsequently more population, is identified as a ‘‘central updated as of December 2003, November county’’ (counties). Additional ‘‘outlying 2004, December 2005, December 2006, counties’’ are included in the CBSA if they November 2007, November 2008, and meet specified requirements of commuting December 2009. to or from the central counties. Counties or equivalent entities form the geographic Standard definitions of metropolitan ‘‘building blocks’’ for metropolitan and areas were first issued in 1949 by the micropolitan statistical areas throughout then Bureau of the Budget (predecessor the United States and . of OMB), under the designation ‘‘standard ’’ (SMA). The term was If specified criteria are met, a metropolitan changed to ‘‘standard metropolitan statis- statistical area containing a single core tical area’’ (SMSA) in 1959 and to ‘‘met- with a population of 2.5 million or more ropolitan statistical area’’ (MSA) in 1983. may be subdivided to form smaller group- The term ‘‘metropolitan area’’ (MA) was ings of counties referred to as ‘‘metropoli- adopted in 1990 and referred collectively tan divisions.’’ to metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), As of December 2009, there are 366 consolidated metropolitan statistical areas metropolitan statistical areas and 576 (CMSAs), and primary metropolitan statis- micropolitan statistical areas in the United tical areas (PMSAs). The term ‘‘core-based States. In addition, there are eight metro- statistical area’’ (CBSA) became effective in politan statistical areas and five micro- 2000 and refers collectively to metropoli- politan statistical areas in Puerto Rico. tan and micropolitan statistical areas. Principal Cities and Metropolitan and OMB has been responsible for the official Micropolitan Statistical Area Titles— metropolitan areas since they were first The largest city in each metropolitan or defined, except for the period 1977 to micropolitan statistical area is designated 1981, when they were the responsibility of a ‘‘principal city.’’ Additional cities qualify the Office of Federal Statistical Policy and if specified requirements are met concern- Standards, U.S. Department of Commerce. ing population size and employment. The The standards for defining­me tropolitan title of each metropolitan or micropolitan areas were modified in 1958, 1971, 1975, statistical area consists of the names of 1980, 1990, and 2000.

898 Appendix II U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012 up to three of its principal cities and the In some instances, formerly separate name of each state into which the met- areas have been merged, components of ropolitan or micropolitan statistical area an area have been transferred from one extends. Titles of metropolitan divisions area to another, or components have been also typically are based on principal city dropped from an area. The large majority names, but in certain cases consist of of changes have taken place on the basis county names. of decennial census data. However, Census Bureau data serve as the basis for inter- Defining New England City and Town censal updates in specified circumstances. Areas—In view of the importance of cities and towns in New England, the 2000 stan- Because of these historical changes in dards also provide for a set of geographic geographic definitions, users must be areas that are defined using cities and cautious in comparing data for these towns in the six New England states. The statistical areas from different dates. For New England city and town areas (NECTAs) some purposes, comparisons of data for are defined using the same criteria as met- areas as defined at given dates may be ropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas appropriate; for other purposes, it may and are identified as either metropolitan be preferable to maintain consistent area or micropolitan, based, respectively, on definitions. Historical metropolitan area the presence of either an urbanized area definitions are available for 1999, 1993, of 50,000 or more population or an urban 1990, 1983, 1981, 1973, 1970, 1963, cluster of at least 10,000 but less than 1960, and 1950. 50,000 population. If the specified criteria are met, a NECTA containing a single core Excluding Tables 20 through 24 in the with a population of at least 2.5 million Population section; Table 595 in the Labor may be subdivided to form smaller group- Force section; Table 683 in the Income ings of cities and towns referred to as New section, and the tables that follow in this England city and town area divisions. appendix, the tables presenting data for metropolitan areas in this edition of the Changes in Definitions Over Time— Statistical Abstract are based on the 1999 Changes in the definitions of these statisti- or earlier metropolitan area definitions. cal areas since the 1950 census have For a list of component counties according consisted chiefly of (1) the recognition of to the 1999 definition, see Appendix II in new areas as they reached the minimum the 2002 edition of the Statistical Abstract required city or urbanized area popula- or . ing areas as new decennial census data showed them to qualify.

Appendix II 899 U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012 Micropolitan Statistical Area Based Outside Core Territory Statistical Areas Metropolitan Statistical Area As dened by the U.S. Oce of Management and Budget, December 2009 As dened by the U.S. Figure A1 Figure Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas of the United States Note: Under the Oce of Management and Budget's Standards Dening Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas, for metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas are delineated New England, the standards For using counties nationwide. also identify a complementary set of areas-- New England dened using minor civil city and town area (NECTAs)-- divisions.

900 Appendix II U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012 Contents Metropolitan and Micropolitan Metropolitan and Micropolitan New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) Statistical Areas: Concepts, Components, and Population 898

Appendix II 901 U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012