The general concept of a metropolitan statistical area or micropolitan statistical area is that of a core area containing a substantial population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core. The term “core based statistical area” (CBSA) became effective in 2000 and refers collectively to metropolitan statistical areas and micropolitan statistical areas.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas are CBSAs 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 or equivalent entities containing the core, plus adjacent outlying counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the central county through commuting.
Micropolitan Statistical Areas are CBSAs 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 or equivalent entities containing the core, plus adjacent outlying counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the central county as measured through commuting.
Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA) National Shapefile Record Layout (Current) | |||
tl_year_us_cbsa.shp | |||
Field | Length | Type | Description |
CSAFP | 3 | String | Current combined statistical area code, if applicable |
CBSAFP | 5 | String | Current metropolitan statistical area/micropolitan statistical area code |
GEOID | 5 | String | Metropolitan statistical area/micropolitan statistical area identifier, metropolitan statistical area/micropolitan statistical area code |
NAME | 100 | String | Current metropolitan statistical area/micropolitan statistical area name |
NAMELSAD | 100 | String | Current name and the translated legal/statistical area description for metropolitan statistical area/micropolitan statistical area |
LSAD | 2 | String | Current legal/statistical area description code for metropolitan statistical area/micropolitan statistical area |
MEMI | 1 | String | Current metropolitan/micropolitan status indicator |
MTFCC | 5 | String | MAF/TIGER feature class code (G3110) |
ALAND | 14 | Number | Current land area |
AWATER | 14 | Number | Current water area |
INTPTLAT | 11 | String | Current latitude of the internal point |
INTPTLON | 12 | String | Current longitude of the internal point |