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Metropolitan Statistical Area Information

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. Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex or 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

Leading population centers

Leading population centers
Rank Core city Metro area pop.[6] Metropolitan Statistical Area Region[7] New York City Los Angeles
1 New York City 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 5,390,463 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA South
10 Boston 4,552,403 Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH MSA Northeast
based on the 2010 U.S. Census

See also

Geography portal
North America portal
United States portal
Book: United States
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‹ The below () is being considered for deletion. See to help reach a consensus.› United States census statistical areas by state, district, or territory AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY AS MP PR GU VI

References

  1. ^ Nussle, Jim (Nov. 20, 2008). "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses". Office of Management and Budget. pp. 1–2. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/bulletins/fy2009/09-01.pdf.
  2. ^ Census Geographic Glossary, U.S. Census Bureau
  3. ^ "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metroarea.html. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  4. ^ "Metropolitan and NECTA Divisions published by CES". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. January 28, 2011. http://www.bls.gov/sae/saemd.htm.
  5. ^ "May 2009 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Definitions". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. August 16, 2010. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/msa_def.htm.
  6. ^ "2010 Census National Summary File of Redistricting Data". U.S. Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_NSRD_GCTPL2.US24PR&prodType=table. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  7. ^ "Figure A–3. Census Regions, Census Divisions, and Their Constituent States". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/glossry2.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-17.

External links

50 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States
  1. New York
  2. Los Angeles
  3. Chicago
  4. Dallas–Fort Worth
  5. Houston
  6. Philadelphia
  7. Washington
  8. Miami
  9. Atlanta
  10. Boston
  1. San Francisco–Oakland
  2. Detroit
  3. Riverside–San Bernardino
  4. Phoenix
  5. Seattle
  6. Minneapolis–St. Paul
  7. San Diego
  8. St. Louis
  9. Tampa–St. Petersburg
  10. Baltimore
  1. Denver–Aurora
  2. Pittsburgh
  3. Portland
  4. Sacramento
  5. San Antonio
  6. Orlando
  7. Cincinnati
  8. Cleveland
  9. Kansas City
  10. Las Vegas
  1. San Jose
  2. Columbus, Ohio
  3. Charlotte
  4. Indianapolis
  5. Austin
  6. Virginia Beach–Norfolk
  7. Providence
  8. Nashville
  9. Milwaukee
  10. Jacksonville
  1. Memphis
  2. Louisville
  3. Richmond
  4. Oklahoma City
  5. Hartford
  6. New Orleans
  7. Buffalo
  8. Raleigh
  9. Birmingham
  10. Salt Lake City

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