Micropolitan Statistical Area

See also: List of United States micropolitan statistical areas

Population tables of U.S. cities

Cities
Population
Area Density Ethnic identity Income Spanish speakers
Urban areas
Populous cities and metropolitan areas
Metropolitan Areas
574 Primary Statistical Areas
169 Combined Statistical Areas
929 Core Based Statistical Areas
388 Metropolitan Statistical Areas
541 Micropolitan Statistical Areas
Megaregions
See also North American metro areas World cities World agglomerations

United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas (µSA, where the initial Greek letter mu represents "micro-"), as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), are urban areas in the United States based around an urban cluster (urban area) with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003. Like the better-known metropolitan area, a micropolitan area is a geographic entity used for statistical purposes based on counties and county-equivalents. The OMB has identified 576 micropolitan areas in the United States.

The term "micropolitan" was created by author G. Scott Thomas for a 1989 article in American Demographics magazine, and was expanded in his 1990 book, The Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities. It gained currency in the 1990s to describe growing population centers in the United States that are removed from larger cities, in some cases by 100 miles (160 km) or more. Lower land and labor costs have led some micropolitan areas to develop many housing subdivisions and suburban cultures similar to those found in larger metropolitan areas.^{[citation needed]}

Micropolitan cities do not have the economic or political importance of large cities, but are nevertheless significant centers of population and production, drawing workers and shoppers from a wide local area. Because the designation is based on the core town's population and not on that of the whole area, some micropolitan areas are actually larger than some metropolitan areas. The largest of the areas, centered around Torrington, Connecticut, had a population in excess of 180,000 in 2000; Torrington's population in that year's census was only 35,202.^{[citation needed]}

Map

An enlargeable map of the 955 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) of the United States and Puerto Rico. The 374 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are shown in medium green. The 581 Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs) are shown in light green.

See also

• United States of America
  • Outline of the United States
  • Index of United States-related articles
  • Book:United States
• Demographics of the United States
  • United States Census Bureau
    • List of U.S. states and territories by population
    • List of metropolitan areas of the United States
    • List of United States cities by population
    • List of United States counties and county-equivalents
  • United States Office of Management and Budget
    • The OMB has defined 1098 statistical areas comprising 388 MSAs, 541 μSAs, and 169 CSAs
      • Primary statistical area – List of the 574 PSAs
        • Combined Statistical Area – List of the 169 CSAs
        • Core Based Statistical Area – List of the 929 CBSAs
          • Metropolitan Statistical Area – List of the 388 MSAs
          • Micropolitan Statistical Area – List of the 541 μSAs

External links

• 2010 United States Census
• USCB population estimates
• United States Office of Management and Budget
• Nasser, Haya El (June 27, 2004). "Small-town USA goes 'micropolitan'". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
• Nasser, Haya El (November 22, 2004). "For political trends, think micropolitan". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
• McCarthy, Michael J. (August 23, 2004). "Main Street America Gets a New Moniker". Real Estate Journal/Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on Jul 27, 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
• Thomas, G. Scott (July 21, 2008). "Dreamtowns that offer refuge from big cities and congested suburbs". bizjournals. Retrieved 2008-07-23.