What is a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)?
Q: What is a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)?
A: A Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a large metropolitan area of the United States as defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is an urban area with a lot of people, made up of counties and sometimes county equivalents.
Q: What was the earlier version of MSA?
A: The earlier version of MSA was called Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA).
Q: How are MSAs used?
A: MSAs are used for official purposes.
Q: How are New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) different from MSAs?
A: NECTAs are similar to MSAs but they are based on town units instead of counties because towns have more importance in New England than counties do.
Q: Are MSA boundaries extended into Canada or Mexico?
A: No, MSA boundaries do not stretch into Canada or Mexico which can affect the population estimates for some metro areas.
Q: What is a “Metropolitan Division”?
A: A “Metropolitan Division” is an additional classification that refers to a county or group of counties that form a distinct employment area within a metropolitan statistical area with at least 2.5 million people. It is often considered to be its own social, economic, and cultural area within the larger region.
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