Micropolitan

Micropolitan, or micropolitan statistical area (μSA), is a geographic term used by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and by the Census Bureau for statistical purposes. A μSA comprises one or more counties anchored by a core urban area with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The counties in the area are included if they have a high degree of social and economic integration with the core, as measured by commuting patterns.

Micropolitan areas are smaller than metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), which have core urban areas of 50,000 or more. Both micropolitan and metropolitan areas are part of the broader category of core-based statistical areas (CBSAs), a framework used to organize data on population, economy, and housing.

Purpose and usage: The micropolitan designation is a statistical tool used by the Census Bureau and other agencies for demographic, economic, health, and regional analyses. It helps researchers and policymakers study smaller urban centers and their surrounding counties, track trends, and allocate resources.

History and notes: The micropolitan concept was introduced in the early 2000s as part of revisions to the CBSA framework by the OMB, with formal definitions published in 2003. The term reflects the existence of significant urbanized cores smaller than those in MSAs.

Limitations: As a statistical construct, micropolitan areas do not represent cohesive political jurisdictions and may cross state lines. The boundaries are periodically updated to reflect changing settlement patterns and commuting relationships.