Metropolitan Statistical Area

Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Metropolitan Statistical Areas are shown in red on this enlargeable map of the Core Based Statistical Areas of the United States.

In the United States a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is 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 sovereign entities like 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. Chicago). However, some metropolitan areas contain more than one large city with no single municipality holding a substantially dominant position (e.g. Minneapolis – Saint Paul).

MSAs are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget only, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau and other U.S. government agencies for statistical purposes only.[1]

Contents

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. CBSAs are composed of counties and county-equivalents.[2] 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, although these numbers are estimates, and exceptions are made. 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 (SMSA) and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area, have been used in the past but are now discontinued.[3] 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.

Hierarchy

  • Combined Statistical Area (CSA)
    • Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
    • Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA)

Leading population centers

Leading population centers view · talk · edit
Rank Core City Metro area pop.[6] Metropolitan Statistical Area Region[7]
New York City
New York

Los Angeles
Los Angeles
1 New York 18,897,109 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA MSA Northeast
2 Los Angeles 12,828,837 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA West
3 Chicago 9,461,105 Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI MSA Midwest
4 Dallas 6,371,773 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA South
5 Philadelphia 5,965,343 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA Northeast
6 Houston 5,946,800 Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX MSA South
7 Washington, D.C. 5,582,170 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA South
8 Miami 5,564,635 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL MSA South
9 Atlanta 5,268,860 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA South
10 Boston 4,552,402 Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH MSA Northeast
based on the 2010 U.S. Census

See also

United States census statistical areas by state, district, or territory
AS
MP
GU
VI

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Metropolitan Statistical Area — Région métropolitaine (États Unis) Aux États Unis, une région métropolitaine (en anglais Metropolitan Statistical Areas ou MSA) est un regroupement de comtés. Sommaire 1 Principe de regroupement 2 Les très grandes agglomérations 3 Voir aussi …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Metropolitan Statistical Area - MSA — A formal definition of metropolitan areas established by the Office of Management and Budget, a division of the U.S. Government. Metropolitan statistical areas serve to group counties and cities into specific geographic areas for the purposes of… …   Investment dictionary

  • Metropolitan statistical area — (MSA)   A county or group of contiguous counties (towns and cities in New England) that has (1) at least one city with 50,000 or more in habitants; or (2) an urbanized area of 50,000 inhabitants and a total population of 100,000 or more… …   Energy terms

  • metropolitan statistical area — MSA A geographic unit of the US Census Bureau consisting of: (1) a city with 50 000 or more inhabitants or (2) an urbanized area of at least 50 000 inhabitants and a total population of at least 100 000 (75 000 in New England) …   Big dictionary of business and management

  • Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area — Location of the Denver Aurora Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area …   Wikipedia

  • Greeley Metropolitan Statistical Area — The Greeley Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area located in the Greeley region of the State of Colorado. The Greeley Metropolitan Statistical Area is defined as Weld County, Colorado …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area — Map of the Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area The Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) located in the Colorado Springs region of the State of… …   Wikipedia

  • Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area — Map of Ohio highlighting the Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of one county – Richland – in north central Ohio, anchored by… …   Wikipedia

  • Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area — The Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) located in the Boulder region of the State of Colorado. The Boulder MSA is defined as Boulder County, Colorado. The Census… …   Wikipedia

  • Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area — The Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) located in the Pueblo region of the State of Colorado. The Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area is defined as Pueblo County,… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”