B. A Census Bureau defined urbanized area of at least 50,000
at least 100,000.
\3\ An MSA designated on the basis of census data according
to standards in effect at the time of designation will not be
disqualified on the basis of lacking an urbanized area of at
least 50,000 or a total MSA population of at least 100,000.
Section
2. Central Counties The central county/counties of
the MSA are: A. Those counties that include a central city
(see section 4) of the MSA, or at least 50 percent of the
population of such a city, provided the city is located in a
qualifier urbanized area; and B. Those counties in which at
least 50 percent of the population lives in the qualifier
urbanized area(s). Section 3. Outlying Counties A. An
outlying county is included in an MSA if any one of the
six following conditions is met: (1) At least 50 percent
of the employed workers residing in the county commute
to the central county/counties, and either (a) The population
density of the county is at least 25 persons per square mile,
or (b) At least 10 percent, or at least 5,000, of the population
lives in the qualifier urbanized area(s); (2) From 40 to 50
percent of the employed workers commute to the central
county/counties, and either (a) The population density is
at least 35 persons per square mile, or (b) At least 10
percent, or at least 5,000, of the population lives in the
qualifier urbanized area(s); (3) From 25 to 40 percent of
the employed workers commute to the central county/
counties and either the population density of the county
is at least 50 persons per square mile, or any two of the
following conditions exist: (a) Population density is at least
35 persons per square mile, (b) At least 35 percent of the
population is urban, (c) At least 10 percent, or at least
5,000, of the population lives in the qualifier urbanized
area(s); (4) From 15 to 25 percent of the employed
workers commute to the central county/counties,
4 the
population density of the county is at least 50 persons
per square mile, and any two of the following conditions
also exist:
\4\ Also accepted as meeting this commuting requirement
are: (a) The number of persons working in the county who
live in the central county/counties is equal to at least 15
percent of the number of employed workers living in the
county; or (b) The sum of the number of workers
commuting to and from the central county/counties is
equal to at least 20 percent of the number of employed
workers living in the county.
(a) Population density is at least 60 persons per square
mile, (b) At least 35 percent of the population is urban,
(c) Population growth between the last two decennial
censuses is at least 20 percent, (d) At least 10 percent,
or at least 5,000, of the population lives in the qualifier
urbanized area(s); (5) From 15 to 25 percent of the
employed workers commute to the central county/counties,
4 the population density of the county is less than 50
persons per square mile, and any two of the following
conditions also exist: (a) At least 35 percent of the
population is urban, (b) Population growth between the
last two decennial censuses is at least 20 percent, (c)
At least 10 percent, or at least 5,000, of the population
lives in the qualifier urbanized area(s); (6) At least 2,500
of the population lives in a central city of the MSA located
\5\ See section 4 for the standards for identifying central
cities.
B. If a county qualifies on the basis of commuting to the
central county/counties of two different MSAs, it is assigned
to the area to which commuting is greatest, unless the
relevant commuting percentages are within 5 points of each
other, in which case local opinion about the most appropriate
assignment will be considered. [[Page 70557]] C. If a county
qualifies as a central county under section 2 and also
qualifies as an outlying county of another metropolitan
area under section 3A on the basis of commuting to (or
from) another central county, both counties become
central counties of a single merged MSA. Section 4.
Central Cities The central city/cities of the MSA are:
A. The city with the largest population in the MSA; B. Each
additional city with a population of at least 250,000 or with
at least 100,000 persons working within its limits; C. Each
additional city with a population of at least 25,000, an
employment/residence ratio of at least 0.75, and at least
40 percent of its employed residents working in the city;
D. Each city of 15,000 to 24,999 population that is at
least one-third as large as the largest central city,
has an employment/ residence ratio of at least 0.75,
and has at least 40 percent of its employed residents
working in the city; E. The largest city in a secondary
noncontiguous urbanized area, provided it has at least
15,000 population, an employment/residence ratio of at
least 0.75, and has at least 40 percent of its employed
residents working in the city; F. Each additional city in
a secondary noncontiguous urbanized area that is at
least one-third as large as the largest central city of
that urbanized area, that has at least 15,000 population
and an employment/residence ratio of at least 0.75, and
that has at least 40 percent of its employed residents
working in the city. Section 5. Combining Adjacent
Metropolitan Statistical Areas Two adjacent MSAs
defined by sections 1 through 4 are combined as a single
MSA provided: A. The total population of the combination
is at least one million, and: (1) The commuting interchange
between the two MSAs is equal to: (a) At least 15 percent
of the employed workers residing in the smaller MSA, or (b)
At least 10 percent of the employed workers residing in the
smaller MSA, and (i) The urbanized area of a central city of
one MSA is contiguous with the urbanized area of a central
city of the other MSA, or (ii) A central city in one MSA is
included in the same urbanized area as a central city in the
other MSA; and (2) At least 60 percent of the population of
each MSA is urban. B. The total population of the combination
is less than one million and: (1) Their largest central cities
are within 25 miles of one another, or their urbanized areas
are contiguous; and (2) There is definite evidence that the
two areas are closely integrated with each other economically
and socially; and (3) Local opinion in both areas supports
the combination. Section 6. Levels A. Each MSA defined by
sections 1 through 5 is categorized in one of the following
levels 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.
B. Areas assigned to Level B, C, or D are designated as MSAs.
Areas assigned to Level A are not finally designated or titled
until they have been reviewed under sections 8 and 9.
Section 7. Titles of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)
A. The title of an MSA assigned to Level B, C, or D includes
the name of the largest central city, and up to two additional
city names, as follows: (1) The name of each additional city
with a population of at least 250,000; (2) The names of the
additional cities qualified as central cities by section 4,
provided each is at least one-third as large as the largest
central city; and (3) The names of other central cities (up
to the maximum of two additional names) if local opinion
supports the resulting title. B. An area title that includes
the names of more than one city begins with the name of
the largest city and lists the other cities in order of their
population according to the most recent national census.
6
-------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The largest central city included in an existing metropolitan
area title will not be resequenced in or displaced from that title
until both its population and the number of persons working
within its limits are exceeded by those of another city qualifying
for the area title.
C. In addition to city names, the title contains the name of
each State in which the MSA is located. Standards for Primary
and Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs and
CMSAs). Sections 8 through 10 apply to Level A metropolitan
statistical areas outside New England. Section 8. Qualifications
for Designation of Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs)
Within a Level A MSA: A. Any county or group of counties that
was designated an SMSA on January 1, 1980, will be designated
a PMSA, unless local opinion does not support its continued
separate designation for statistical purposes. B. Any additional
county/counties for which local opinion strongly supports
separate designation will be considered for identification as a
PMSA, provided one county is included that has: (1) At least
100,000 population; (2) At least 60 percent of its population
urban; (3) Less than 35 percent of its resident workers working
outside the county; and (4) Less than 2,500 population of the
largest central city of the Level A MSA. C. A set of two or more
contiguous counties for which local opinion strongly supports
separate designation, and that may include a county or counties
that also could qualify as a PMSA under section 8B, also will be
considered for designation as a PMSA, provided: (1) Each county
meets requirements (1), (2), and (4) of section 8B, and has less
than 50 percent of its resident workers working outside the
county; (2) Each county in the set has a commuting interchange
of at least 20 percent with the other counties in the set; and
(3) The set of two or more contiguous counties has less than
35 percent of its resident workers working outside its area.
D. Each county in the interim Level A MSA, not included within a
central core under sections 8A through C, is assigned to the
contiguous PMSA to whose central core commuting is greatest,
provided this commuting is: (1) At least 15 percent of the
county's resident workers; (2) At least 5 percentage points
higher than the commuting flow to any other PMSA central
core that exceeds 15 percent; and (3) Larger than the flow
to the county containing the Level A MSA's largest central city.
E. If a county has qualifying commuting ties to two or more
PMSA central cores and the relevant values are within 5 percentage
points of each other, local opinion is considered before the county
is assigned to any PMSA. F. The interim PMSA definitions resulting
from these procedures (including possible alternative definitions,
where appropriate) are submitted to local opinion. Final definitions
of PMSAs are made based on these standards, and a review of
local opinion.
G. If any primary metropolitan statistical area or areas have
been recognized under sections 8 A through F, the balance
of the Level A metropolitan statistical area, which includes
its largest central city, also is recognized as a primary metropolitan
statistical area.
7
\7\ If section 8G would result in the balance of the Level A
metropolitan statistical area including a noncontiguous county,
this county will be added to the contiguous primary metropolitan
statistical area to which the county has the greatest commuting.
Section 9. Levels and Titles of Primary Metropolitan Statistical
Areas A. PMSAs are categorized in one of four levels according
to total population, following the standards of Section 6A.
B. PMSAs are titled in either of two ways: (1) Using the names of
up to three cities in the primary metropolitan statistical area
that
have qualified as central cities of the Level A MSA under section
4,
following the standards of section 7 for selection and sequencing;
or (2) Using the names of up to three counties in the PMSA,
sequenced in order from largest to smallest population.
C. Local opinion on the most appropriate title will be considered.
[[Page 70559]] Section 10. Designation and Titles of Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas A. A Level A metropolitan statistical
area in which two or more primary metropolitan statistical areas
are identified by section 8 is designated a consolidated
metropolitan statistical area. If no primary metropolitan statistical
areas are defined, the Level A area remains a metropolitan statistical
area, and is titled according to section 7.
B. Consolidated metropolitan statistical areas are titled according
to the following guidelines. Local opinion is always sought before
determining the title of a consolidated metropolitan statistical
area.
(1) The title of each area includes up to three names, the first
of which is always the name of the largest central city in the area.
A change in the first-named city in the title will not be made until
both its population and the number of persons working within its
limits are exceeded by the those of another city in the
consolidated area.
(2) The preferred basis for determining the two remaining names
is:
(a) The first city (or county) name that appears in the title of
the
remaining primary metropolitan statistical area with the largest
total
population; and (b) The first city (or county) name that appears
in
the title of the primary metropolitan statistical area with the
next
largest total population. (3) A regional designation may be
substituted for the second and/or third names in the title if there
is strong local support and the proposed designation is unambiguous
and suitable for inclusion in a national standard. Standards for
New
England In the six New England States of Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, the
cities and towns are administratively more important than the
counties, and a wide range of data is compiled locally for these
entities. Therefore, the cities and towns are the units used to
define metropolitan areas in these States. The New England
standards are based primarily on population density and
commuting. As a basis for measuring commuting, a central
core is first defined for each New England urbanized area. In
New England, there is an alternative county-based definition
of MSAs known as the New England County Metropolitan
Areas (NECMAs) (see Part IV). Section 11. New England
Central Cores A central core is determined in each New
England urbanized area through the definition of two zones.
A. Zone A comprises: (1) The largest city in the urbanized
area; (2) Each additional place in the urbanized area or in a
contiguous urbanized area that qualifies as a central city
under section 4, provided at least 15 percent of its resident
employed workers work in the largest city in the urbanized area;
8
\8\ Also accepted as meeting this commuting requirement are:
(a) The number of persons working in the subject city or town
who live in the specified city or area is equal to at least 15
percent of the employed workers living in the subject city or
town; or (b) The sum of the number of workers commuting
to and from the specified city or area is equal to at least 20
percent of the employed workers living in the subject city
or town.
--------------------------------------------------------
(3) Each additional city or town at least 50 percent of whose
population lives in the urbanized area or a contiguous urbanized
area, provided at least 15 percent of its resident employed
workers work in the largest city in the urbanized area plus
any additional central cities qualified by section 11A(2).
8
B. Zone B comprises each city or town that has: (1) At least
50 percent of its population living in the urbanized area or in
a contiguous urbanized area; and (2) At least 15 percent of
its resident employed workers working in Zone A.
8 C.
The
central core comprises Zone A, Zone B, and any city or town
that is physically surrounded by Zones A or B, except that
cities or towns that are not contiguous with the main portion
of the central core are not included. D. If a city or town
qualifies under sections 11A through C for more than one
central core, it is assigned to the core to which commuting
is greatest, unless the relevant commuting percentages are
within 5 points of each other, in which case local opinion as
to the most appropriate assignment also is considered.
Section 12. Outlying Cities and Towns A. A city or town
contiguous to a central core as defined by section 11 is
included in its metropolitan statistical area if: (1) It has a
population density of at least 60 persons per square mile
and at least 30 percent of its resident employed workers
work in the central core; or (2) It has a population density
of at least 100 persons per square mile and at least 15 percent
of the employed workers living in the city or town work in the
central core.
9
\9\ This commuting requirement is also considered to have
been met if: (a) The number of persons working in the city
or town who live in the central core is equal to at least 15
percent of the employed workers living in the city or town.
(b) The sum of the number of workers commuting to and from
the central core is equal to at least 20 percent of the employed
workers living in the city or town.
B. If a city or town has the qualifying level of commuting to
two different central cores, it is assigned to the metropolitan
statistical area to which commuting is greatest, unless the
relevant commuting percentages are within 5 points of each
other, in which case local opinion as to the most appropriate
assignment also is considered. C. If a city or town has the
qualifying level of commuting to a central core, but has greater
commuting to a nonmetropolitan city or town, it will not be
assigned to any metropolitan statistical area unless the
relevant commuting percentages are within 5 points of each
other, in which case local opinion as to the most appropriate
assignment will also be considered. Section 13. Applicability of
Basic Standards to New England Metropolitan Statistical Areas A.
An area defined by sections 11 and 12 qualifies as a metropolitan
statistical area if it contains a city of at least 50,000 population
or has a total population of at least 75,000.
10
\10\ A New England metropolitan statistical area designated on
the basis of census data according to standards in effect at
the time of designation will not be disqualified on the basis of
lacking a total population of at least 75,000.
B. The area's central cities are determined according to the
standards of section 4. C. Two adjacent New England metropolitan
statistical areas are combined as a single metropolitan statistical
area provided the conditions of section 5A are met. Section 5B is
not applied in New England. D. Each New England metropolitan
statistical area defined by sections 13A through C is categorized
in one of the four levels specified in section 6A. Areas assigned
to Level B, C, or D are designated as metropolitan statistical areas.
Areas assigned to Level A are not finally designated until they
have
been reviewed under sections 14 and 15. E. New England
metropolitan statistical areas are titled according to the
standards of section 7. Section 14. Qualification for Designation
of Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) The following
are qualifications within a Level A metropolitan statistical area
in New England: A. Any group of cities and towns that was r
ecognized as a standard metropolitan statistical area on
January 1, 1980, will be recognized as a primary metropolitan
statistical area, unless local opinion does not support its
continued separate recognition for statistical purposes.
B. Any additional group of cities and/or towns for which
local opinion strongly supports separate recognition will be
considered for designation as a primary metropolitan statistical
area, if: (1) The total population of the group is at least 75,000;
(2) It includes at least one city with a population of 15,000 or
more, an employment/residence ratio of at least 0.75, and at
least 40 percent of its employed residents working in the city;
(3) It contains a core of communities, each of which has at least
50 percent of its population living in the urbanized area, and
which together have less than 40 percent of their resident
workers commuting to jobs outside the core; and (4) Each
community in the core also has: (a) At least 5 percent of its
resident workers working in the component core city identified
in section 14B(2), or at least 10 percent working in the
component core city or in places already qualified for this core;
this percentage also must be greater than that to any other
core or to the largest city of the Level A MSA; and (b) At
least 20 percent commuting interchange with the component
core city together with other cities and towns already
[[Page 70559]] qualified for the core; this interchange also
must be greater than with any other core or with the
largest city of the Level A MSA. C. Contiguous component
central cores may be merged as a single core if: (1) Section
14B would qualify the component core city of one core for
inclusion in the other core; and (2) There is substantial local
support for treating the two as a single core. D. Each city or
town in the interim Level A MSA not included in a core under
sections 14A through C is assigned to the contiguous PMSA
to whose core its commuting is greatest, if: (1) This commuting
is at least 15 percent of the place's resident workers; and (2)
The commuting interchange with the core is greater than with
the Level A MSA's largest city. E. If a city or town has qualifying
commuting ties to two or more cores and the relevant values
are within 5 percentage points of each other, local opinion is
considered before the place is assigned to any PMSA.
F. The interim PMSA definitions resulting from these procedures
(including possible alternative definitions, where appropriate)
are submitted to local opinion. Final definitions of PMSAs are
made based on these standards, and a review of local opinion.
G. If any primary metropolitan statistical area or areas have
been recognized under sections 14A through F, the balance
of the Level A metropolitan statistical area, which includes
its largest city, also is recognized as a primary metropolitan
statistical area.
11
\11\ If section 14G results in the balance of the Level A
metropolitan statistical area including a noncontiguous city
or town, this place will be added to the contiguous primary
metropolitan statistical area to which it has the greatest
commuting.
Section
15. Levels and Titles of Primary Metropolitan Statistical
Areas and Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New
England A. New England primary metropolitan statistical areas
are categorized in one of four levels according to total population,
following section 6A. B. New England primary metropolitan
statistical areas are titled using the names of up to three
cities in the primary area that have qualified as central
cities under section 4, following the standards of section
7 for selection and sequencing. C. Each Level A metropolitan
statistical area in New England in which primary metropolitan
statistical areas have been identified and supported by local
opinion (according to section 14) is designated a consolidated
metropolitan statistical area. Titles of New England consolidated
metropolitan statistical areas are determined following the
standards of section 10. A Level A metropolitan statistical
area in which no primary metropolitan statistical areas have
been defined is designated a metropolitan statistical area,
and is titled according to the rules of section 7. Section 16.
Intercensal Metropolitan Area Changes A. Definitions. (1) A
Census Count is a special census conducted by the U.S. Bureau
of the Census or a decennial census count updated to reflect
annexations and boundary changes since the census. (2) A
Census Bureau Estimate is a population estimate issued by
the U.S. Bureau of the Census for an intercensal year.
B. Qualification for Designation of a Metropolitan Statistical
Area. The qualifications for designation are as follows: (1) A
city reaches 50,000 population according to a Census Count
or Census Bureau Estimate. (2) A nonmetropolitan county
containing an urbanized area (UA) defined by the Bureau
of the Census at the most recent decennial census reaches
100,000 population according to a Census Count or Census
Bureau Estimate. If the potential metropolitan statistical area
centered on the urbanized area consists of two or more counties,
their total population must reach 100,000. In New England, the
cities and towns qualifying for the potential metropolitan statistical
area must reach a total population of 75,000. (3) The Census
Bureau defines a new urbanized area based on a Census Count
after the decennial census, and the potential metropolitan
statistical area containing the urbanized area meets the
population requirements of section 16.B(2). If a metropolitan
statistical area is qualified intercensally by a Census Bureau
Estimate, the qualification must be confirmed by the next
decennial census, or the area is disqualified. C. Addition of
Counties. Counties are not added to metropolitan statistical
areas between censuses, except as follows: (1) If a central
city located in a qualifier urbanized area extends into a
county not included in the metropolitan statistical area and
the population of the portion of the city in the county reaches
2,500 according to a Census Count, then the county qualifies
as an outlying county and is added to the metropolitan statistica
l area. (2) If a metropolitan statistical area qualified intercensally
under section 16B meets the requirements of section 5B for
combination with a metropolitan statistical area already
recognized, that combination may take place and thereby
alter the definition of the existing metropolitan statistical
area. D. Qualification for Designation of a Central City. A
Census Count serves to qualify a central city (section 4)
that has failed to qualify solely because its population was
smaller than required-- for example, it did not qualify as the
largest city of the metropolitan statistical area (section 4A)
, or was below 250,000 (4B), below 25,000 (4C), or below
15,000 (4D-F). If qualification requires comparison with the
population of another city, comparison is made with the latest
available Census Bureau Estimate or Census Count of the
population of the other city. E. Area Titles. The title of a
metropolitan statistical area, primary metropolitan statistical
area, or consolidated metropolitan statistical area may be
altered to include the name of a place that has newly
qualified as a central city on the basis described in section
16D, and that also meets the requirements of section 7. Such
a change is made by adding the new name at the end of the
existing title, but cannot be made if the title already contains
three names. Names in area titles are not resequenced except
on the basis of a decennial census. F. Other aspects of the
metropolitan area definitions are not subject to change between
censuses. Part IV. General Procedures and Definitions This part
specifies certain important guidelines regarding the data and
procedures used in implementing the standards. It also gives
definitions for "city," "urbanized area," and other key terms.
General Procedures Local Opinion. Local opinion is the reflection
of the views of the public on specified matters relating to the
application of the standards for defining metropolitan areas,
obtained through the appropriate congressional delegation, and
considered after the thresholds in the statistical standards have
been met. Members of the congressional delegation will be urged
to contact a wide range of groups in their communities, including
business or other leaders, Chambers of Commerce, planning
commissions, and local officials, to solicit comments on specified
issues. OMB will consider all pertinent local opinion material on
these matters in determining the final definition and title of the
area. After a decision has been made on a particular matter,
OMB will not again request local opinion on the same question
until after the next national census. Local opinion is considered
for: (a) Combining two adjacent metropolitan statistical areas
(of less than one million population) whose central cities are
within 25 miles of each other (section 5B). (b) Metropolitan
statistical area titles (section 7A(3)). (c) Identifying primary
metropolitan statistical areas within consolidated metropolitan
statistical areas (sections 8 and 14). (d) Titling primary
metropolitan statistical areas (sections 9 and 15). (e) Titling
consolidated metropolitan statistical areas after identification
of the largest city (sections 10 and 15). (f) Assignment of a
county or place that, based on commuting, is eligible for inclusion
in more than one area (sections 3B, 8E, 11D, 12B and 12C, and
14E). New England County Metropolitan Areas (NECMAs). The
New England County Metropolitan Areas (NECMAs) provide an
alternative to the official city-and-town-based metropolitan
statistical areas in that region for the convenience of data users
who desire a county-defined set of areas. The NECMA for a
metropolitan statistical area includes: 1. The county containing
the first-named city in the metropolitan statistical area title.
In
some cases, this county will contain the [[Page 70560]] first-named
city of one or more additional metropolitan statistical areas.
2. Each other county which has at least half of its population in
the metropolitan statistical area(s) whose first-named cities are
in the county identified in step 1. The NECMA for a consolidated
metropolitan
statistical area also is defined by the above rules,
except that the New England portion of the consolidated
metropolitan statistical area which includes New York City is
used as the basis for defining a separate NECMA. No NECMAs
are defined for individual primary metropolitan statistical areas.
The central cities of a NECMA are those cities in the NECMA that
qualify as central cities of a metropolitan statistical area or
consolidated metropolitan statistical area; some central cities
may
not be included in any NECMA title. The title of the NECMA includes
each city in the NECMA that is the first-named title city of a
metropolitan area, in descending order of metropolitan statistical
area (or primary metropolitan statistical area) total population.
Other
cities that appear in metropolitan area titles are included only
if the
resulting NECMA title would consist of no more than three names.
Levels for NECMAs are determined following section 6A of the
official metropolitan area standards. Percentages, Densities,
and Ratios. Percentages and densities are computed to the
nearest tenth (one decimal); ratios are computed to the
nearest one hundredth (two decimals); and comparisons between
them are made on that basis. Populations. In general, the population
data required by the standards are taken from the most recent
national census. However, in certain situations either (1) the results
of a special census taken by the Bureau of the Census, or (2) a
population estimate published by the Bureau of the Census may
be used to meet the requirements of the standards (section 16).
Review of Cutoffs and Values. OMB has promulgated these
standards with the advice of the Federal Executive Committee
on Metropolitan Areas, following an open period of public
comment. After the 1990 decennial census data become
available, the Federal Executive Committee will review the
census data and their implications for the cutoffs and values
used in the standards, and will report to OMB the results of
its review. Definitions of Key Terms Central Core--The counties
(or cities and towns in New England) that are eligible for initial
delineation as primary metropolitan statistical areas because
they meet specified population and commuting criteria. City--The
term "city" includes: (a) Any place incorporated under the laws
of its State
as a city, village, borough (except in Alaska), or town (except
in
the New England States, New York, and Wisconsin). These comprise
the category of incorporated places recognized in Bureau of the
Census publications. (b) In Hawaii, any place recognized as a
census designated place by the Bureau of the Census in consultation
with the State government; in Puerto Rico, any place recognized
as
a zona urbana or a comunidad by the Bureau of the Census in
consultation with the Commonwealth government. (Hawaii and
Puerto Rico do not have legally defined cities corresponding to
those of most States.) (c) Any township in Michigan, Minnesota,
New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, and any town in the New England
States, New York, or Wisconsin, at least 90 percent of whose
population is classified by the Bureau of the Census as urban,
provided it does not contain any part of a dependent incorporated
place. Commuting Interchange--The commuting interchange
between two areas is the sum of the number of workers who
live in either of the areas but work in the other. County--For
purposes of the standards, the term "county" includes county
equivalents, such as parishes in Louisiana and boroughs and
census areas (formerly census divisions) in Alaska. Certain
States contain cities that are independent of any county; such
independent cities in Maryland, Missouri, and Nevada are treated
as county equivalents for purposes of the standards. In Virginia,
where most incorporated places of more than 15,000 are independent
of counties, the standards usually regard each such city as included
in the county from which it was originally formed, or primarily
formed.
In certain exceptional cases, the city itself is treated as a county
equivalent, as follows: (a) An independent city that has absorbed
its parent county (Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk,
Virginia Beach); and (b) An independent city associated with an
urbanized area other than the one with which its parent county
is primarily associated (for example, Colonial Heights). A county
included in a metropolitan area is either a central (section 2),
or
an outlying (section 3) county. An outlying county must be
contiguous with a central county or with an outlying county
that has already qualified for inclusion. Employment/Residence
Ratio--This ratio is computed by dividing the number of persons
working in the city by the number of resident workers with place
of work reported. (These items are taken from the most recent
national census.) For example, a city with an equal number of jobs
and working residents has an employment/residence ratio of 1.00.
Interim Area--An area that meets the requirements of sections 1
through 4, or sections 11 through 13, for metropolitan statistical
area qualification, which needs to be further examined to determine:
(1) if it qualifies for combination with any adjacent interim area,
(2) its final level, based on population; and (3) if the area has
1 million or more population, the identification of primary metropolitan
statistical areas, if any, and the preferences, expressed through
local opinion, for consolidated or individual identity. Largest
Central
City--The largest central city of a metropolitan area is the central
city with the greatest population at the time of the initial
metropolitan area designation. Once determined, the largest
central city will not be replaced until both its population and
the number of persons working within its limits are exceeded
by
those of another city in the area. Outcommuting--The number
(or percent) or workers living in a specified area, such as a city
or
a county, whose place of work is located outside that area. Qualifier
Urbanized Area--The qualifier urbanized area(s) for a metropolitan
statistical area are: 1. The urbanized area that resulted in
qualification under section 1B or the urbanized area containing
the city that resulted in qualification under section 1A. 2. Any
other urbanized area whose largest city is located in the same
county as the largest city of the urbanized area identified in
paragraph one above, or has a least 50 percent of its population
in that county. Secondary Noncontiguous Urbanized Area--An
additional urbanized area within a metropolitan statistical area
that has no common boundary of more than a mile with the main
urbanized area around which the metropolitan statistical area is
defined. Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area--The term used
from 1959 to 1983 to describe the statistical system of metropolitan
areas, and the areas as individually defined. It was preceded by
Standard Metropolitan Area (SMA) from 1950 to 1959, and superseded
by Metropolitan Statistical Area in 1983. That term was adopted
when
the current system formally recognizing consolidated metropolitan
statistical areas and their component primary metropolitan statistical
areas was put in place. The term Metropolitan Area (MA) is used
to
describe the system and the areas collectively, but the individual
areas will retain the MSA, CMSA, and PMSA nomenclature.
Urban--The Bureau of the Census classifies as urban: (a) The
population living in urbanized areas; plus (b) The population in
other incorporated or census designated places of at least 2,500
population at the most recent national census. Urbanized
Area--An area defined by the Bureau of the Census according
to specific criteria, designed to include the densely settled area
around a large place. The definition is based primarily on density
rather than governmental unit boundaries. An urbanized area
must have a total population of at least 50,000. (See qualifier
urbanized area and secondary noncontiguous urbanized area).
Appendix B--
OMB Memorandum M-94-22,
"Use of Metropolitan Area Definitions"
May 5, 1994 M-94-22
MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
FROM: Leon E. Panetta
SUBJECT: Use of Metropolitan Area Definitions
On December 28, 1992, the Office of Management and Budget issued
revised metropolitan area (MA) definitions to reflect shifts in
population and other demographic changes that had occurred during
the preceding decade. At
the time the revisions [[Page 70561]] were announced, we provided
guidance (OMB Bulletin 93-05) to Federal departments and agencies
concerning the use of MA definitions for statistical purposes. During
the past year, we have received a substantial number of letters
from
Members of Congress, local government officials, and others involved
with administering various Federal programs. For the most part,
their
correspondence has been related to nonstatistical uses of the MA
definitions in the allocation of Federal program funds. Their concerns
have highlighted the need to reiterate the purposes for which OMB
defines metropolitan areas and our advice with respect to other
uses
agencies may make of these definitions. The metropolitan area
classification provides a nationally consistent set of definitions
suitable for collecting, tabulating, and publishing Federal statistics.
The definitions of metropolitan areas are established and maintained
solely for statistical purposes. In periodically reviewing and revising
the MA definitions, OMB does not take into account or attempt to
anticipate any nonstatistical uses that may be made of the definitions,
nor will OMB modify the definitions to meet the requirements of
any
nonstatistical program. We recognize that some legislation specifies
the use of metropolitan areas for programmatic purposes, including
allocating Federal funds. For example, the Health Care Financing
Administration uses MAs to define labor market areas and gather
hospital wage data that are used in developing a hospital wage
index for the labor related portion of a hospital's standardized
Medicare payment. The Department of Housing and Urban
Development's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
program targets 70 percent of CDBG funds to "entitlement
communities" which include cities of 50,000 or more or central
cities of MAs. We will continue to work with the Congress to
clarify the foundations of the metropolitan area definitions and
the resultant, often unintended consequences of their use for
nonstatistical purposes. In cases where there is no statutory
requirement and an agency elects to use the MA definitions in
a nonstatistical program, it is the sponsoring agency's responsibility
to ensure that the definitions are appropriate for such use. When
an agency is publishing for comment a proposed regulation that
would use the MA definitions for a nonstatistical purpose, the
agency should seek public comment on the proposed use of the
MA definitions. I would appreciate your sharing this information
with others in your department or agency. Note: The latest
version of OMB Bulletin 93-05, referenced above, is OMB Bulletin
No. 98-06, issued on June 23, 1998. Appendix C--Summary of
the Conference on New Approaches to Defining Metropolitan
and Nonmetropolitan Areas This conference, held on November
29-30, 1995 in Bethesda, Maryland, constituted part of the
Office of Management and Budget's metropolitan area standards
review that is to be completed by spring 2000. The conference
provided an open forum for discussion of proposed alternative
approaches to defining metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas,
as well as discussion of the current metropolitan area standards.
Presentations of findings from four commissioned studies of
alternative approaches to defining areas were the centerpiece
of the conference. Papers from these studies were published in
Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas: New Approaches to
Geographical Definition, Population Division Working Paper No. 12,
Bureau of the Census. Conference Points of General Agreement
The Federal Government should define standard metropolitan and
nonmetropolitan areas. The metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas
defined should cover the entire territory of the United States and
better account for the full range of settlement patterns than do
the current, dichotomous metropolitan areas and nonmetropolitan
residual. Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas should be defined
according to the same set of rules for all parts of the country.
A
county-based set of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas is
necessary, but also there should be alternative, sub-county
unit-based areas. Familiar components of settlement--including
those represented by today's metropolitan area definitions--should
be in evidence in a new system. Conference Views on Major
Questions The conference explicitly addressed a list of major
questions that are fundamental to any set of areas defined by
the Federal Government. These same questions had been addressed
in the commissioned studies that were the centerpiece of the
conference. Presented here are summaries of the conference
discussions of these questions. What should be the basic geographic
units for defining areas? There was strong consensus that there
must be a county-based set of defined areas for reasons of data
availability, comparability, and familiarity, but also there were
comments favoring additional sets of areas based on sub-county
units for greater precision and special purposes. There were
suggestions that multiple sets of areas should be provided,
along with documentation on appropriate uses of those sets.
There also were suggestions that the Census Bureau and the
Office of Management and Budget should facilitate "do-it-yourself"
definitions by making readily available as much small-area data
as
possible. What should be the criteria for aggregating the basic
units?
Commuting data as obtained from the decennial census were
regarded as the best measure for defining areas by most individuals
addressing this question. Other data-including electronic media
and
newspaper market penetration data, local traffic study data, and
wholesale distribution data-are available and usable for specific
purposes. Population and housing density data are useful for some
purposes within the definition task. Employment density also
received mention. Should there be hierarchies or multiple sets
of areas? As already noted, there were comments favoring use
of different geographic units to define sets of areas that would
be available for different purposes. There also was discussion--
without any clear outcome--of classifying entities within a
nationwide metropolitan/ nonmetropolitan definition framework
into such categories as inner city and suburban. What kinds of
areas should receive official recognition? Inner city, suburban,
and exurban all received mention as areas that should be
recognized within metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas,
but this issue was not fully addressed. Should a new system
provide nationwide territorial coverage? There was strong
agreement that the areas defined should cover the Nation's
entire territory. Should the definition process follow strictly
statistical rules or allow a role for local opinion? There were
reservations regarding the usefulness of local opinion in a
program of standard statistical areas, but the majority view
expressed was that soliciting local opinion can serve a useful
purpose, particularly in providing room for accommodation on
some issues of local significance without threatening the integrity
of the national system. The incorporation of local opinion, two
individuals noted, should come early in the definition process.
What should be the frequency of updating? There was little
discussion of this topic, as the frequency of updating depends
heavily on decisions concerning basic geographic units, criteria
for aggregation, and data availability. Should the Federal
Government define metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas?
The overall view was strongly in favor of metropolitan and
nonmetropolitan areas being defined, although a few individuals
seemed to support the idea of ceasing the Federal Government's
activity in this arena altogether. Areas defined by the Federal
Government offer to a wide community of data users the
advantage of direct data comparability, i.e., data from different
sources for areas with the same boundaries. This advantage
may rise in importance in the face of programs shifting to states.
There also were those who argued in favor of a standard set of
areas on the grounds that such areas were useful for non-statistical
program administration. Others noted that the absence of a standard
set of areas probably would produce competing sets of areas from
different Federal agencies. [FR Doc. 98-33676 Filed 12-18-98;
8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3110-01-P