Categorizing
Locations
for ECON 376 by
Prof. Kilkenny (last update 9/29/2003)
All U.S. territory is classified as urban or rural. The geographic unit is the Census block. There are two types of urban areas: Urbanized Areas (UAs) and Urban Clusters (UCs).
Urbanized Areas
(UAs) are a set of densely settled contiguous Census blocks or Census
block groups that have at least 50,000 population. The criteria for density is that Census
blocks in the core must have at least 1,000/mi2. Adjacent Census blocks with densities
of 500/mi2 are included in the Urbanized Area.
Urban Clusters (UCs)
are defined the same as UAs, but they are smaller. A UC has a total population greater than 2,500 but less than
50,000; and a core Census block with density of 1000/mi2.
Everything
else is Rural territory.
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/ua/ua_2k.html
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/CP_MapProducts.htm
A Census block is an area normally bounded by visible features
such as streets, railroads, and creeks; and by non-visible features such as the
boundary of an incorporated place, county, or other jurisdiction.
A Census block group (BG) is a set of Census blocks within a
Census tract whose numbers begin with the same digit. For example, BG 3 within a Census tract includes all blocks
numbers 3000 to 3999.
A place is a concentration of population either legally bounded
as an incorporated place, or delineated for statistical purposes.
Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas comprise one or more entire counties. Census Bureau defined urbanized areas and urban clusters are the cores of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas, In general, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas have a core urbanized area or cluster county, together with adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with that core.
The term "metropolitan area" (MA) is a collective term that refers to metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs), and primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs). Metropolitan Areas (MAs) = {MSAs, PMSAs, CMSAs}.
The term "core based statistical area" (CBSA) became effective in 2000 and refers collectively to metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. The 2000 standards provide that each CBSA must contain at least one urban area of 10,000 or more population.
Each micropolitan statistical area must have at least one urban cluster of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000 population.
As of June, 2000, there were 362 metropolitan statistical areas and 560
micropolitan statistical areas in the United States (excluding Puerto Rico).
Currently, except in New England[1],
counties are the geographic unit used to define
core based statistical areas (CBSAs). Counties are well-known,
with boundaries that rarely change, and they are useful for analyzing data over
time. Counties, however, are established according to state laws and have as
their primary purpose the administration of local government and provision of
programs and services. As a result, there is little consistency in population
size and land area among counties throughout the United States. The large size
of counties in the West often poses challenges to measuring and analyzing localized
shifts in population.
An MA consists of a core county containing a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of social and economic integration with that core. MAs generally include a city or a Census Bureau-defined urbanized area (UA) with 50,000 or more inhabitants. An MSA (metropolitan statistical area) must include a city (urbanized area county) of 50,000 or more population, or, the component counties of the metropolitan statistical area have a total population of at least 100,000.
Under the standards, the county (or counties) in which at least 50 percent of the population resides within urban areas of 10,000 or more population, or that contain at least 5,000 people residing within a single urban area of 10,000 or more population, is identified as a "central county" (counties). Additional "outlying counties" are included in the CBSA if they meet specified requirements of commuting to or from the central counties.
Counties adjacent to the core county are included in the MSA if there is
a higher degree of commuting interaction (see table below) &/OR they
are also relatively densely populated (see table below). The percentage
of workers in the United States who commute to places of work outside their
counties of residence has increased from approximately 15 percent in 1960 (when
nationwide commuting data first became available from the decennial census) to
nearly 25 percent in 1990.
|
|
population density |
||||
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|
|
25/mi2 |
35/mi2 |
50/mi2 |
60/mi2 |
|
Share of adjacent county pop who commute to core |
> 50% |
included |
included |
included |
included |
|
> 40% |
|
included |
included |
included |
|
|
> 25% |
|
|
included |
included |
|
Each MSA is categorized based on total population:
Level A MSAs of 1 million or more;
Level B MSAs of 250,000 to 999,999;
Level C MSAs of 100,000 to 249,999; and
Level D MSAs of less than 100,000.
Nonmetropolitan counties are outside the boundaries of metro areas and have no cities with as many as 50,000 residents.
Discussion:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas for purposes of collecting, tabulating, and publishing Federal data. Metropolitan Area definitions are also used inappropriately to implement, determine program eligibility and administer a variety of nonstatistical Federal programs.
“The Metropolitan Area program has provided standard statistical area definitions for 50 years. In the 1940s, it became clear that the value of metropolitan data produced by Federal agencies would be greatly enhanced if agencies used a single set of geographic definitions for the Nation's largest centers of population and activity. Prior to that time, Federal agencies defined a variety of statistical geographic areas at the metropolitan level (including ``metropolitan districts,'' ``industrial areas,'' ``labor market,'' and `metropolitan counties'') using different criteria applied to different geographic units. Because of variations in methodologies and the resulting inconsistencies in area definitions, one agency's statistics were not directly comparable with another agency's statistics for any given area.”
“OMB's predecessor, the Bureau of the Budget, led the effort to develop what were then called ``Standard Metropolitan Areas'' in time for their use in the 1950 census reports. Since then, comparable data products for Metropolitan Areas have been available. Because of the usefulness of the Metropolitan Area standards and data products, many have asked that the standards take into account more territory of the United States. Extending the standard to include the identification of Micropolitan Statistical Areas responds to those requests.”
“The Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Standards do not equate to an urban-rural classification; all counties included in Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and many other counties contain both urban and rural territory and populations. Programs that base funding levels or eligibility on whether a county is included in a Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area may not accurately address issues or problems faced by local populations, organizations, institutions, or governmental units.”
“For instance, programs that seek to strengthen rural economies by focusing solely on counties located outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas could ignore a predominantly rural county that is included in a Metropolitan Statistical Area because a high percentage of the county's residents commute to urban centers for work. Although the inclusion of such a county in a Metropolitan Statistical Area indicates the existence of economic ties, as measured by commuting, with the central counties of that Metropolitan Statistical Area, it may also indicate a need to provide programs that would strengthen the county's rural economy so that workers are not compelled to leave the county in search of jobs.”
“Program designs that treat all parts of a CBSA as if they were as urban as the densely settled core ignore the rural conditions that may exist in some parts of the area. Under such programs, schools, hospitals, businesses, and communities that are separated from the urban core by large distances or difficult terrain may experience the same kinds of challenges as their counterparts in rural portions of counties that are outside CBSAs. Although some programs do permit large Metropolitan Area counties to be split into ``urban'' and ``rural'' portions, smaller Metropolitan Area counties also can contain isolated rural communities.”
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/00-32997.txt
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/aboutmetro.html
Federal Register: December 27, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 249)]
Standards for Defining Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas;
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
The Office of Management and Budget will use these standards to define Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) beginning in 2003. A CBSA is a geographic entity associated with at least one core of 10,000 or more population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties. The standards designate and define two categories of CBSAs: Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Micropolitan Statistical Areas. The purpose of the Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Standards is to provide nationally consistent definitions for collecting, tabulating, and publishing Federal statistics for a set of geographic areas. The Office of Management and Budget establishes and maintains these areas solely for statistical purposes. Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas are not designed as a general purpose geographic framework for nonstatistical activities or for use in program funding formulas. The CBSA classification does not equate to an urban-rural classification; Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and many counties outside CBSAs contain both urban and rural populations. CBSAs consist of counties and equivalent entities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. In view of the importance of cities and towns in New England, a set of geographic areas similar in concept to the county based CBSAs also will be defined for that region using cities and towns. These New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) are intended for use with statistical data, whenever feasible and appropriate, for New England. Data providers and users desiring areas defined using a nationally consistent geographic building block should use the county based CBSAs in New England. The following criteria apply to both the nationwide county based CBSAs and to NECTAs, with the exceptions of Sections 6, 7, and 9, in which separate criteria are applied when identifying and titling divisions within NECTAs that contain at least one core of 2.5 million or more population. Wherever the word ``county'' or ``counties'' appears in the following criteria (except in Sections 6, 7, and 9), the words ``city and town'' or ``cities and towns'' should be substituted, as appropriate, when defining NECTAs.
Section 1. Population Size Requirements for Qualification of Core Based Statistical Areas
Each CBSA must have a Census Bureau defined urbanized area of at least 50,000 population or a Census Bureau defined urban cluster of at least 10,000 population. (Urbanized areas and urban clusters are collectively referred to as ``urban areas.'')
Section 2. Central Counties
The central county or counties of a CBSA are those counties that: (a) have at least 50 percent of their population in urban areas of at least 10,000 population; or (b) have within their boundaries a population of at least 5,000 located in a single urban area of at least 10,000 population. A central county is associated with the urbanized area or urban cluster that accounts for the largest portion of the county's population. The central counties associated with a particular urbanized area or urban cluster are grouped to form a single cluster of central counties for purposes of measuring commuting to and from potentially qualifying outlying counties.
Section 3. Outlying Counties
A county qualifies as an outlying county of a CBSA if it meets the following commuting requirements: (a) at least 25 percent of the employed residents of the county work in the central county or counties of the CBSA; or (b) at least 25 percent of the employment in the county is accounted for by workers who reside in the central county or counties of the CBSA. A county may appear in only one CBSA. If a county qualifies as a central county of one CBSA and as outlying in another, it falls within the CBSA in which it is a central county. A county that qualifies as outlying to multiple CBSAs falls within the CBSA with which it has the strongest commuting tie, as measured by either (a) or (b) above. The counties included in a CBSA must be contiguous; if a county is not contiguous with other counties in the CBSA, it will not fall within the CBSA.
Section 4. Merging of Adjacent Core Based Statistical Areas
Two adjacent CBSAs will merge to form one CBSA if the central county or counties (as a group) of one CBSA qualify as outlying to the central county or counties (as a group) of the other CBSA using the measures and thresholds stated in 3(a) and 3(b) above.
Section 5. Identification of Principal Cities
The Principal City (or Cities) of a CBSA will include: (a) the largest incorporated place with a Census 2000 population of at least 10,000 in the CBSA or, if no incorporated place of at least 10,000 population is present in the CBSA, the largest incorporated place or census designated place in the CBSA; and (b) any additional incorporated place or census designated place with a Census 2000 population of at least 250,000 or in which 100,000 or more persons work; and (c) any additional incorporated place or census designated place with a Census 2000 population of at least 50,000, but less than 250,000, and in which the number of jobs meets or exceeds the number of employed residents; and (d) any additional incorporated place or census designated place with a Census 2000 population of at least 10,000, but less than 50,000, and one-third the population size of the largest place, and in which the number of jobs meets or exceeds the number of employed residents.
Section 6. Categories and Terminology
A CBSA receives a category based on the population of the largest urban area (urbanized area or urban cluster) within the CBSA. Categories of CBSAs are: Metropolitan Statistical Areas, based on urbanized areas of 50,000 or more population, and Micropolitan Statistical Areas, based on urban clusters of at least 10,000 population but less than 50,000 population. Counties that do not fall within CBSAs will represent ``Outside Core Based Statistical Areas.'' A NECTA receives a category in a manner similar to a CBSA and is referred to as a Metropolitan NECTA or a Micropolitan NECTA.
Section 7. Divisions of Metropolitan Statistical Areas and New England City and Town Areas
(a) A Metropolitan Statistical Area containing a single core with a population of at least 2.5 million may be subdivided to form smaller groupings of counties referred to as Metropolitan Divisions. A county qualifies as a ``main county'' of a Metropolitan Division if 65 percent or more of its employed residents work within the county and the ratio of the number of jobs located in the county to the number of employed residents of the county is at least .75. A county qualifies as a ``secondary county'' if 50 percent or more, but less than 65 percent, of its employed residents work within the county and the ratio of the number of jobs located in the county to the number of employed residents of the county is at least .75.
[[Page 82237]]
A main county automatically serves as the basis for a Metropolitan Division. For a secondary county to qualify as the basis for forming a Metropolitan Division, it must join with either a contiguous secondary county or a contiguous main county with which it has the highest employment interchange measure of 15 or more. After all main counties and secondary counties are identified and grouped (if appropriate), each additional county that already has qualified for inclusion in the Metropolitan Statistical Area falls within the Metropolitan Division associated with the main/secondary county or counties with which the county at issue has the highest employment interchange measure. Counties in a Metropolitan Division must be contiguous. (b) A NECTA containing a single core with a population of at least 2.5 million may be subdivided to form smaller groupings of cities and towns referred to as NECTA Divisions. A city or town will be a ``main city or town'' of a NECTA Division if it has a population of 50,000 or more and its highest rate of out- commuting to any other city or town is less than 20 percent. After all main cities and towns have been identified, each remaining city and town in the NECTA will fall within the NECTA Division associated with the city or town with which the one at issue has the highest employment interchange measure. Each NECTA Division must contain a total population of 100,000 or more. Cities and towns first assigned to areas with populations less than 100,000 will be assigned to the qualifying NECTA Division associated with the city or town with which the one at issue has the highest employment interchange measure. Cities and towns within a NECTA Division must be contiguous.
Section 8. Combining Adjacent Core Based Statistical Areas
(a) Any two adjacent CBSAs will form a Combined Statistical Area if the employment interchange measure between the two areas is at least 25. (b) Adjacent CBSAs that have an employment interchange measure of at least 15 and less than 25 will combine if local opinion, as reported by the congressional delegations in both areas, favors combination. (c) The CBSAs that combine retain separate identities within the larger Combined Statistical Areas.
Section 9. Titles of Core Based Statistical Areas, Metropolitan Divisions, New England City and Town Divisions, and Combined Statistical Areas
(a) The title of a CBSA will include the name of its Principal City with the largest Census 2000 population. If there are multiple Principal Cities, the names of the second largest and third largest Principal Cities will appear in the title in order of descending population size. If the Principal City with the largest Census 2000 population is a census designated place, the name of the largest incorporated place of at least 10,000 population that also is a Principal City will appear first in the title followed by the name of the census designated place. (b) The title of a Metropolitan Division will include the name of the Principal City with the largest Census 2000 population located in the Metropolitan Division. If there are multiple Principal Cities, the names of the second largest and third largest Principal Cities will appear in the title in order of descending population size. If there are no Principal Cities located in the Metropolitan Division, the title of the Metropolitan Division will use the names of up to three counties in order of descending population size. (c) The title of a NECTA Division will include the name of the Principal City with the largest Census 2000 population located in the NECTA Division. If there are multiple Principal Cities, the names of the second largest and third largest Principal Cities will appear in the title in order of descending population size. If there are no Principal Cities located in the NECTA Division, the title of the NECTA Division will use the name of the city or town with the largest population. (d) The title of a Combined Statistical Area will include the name of the largest Principal City in the combination, followed by the names of up to two additional Principal Cities in the combination in order of descending population size, or a suitable regional name, provided that the Combined Statistical Area title does not duplicate the title of a component Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area or Metropolitan Division. Local opinion will be considered when determining the titles of Combined Statistical Areas. (e) Titles also will include the names of any state in which the area is located.
Section 12. Definitions of Key Terms
Census designated place.--A statistical geographic entity that is
[[Page 82238]]
equivalent to an incorporated place, defined for the decennial census, consisting of a locally recognized, unincorporated concentration of population that is identified by name. Central county.--The county or counties of a Core Based Statistical Area containing a substantial portion of an urbanized area or urban cluster or both, and to and from which commuting is measured to determine qualification of outlying counties. Combined Statistical Area.--A geographic entity consisting of two or more adjacent Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) with employment interchange measures of at least 15. Pairs of CBSAs with employment interchange measures of at least 25 combine automatically. Pairs of CBSAs with employment interchange measures of at least 15, but less than 25, may combine if local opinion in both areas favors combination. Core.--A densely settled concentration of population, comprising either an urbanized area (of 50,000 or more population) or an urban cluster (of 10,000 to 49,999 population) defined by the Census Bureau, around which a Core Based Statistical Area is defined. Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA).--A statistical geographic entity consisting of the county or counties associated with at least one core (urbanized area or urban cluster) of at least 10,000 population, plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties with the counties containing the core. Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas are the two categories of Core Based Statistical Areas. Employment interchange measure.--A measure of ties between two adjacent entities. The employment interchange measure is the sum of the percentage of employed residents of the smaller entity who work in the larger entity and the percentage of employment in the smaller entity that is accounted for by workers who reside in the larger entity. Geographic building block.--The geographic unit, such as a county, that constitutes the basic geographic component of a statistical area. Main city or town.--A city or town that acts as an employment center within a New England City and Town Area that has a core with a population of at least 2.5 million. A main city or town serves as the basis for defining a New England City and Town Area Division. Main county.--A county that acts as an employment center within a Core Based Statistical Area that has a core with a population of at least 2.5 million. A main county serves as the basis for defining a Metropolitan Division. Metropolitan Division.--A county or group of counties within a Core Based Statistical Area that contains a core with a population of at least 2.5 million. A Metropolitan Division consists of one or more main/secondary counties that represent an employment center or centers, plus adjacent counties associated with the main county or counties through commuting ties. Metropolitan Statistical Area.--A Core Based Statistical Area associated with at least one urbanized area that has a population of at least 50,000. The Metropolitan Statistical Area comprises the central county or counties containing the core, plus adjacent outlying counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the central county as measured through commuting. Micropolitan Statistical Area.--A Core Based Statistical Area associated with at least one urban cluster that has a population of at least 10,000, but less than 50,000. The Micropolitan Statistical Area comprises the central county or counties containing the core, plus adjacent outlying counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the central county as measured through commuting. New England City and Town Area (NECTA).--A statistical geographic entity that is defined using cities and towns as building blocks and that is conceptually similar to the Core Based Statistical Areas in New England (which are defined using counties as building blocks). New England City and Town Area (NECTA) Division.--A city or town or group of cities and towns within a NECTA that contains a core with a population of at least 2.5 million. A NECTA Division consists of a main city or town that represents an employment center, plus adjacent cities and towns associated with the main city or town, or with other cities and towns that are in turn associated with the main city or town, through commuting ties. Outlying county.--A county that qualifies for inclusion in a Core Based Statistical Area on the basis of commuting ties with the Core Based Statistical Area's central county or counties. Outside Core Based Statistical Areas.--Counties that do not qualify for inclusion in a Core Based Statistical Area. Principal City.--The largest city of a Core Based Statistical Area, plus additional cities that meet specified statistical criteria. Secondary county.--A county that acts as an employment center in combination with a main county or another secondary county within a Core Based Statistical Area that has a core with a population of at least 2.5 million. A secondary county serves as the basis for defining a Metropolitan Division, but only when combined with a main county or another secondary county. Urban area.--The generic term used by the Census Bureau to refer collectively to urbanized areas and urban clusters. Urban cluster.--A statistical geographic entity to be defined by the Census Bureau for Census 2000, consisting of a central place(s) and adjacent densely settled territory that together contain at least 2,500 people, generally with an overall population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile. For purposes of defining Core Based Statistical Areas, only those urban clusters of 10,000 more population are considered. Urbanized area.--A statistical geographic entity defined by the Census Bureau, consisting of a central place(s) and adjacent densely settled territory that together contain at least 50,000 people, generally with an overall population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile.
John T. Spotila, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. [FR Doc. 00-32997 Filed 12-26-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3110-01-P