Defining Rural Areas Based on New County Classifications
Analysts and policymakers who refer to “rural” America
are often referring to nonmetropolitan (nonmetro)
areas. In conjunction with Census 2000, the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) has made far-reaching
changes to the classification system it uses to define
nonmetro and metro areas, simplifying criteria that
determine status and adding a new “micropolitan” classification
(see box). Up until now, nonmetro territory was
undifferentiated; the new micropolitan (micro)
category subdivides
nonmetro areas into two distinct types of counties.
This change may help target rural-based programs
to those areas most in need.
Under the previous system, areas were classified
as metro if they included central counties with
one or more cities of at least 50,000 residents
or urbanized
areas of 50,000 or more residents and total area
population of at least 100,000. Outlying counties
were classified as metro if they were economically
tied to the central counties, as measured by daily
commuting to work, and displayed a level of “metropolitan
character” based on population density, urbanization,
and population growth.
Under the new “core-based statistical area” system,
metro areas include central counties with urbanized
areas of 50,000 or more residents, regardless of
total area population. In addition, the classification
includes outlying counties with commuting thresholds
of 25 percent, with no metropolitan character requirement.
Streamlining the criteria in this manner results
in approximately 2 million fewer residents covered
by metro areas. However, actual expansion of metro
territory during the 1990s added 9 million persons.
The net effect reduces the 2000 nonmetro population
from 56 million to
49 million.
Micro areas include central counties with one or
more urban clusters of 10,000-50,000 persons. As
with metro area designations, outlying counties are
classified as micro if commuting levels are 25 percent
or higher. Because they are county-based and include
outlying counties, micro areas can have total area
populations that reach well beyond 50,000. The inaugural
set of 560 micro areas includes 674 counties and
range in size from 13,000 (Andrews, TX) to 182,000
(Torrington, CT).
How
the New County Classification System
Differs From the Old System
Metropolitan
(metro) areas
Old system used prior
to Census 2000
Included central counties with:
Cities of 50,000 or more residents, or
Urbanized areas of 50,000 or more residents
and total area population of 100,000 or more.
Also included outlying counties that had at least 15 percent of the
population commuting to central counties daily and that displayed metro
character based on population density, urbanization, and growth.
New core-based
system starting with Census 2000
Includes central counties with urbanized
areas of 50,000
or more residents, regardless of total
area population.
Also includes outlying counties with
25 percent or more of the employed population
commuting daily, with no requirements
for density, urbanization,
or growth.
Nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) areas
Old system
used prior to Census
2000
All counties not classified
as metro. New core-based system starting with Census 2000
Divides counties not meeting the new metro classification into two
categories:
Micropolitan (micro)—counties with one or more urban
clusters of 10,000-50,000 persons. Includes outlying
counties with 25 percent or more commuting.
Noncore—all nonmetro counties not meeting the new
micro classification.
Of the 49 million nonmetro
residents counted in Census 2000, 29 million
live in micro
areas. The remaining 20 million nonmetro
residents live in 1,383 “noncore” counties,
which lack urban clusters of 10,000
or more residents. In general, lack of an
urban
core and low overall
population density may place these
counties at a disadvantage in efforts to
expand and
diversify
their economic base. However, the population
in
noncore counties grew by 7.9 percent
during the 1990s, compared with a growth
rate of 9.9 percent
in micro areas and 14 percent in metro
areas.
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