Metropolitan Areas
Cartographic Boundary Files Descriptions and Metadata
Geographic Area Descriptions | Metadata
Boundary File Titles
|
1999 Metropolitan Areas & Central Cities
|
|
1998
Metropolitan Areas |
|
1996
Metropolitan Areas |
|
1990 Metropolitan Areas |
|
2000 New England County Metropolitan
Areas |
Geographic Area Description
Metropolitan Area | Metropolitan
Statistical Area | Consolidated and Primary Metropolitan
Statistical Area | Central City | Metropolitan
Area Title and Code | New England County Metropolitan
Area
Metropolitan Area
The general concept of
a metropolitan area (MA) is one of a large population nucleus, together
with adjacent communities that have a high degree of economic and social
integration with that nucleus. Some MAs are defined around two or more
nuclei.
The MAs and the central
cities within an MA are designated and defined by the federal Office
of Management and Budget (OMB), following a set of official standards
that are published in a Federal Register Notice. These standards were
developed by the interagency Federal Executive Committee on Metropolitan
Areas, with the aim of producing definitions that are as consistent
as possible for all MAs nationwide.
Each MA must contain either
a place with a minimum population of 50,000 or a U.S. Census Bureau-defined
urbanized area and a total MA population of at least 100,000 (75,000
in New England). An MA contains one or more central counties. An MA
also may include one or more outlying counties that have close economic
and social relationships with the central county. An outlying county
must have a specified level of commuting to the central counties and
also must meet certain standards regarding metropolitan character, such
as population density, urban population, and population growth. In New
England, MAs consist of groupings of cities and towns rather than whole
counties.
The territory, population,
and housing units in MAs are referred to as "metropolitan." The metropolitan
category is subdivided into "inside central city" and "outside central
city." The territory, population, and housing units located outside
territory designated "metropolitan" are referred to as "nonmetropolitan."
The metropolitan and nonmetropolitan classification cuts across the
other hierarchies; for example, generally there are both urban and rural
territory within both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
To meet the needs of various
users, the standards provide for a flexible structure of metropolitan
definitions that classify each MA either as a metropolitan statistical
area (MSA) or as a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA)
divided into primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs). In New
England, there also is an alternative county-based definition of MSAs
known as the New England County Metropolitan Areas (NECMAs). Documentation
of the MA standards and how they are applied is available from the Population
Distribution Branch, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington,
DC 20233-8800, telephone (301) 457-2419.
Return
to Top | Geographic Area Descriptions | Metadata
Metropolitan Statistical
Area
Metropolitan statistical
areas (MSAs) are metropolitan areas (MAs) that are not closely associated
with other MAs. These areas typically are surrounded by nonmetropolitan
counties (county subdivisions in New England).
Return
to Top | Geographic Area Descriptions | Metadata
Consolidated and Primary
Metropolitan Statistical Area
If an area that qualifies
as a metropolitan area (MA) has more than one million people, two or
more primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs) may be defined within
it. Each PMSA consists of a large urbanized county or cluster of counties
(cities and towns in New England) that demonstrate very strong internal
economic and social links, in addition to close ties to other portions
of the larger area. When PMSAs are established, the larger MA of which
they are component parts is designated a consolidated metropolitan statistical
area (CMSA). CMSAs and PMSAs are established only where local governments
favor such designations for a large MA.
Return
to Top | Geographic Area Descriptions | Metadata
Central City
In each metropolitan statistical
area and consolidated metropolitan statistical area, the largest place
and, in some cases, additional places are designated as "central cities"
under the official standards. A few primary metropolitan statistical
areas do not have central cities. The largest central city and, in some
cases, up to two additional central cities, are included in the title
of the metropolitan area (MA); there also are central cities that are
not included in an MA title. An MA central city does not include any
part of that place that extends outside the MA boundary.
Return
to Top | Geographic Area Descriptions | Metadata
Metropolitan Area Title
and Code
The title of a metropolitan
statistical area (MSA) contains the name of its largest central city
and up to two additional place names, provided that the additional places
meet specified levels of population, employment, and commuting. Generally,
a place with a population of 250,000 or more is in the title, regardless
of other criteria.
The title of a primary
metropolitan statistical area (PMSA) may contain up to three place names,
as determined above, or up to three county names, sequenced in order
of population size, from largest to smallest. A consolidated metropolitan
statistical area (CMSA) title also may include up to three names, the
first of which generally is the most populous central city in the area.
The second name may be the first city or county name in the most populous
remaining PMSA; the third name may be the first city or county name
in the next most populous PMSA. A regional designation may be substituted
for the second and/or third names in a CMSA title if local opinion supports
such a designation and the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
deems it to be unambiguous and suitable.
The titles for all metropolitan
areas (MAs) also contain the U.S. Postal Service's abbreviation for
the name of each state in which the MA is located. Each MA is assigned
a four-digit Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code, in
alphabetical order nationwide. If the fourth digit of the code is "2,"
it identifies a CMSA. Additionally, there is a separate set of two-digit
FIPS codes for CMSAs, also assigned alphabetically.
Return
to Top | Geographic Area Descriptions | Metadata
New England County Metropolitan Area
New England county metropolitan
areas (NECMAs) are defined as a county-based alternative to the city-
and town-based New England metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and
consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs). The NECMA defined
for an MSA or a CMSA includes:
The county containing
the first-named city in that MSA/CMSA title (this county may include
the first-named cities of other MSAs/CMSAs as well), and
Each additional county
having at least half its population in the MSAs/CMSAs whose first-named
cities are in the previously identified county. NECMAs are not identified
for individual primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs).
Central cities of a NECMA
are those places in the NECMA that qualify as central cities of an MSA
or a CMSA. NECMA titles derive from the names of these central cities.
Each NECMA is assigned a four-digit Federal Information Processing Standards
(FIPS) code.
Return
to Top | Geographic Area Descriptions | Metadata
Metadata
1999 MSAs
| 1999 CMSAs | 1999
PMSAs | 2000 Central Cities | 1998
CMSAs | 1998 CMSAs & MSAs |
1998 PMSAs & MSAs | 1996
CMSAs | 1996 CMSAs & MSAs |
1996 PMSAs & MSAs | 1990
MSAs | 1990
CMSAs | 1990
PMSAs | 2000
NECMAs
Title |
1999 Metropolitan
Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1999.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1999 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD83 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further information on the
Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE. |
Title |
1999 Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1999.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1999 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD83 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further information on the
Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE. |
Title |
1999 Primary Metropolitan
Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1999.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1999 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD83 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
2000 Central Cities |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1999.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 2000 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD83 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1998 Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1998.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1998 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD83 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1998 Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas & Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1998.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1998 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD83 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1998 Primary Metropolitan
Statistical Areas & Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1998.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1998 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD83 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1996 Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1996.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1996 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD27 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1996 Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas & Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1996.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1996 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD27 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1996 Primary Metropolitan
Statistical Areas & Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1996.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1996 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD27 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1990 Metropolitan
Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1990.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1990 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD27 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1990 Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1990.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1990 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD27 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
1990 Primary Metropolitan
Statistical Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ma1990.html |
Geography |
National File |
Vintage |
January 1, 1990 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD27 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|
Title |
2000 New England
County Metropolitan Areas |
Location |
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/ne2000.html |
Geography |
New England States
File |
Vintage |
January 1, 2000 |
Formats |
ARC/INFO Export
(.e00), Arcview Shapefile, and ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII) |
Projection |
Geographic (Lat/Lon) |
Datum |
NAD83 |
Distributor |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
Originator |
Department of
Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division |
For further
information on the Cartographic Boundary Files click HERE.
|