Population tables of U.S. cities |
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Populous cities and metropolitan areas |
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In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the region. [1] [2] Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be and are not legal administrative divisions like counties or separate entities such as states. As a result, sometimes the precise definition of a given metropolitan area will vary between sources. The statistical criteria for a standard metropolitan area were defined in 1949 and redefined as a metropolitan statistical area in 1983. [3]
Due to suburbanization, the typical metropolitan area is polycentric rather than being centered around a large historic core city such as New York City or Chicago. [4] Some metropolitan areas include more than one large historic core city; examples include the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News (Hampton Roads), Riverside–San Bernardino (Inland Empire), and Minneapolis–Saint Paul (Twin Cities).
MSAs are defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is part of the Executive Office of the President, and are used by the U.S. Census Bureau and other U.S. federal government agencies for statistical purposes. [5]
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines a set of core based statistical areas (CBSAs) throughout the country, which are composed of counties and county equivalents. [7]
CBSAs are delineated on the basis of a central contiguous area of relatively high population density, known as an urban area. The counties containing the core urban area are known as the "central counties" of the CBSA; these are defined as having at least 50% of their population living in urban areas of at least 10,000 in population. [8] Additional surrounding counties, known as "outlying counties", can be included in the CBSA if these counties have strong social and economic ties to the central county or counties as measured by commuting and employment. Outlying counties are included in the CBSA if 25% of the workers living in the county work in the central county or counties, or if 25% of the employment in the county is held by workers who live in the central county or counties.
Adjacent CBSAs are merged into a single CBSA when the central county or counties of one CBSA qualify as an outlying county or counties to the other CBSAs. [8] One or more CBSAs may be grouped together or combined to form a larger statistical entity known as a combined statistical area (CSA) when the employment interchange measure (EIM) reaches 15% or more.
CBSAs are subdivided into MSAs (formed around urban areas of at least 50,000 in population) and micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs), which are CBSAs built around an urban area of at least 10,000 in population but less than 50,000 in population. Some metropolitan areas may include multiple cities below 50,000 people, but combined have over 50,000 people. [8] Previous terms that are no longer used to describe these regions include "standard metropolitan statistical area" (SMSA) and "primary metropolitan statistical area" (PMSA). [9]
On January 19, 2021, OMB submitted a regulation for public comment that would increase the minimum population needed for an urban area population to be a metropolitan statistical area to be increased from 50,000 to 100,000. [10] It ultimately decided to keep the minimum at 50,000 for the 2020 cycle. [11]
On July 21, 2023, the Office of Management and Budget released revised delineations of the various CBSAs in the United States. [6]
The Census Bureau created the metropolitan district for the 1910 census as a standardized classification for large urban centers and their surrounding areas. The original threshold for a metropolitan district was 200,000, but was lowered to 100,000 in 1930 and 50,000 in 1940. [12] The metropolitan districts were replaced by standard metropolitan areas (SMAs) in the 1950 census, which were defined by the Bureau of the Budget (now the Office of Management and Budget) and later renamed to standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMAs) in 1959. [12] [13] The modern metropolitan statistical area was created in 1983 amid a large increase in the number of eligible markets, which grew from 172 in 1950 to 288 in 1980; [12] [14] the core based statistical area (CBSA) was introduced in 2000 and defined in 2003 with a minimum population of 10,000 required for micropolitan areas and 50,000 for urban areas. [12] [13]
The 387 MSAs in the United States, including those in all 50 states and the national capital of Washington, D.C. are ranked, including:
This sortable table lists the six metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) of Puerto Rico including:
Rank | Metropolitan statistical area | 2023 estimate | 2020 census | Change | Encompassing combined statistical area |
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1 | San Juan–Bayamón–Caguas, PR MSA | 2,035,733 | 2,081,265 | −2.19% | San Juan–Bayamón, PR Combined Statistical Area |
2 | Ponce, PR MSA | 266,237 | 278,477 | −4.40% | Ponce–Coamo, PR Combined Statistical Area |
3 | Aguadilla, PR MSA | 250,435 | 253,768 | −1.31% | Mayagüez–Aguadilla, PR Combined Statistical Area |
4 | Mayagüez, PR MSA | 207,877 | 213,831 | −2.78% | Mayagüez–Aguadilla, PR Combined Statistical Area |
5 | Arecibo, PR MSA | 179,470 | 182,705 | −1.77% | San Juan–Bayamón, PR Combined Statistical Area |
6 | Guayama, PR MSA | 65,190 | 68,442 | −4.75% | San Juan–Bayamón, PR Combined Statistical Area |
United States micropolitan statistical areas, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), are labor market and statistical areas in the United States centered on an urban cluster with a population of at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 people. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003. Like the better-known metropolitan statistical areas, a micropolitan area is a geographic entity used for statistical purposes based on counties and county equivalents. On July 21, 2023, the Office of Management and Budget released revised delineations of the various CBSAs in the United States, which recognized 542 micropolitan areas in the United States, four of which are in Puerto Rico.
Combined statistical area (CSA) is a United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) term for a combination of adjacent metropolitan (MSA) and micropolitan statistical areas (μSA) across the 50 U.S. states and the territory of Puerto Rico that can demonstrate economic or social linkage. CSAs were first designated in 2003. OMB defines a CSA by various combinations of adjacent metropolitan and micropolitan areas with economic ties measured by commuting patterns. CSAs retain their own designations as metropolitan or micropolitan statistical areas in their respective larger combined statistical areas.
Pennsylvania has 14 U.S. Census Bureau-designated metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and four combined statistical areas (CSAs). As of 2020, Philadelphia, the seventh-largest United States metropolitan area, is the state's largest metropolitan area followed by Pittsburgh and Allentown.
The U.S. State of Illinois currently has 47 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated 14 combined statistical areas, 12 metropolitan statistical areas, and 21 micropolitan statistical areas in Illinois. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA, comprising the area around Illinois' largest city, Chicago.
The U.S. State of Connecticut currently has nine statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated two combined statistical areas, five metropolitan statistical areas, and two micropolitan statistical areas in Connecticut. As of 2023, the largest of these in the state is the New Haven-Hartford-Waterbury, CT CSA, encompassing the entire state outside of the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT MSA in the southwest.
The U.S. State of Arizona currently has 13 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated two combined statistical areas, seven metropolitan statistical areas, and four micropolitan statistical areas in Arizona. As of 2023, the most populous of these is the Phoenix-Mesa, AZ Combined Statistical Area, encompassing the area around Arizona's capital and largest city, Phoenix.
The U.S. State of Alaska currently has four statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated two metropolitan statistical areas and two micropolitan statistical areas in Alaska. The most populous of these statistical areas is the Anchorage, AK Metropolitan Statistical Area, centered on the state's largest city of Anchorage.
The U.S. State of Hawaiʻi currently has four statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated two metropolitan statistical areas and two micropolitan statistical areas in Hawaiʻi. As of 2023, the most populous of these is the Urban Honolulu, HI MSA, anchored by Hawaiʻi's capital and largest city, Honolulu, on the island of Oahu.
The U.S. State of Montana currently has seven statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated five metropolitan statistical areas and two micropolitan statistical areas in Montana. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Billings, MT MSA, comprising the area surrounding Montana's largest city of Billings.
The U.S. State of California currently has 42 statistical areas that have been delineated by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The U.S. State of Alabama currently has 35 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The U.S. State of Arkansas currently has 25 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated four combined statistical areas, seven metropolitan statistical areas, and 14 micropolitan statistical areas in Arkansas. As of 2023, the most populous statistical area in the state is Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA, comprising the metro area of its capital and largest city, Little Rock.
The U.S. State of Delaware currently has four statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated one combined statistical area, two metropolitan statistical areas, and one micropolitan statistical area in Delaware. As of 2023, the largest statistical area in the state is the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area, which includes Delaware's largest city, Wilmington.
The United States District of Columbia(Washington, D.C.) is the primary city of two statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA and the more extensive Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA.
The U.S. State of Florida currently has 35 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated 7 combined statistical areas, 22 metropolitan statistical areas, and 6 micropolitan statistical areas in Florida. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL CSA, inclusive of the southeastern region of the state centered on Miami.
The U.S. State of Virginia currently has 19 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated four combined statistical areas, 11 metropolitan statistical areas, and four micropolitan statistical areas in Virginia. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA, comprising Washington, D.C. and its suburbs.
The U.S. State of Maine currently has five statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated one combined statistical area, three metropolitan statistical areas, and one micropolitan statistical area in Maine. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland, ME CSA, comprising the region around Maine's largest city of Portland.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico currently has 13 statistical areas that have been delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated three combined statistical areas, six metropolitan statistical areas, and four micropolitan statistical areas in Puerto Rico. As of 2023, the largest of these is the San Juan-Bayamón, PR CSA, comprising the area around the municipality of San Juan, the capital and largest city of Puerto Rico.
Largest metropolitan areas in the United States | |||||||||
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Rank | Name | Region | Pop. | Rank | Name | Region | Pop. | ||
New York Los Angeles | 1 | New York | Northeast | 19,498,249 | 11 | Boston | Northeast | 4,919,179 | Chicago Dallas–Fort Worth |
2 | Los Angeles | West | 12,799,100 | 12 | Riverside–San Bernardino | West | 4,688,053 | ||
3 | Chicago | Midwest | 9,262,825 | 13 | San Francisco | West | 4,566,961 | ||
4 | Dallas–Fort Worth | South | 8,100,037 | 14 | Detroit | Midwest | 4,342,304 | ||
5 | Houston | South | 7,510,253 | 15 | Seattle | West | 4,044,837 | ||
6 | Atlanta | South | 6,307,261 | 16 | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | Midwest | 3,712,020 | ||
7 | Washington, D.C. | South | 6,304,975 | 17 | Tampa–St. Petersburg | South | 3,342,963 | ||
8 | Philadelphia | Northeast | 6,246,160 | 18 | San Diego | West | 3,269,973 | ||
9 | Miami | South | 6,183,199 | 19 | Denver | West | 3,005,131 | ||
10 | Phoenix | West | 5,070,110 | 20 | Baltimore | South | 2,834,316 |