CBSA Metropolitan Areas
Contents
Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are a set of geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal statistical agencies to collect, tabulate, and publish federal statistics. The term "Core-Based Statistical Area" is a collective term that encompasses both Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Micropolitan Statistical Areas.
Here's a breakdown of the components:
| • | Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA): A CBSA is an area containing a core urban area with a minimum population of 10,000, along with adjacent communities that have a high degree of social and economic integration with that core. This integration is measured primarily through commuting ties. |
| • | Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA): An MSA is a CBSA that has at least one urban area with a population of 50,000 or more. They can include one or more counties and their associated territories. |
| • | Micropolitan Statistical Area (MISA): A MISA is a CBSA that has at least one urban area with a population of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000. Like MSAs, they consist of a county or counties and adjacent areas with strong commuting ties to the core. |
Key characteristics of CBSAs:
| • | Statistical Purpose: They are delineated "solely for statistical purposes" to provide a nationally consistent framework for data collection and analysis. |
| • | Delineation: The OMB delineates CBSAs using data from the most recent decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS) to measure population and commuting patterns. |
| • | Components: A CBSA consists of one or more counties (or equivalent entities) that contain the core urban area, plus any adjacent counties that are highly integrated with it. |
| • | Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs): Two or more adjacent CBSAs that have a strong degree of economic and social interchange can be grouped together to form a Combined Statistical Area. |
The classification of an area as a metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area provides a standardized way to compare demographic, social, and economic conditions across different regions of the country.
Core-Based Metropolitan Statistical Areas Delineations