This Giant Map Shows All the Metropolitan Areas in the U.S.

This Giant Map Shows All the Metropolitan Areas in the U.S.

The United States is the third most populous country in the world, made up of close to 20,000 cities and towns, and 333 million individuals.

Dividing these population clusters into a coherent framework of statistical areas is no small feat, and the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest map shows just how complex of a task it is.

This enormous map—which covers the entire country, including Puerto Rico—includes 392 metropolitan statistical areas and 547 micropolitan statistical areas.

For reference, here are all the current metropolitan statistical areas in the United States, organized by population:

Rank	Metropolitan statistical area	Population (2020)	Change since 2010
1	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA MSA	20,140,470	6.58%
2	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA	13,200,998	2.90%
3	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI MSA	9,618,502	1.66%
4	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA	7,637,387	19.96%
5	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX MSA	7,122,240	20.30%
6	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA	6,385,162	13.02%
7	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA	6,245,051	4.69%
8	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL MSA	6,138,333	10.31%
9	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA MSA	6,089,815	15.19%
10	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH MSA	4,941,632	8.55%
11	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA	4,845,832	15.57%
12	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA MSA	4,749,008	9.54%
13	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA	4,599,839	8.88%
14	Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MI MSA	4,392,041	2.23%
15	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA	4,018,762	16.83%
16	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MSA	3,690,261	10.26%
17	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA	3,298,634	6.57%
18	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA	3,175,275	14.09%
19	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO MSA	2,963,821	16.53%
20	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA	2,844,510	4.94%
21	St. Louis, MO-IL MSA	2,820,253	1.17%
22	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA	2,673,376	25.25%
23	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA	2,660,329	18.56%
24	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX MSA	2,558,143	19.40%
25	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA	2,512,859	12.89%
26	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA MSA	2,397,382	11.55%
27	Pittsburgh, PA MSA	2,370,930	0.62%
28	Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX MSA	2,283,371	33.04%
29	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV MSA	2,265,461	16.10%
30	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA	2,256,884	5.58%
31	Kansas City, MO-KS MSA	2,192,035	9.09%
32	Columbus, OH MSA	2,138,926	12.46%
33	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN MSA	2,111,040	11.82%
34	Cleveland-Elyria, OH MSA	2,088,251	0.53%
35	San Juan-Bayamón-Caguas, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area	2,002,906	-14.77%
36	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA	2,000,468	8.90%
37	Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN MSA	1,989,519	20.86%
38	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA	1,799,674	5.00%
39	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA MSA	1,676,579	4.73%
40	Jacksonville, FL MSA	1,605,848	19.34%
41	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA	1,574,731	1.21%
42	Oklahoma City, OK MSA	1,425,695	13.78%
43	Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA	1,413,982	25.08%
44	Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA	1,337,779	1.65%
45	Richmond, VA MSA	1,314,434	10.78%
46	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN MSA	1,285,439	6.88%
47	New Orleans-Metairie, LA MSA	1,271,845	6.89%
48	Salt Lake City, UT MSA	1,257,936	15.63%
49	Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT MSA	1,213,531	0.09%
50	Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA	1,166,902	2.76%
51	Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA	1,115,289	5.11%
52	Rochester, NY MSA	1,090,135	0.97%
53	Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI MSA	1,087,592	9.45%
54	Tucson, AZ MSA	1,043,433	6.44%
55	Urban Honolulu, HI MSA	1,016,508	6.64%
56	Tulsa, OK MSA	1,015,331	8.30%
57	Fresno, CA MSA	1,008,654	8.40%
58	Worcester, MA-CT MSA	978,529	6.71%
59	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA MSA	967,604	11.82%
60	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT MSA	957,419	4.43%
61	Greenville-Anderson, SC MSA	928,195	12.63%
62	Albuquerque, NM MSA	916,528	3.32%
63	Bakersfield, CA MSA	909,235	8.29%
64	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA	899,262	3.28%
65	Knoxville, TN MSA	879,773	7.96%
66	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA	870,781	12.39%
67	Baton Rouge, LA MSA	870,569	5.41%
68	El Paso, TX MSA	868,859	8.05%
69	New Haven-Milford, CT MSA	864,835	0.27%
70	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ MSA	861,889	4.96%
71	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA	843,843	2.49%
72	North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA	833,716	18.72%
73	Columbia, SC MSA	829,470	8.06%
74	Dayton-Kettering, OH MSA	814,049	1.85%
75	Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA	799,636	20.32%
76	Stockton, CA MSA	779,233	13.71%
77	Greensboro-High Point, NC MSA	776,566	7.29%
78	Boise City, ID MSA	764,718	24.03%
79	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA	760,822	22.96%
80	Colorado Springs, CO MSA	755,105	16.96%
81	Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA	748,031	6.90%
82	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA	725,046	20.42%
83	Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA	709,466	16.98%
84	Akron, OH MSA	702,219	-0.14%
85	Springfield, MA MSA	699,162	0.90%
86	Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY MSA	697,221	4.02%
87	Ogden-Clearfield, UT MSA	694,863	16.36%
88	Madison, WI MSA	680,796	12.45%
89	Winston-Salem, NC MSA	675,966	5.52%
90	Provo-Orem, UT MSA	671,185	27.41%
91	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL MSA	668,921	13.32%
92	Syracuse, NY MSA	662,057	-0.08%
93	Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA	649,903	15.18%
94	Wichita, KS MSA	647,610	3.94%
95	Toledo, OH MSA	646,604	-0.74%
96	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC MSA	611,000	8.17%
97	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL MSA	606,612	11.64%
98	Jackson, MS MSA	591,978	0.97%
99	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA	591,712	7.69%
100	Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA MSA	585,784	13.80%
101	Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA	567,559	0.70%
102	Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA	562,647	6.53%
103	Lancaster, PA MSA	552,984	6.46%
104	Modesto, CA MSA	552,878	7.47%
105	Portland-South Portland, ME MSA	551,740	7.32%
106	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA	546,725	24.22%
107	Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA	541,297	1.24%
108	Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA MSA	541,243	-4.34%
109	Fayetteville, NC MSA	520,378	8.17%
110	Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA	516,811	9.47%
111	Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA	509,905	13.57%
112	Huntsville, AL MSA	491,723	17.75%
113	Reno, NV MSA	490,596	15.32%
114	Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA MSA	488,863	1.03%
115	Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC MSA	487,722	29.46%
116	Port St. Lucie, FL MSA	487,657	14.98%
117	Lafayette, LA MSA	478,384	2.49%
118	Springfield, MO MSA	475,432	8.87%
119	Killeen-Temple, TX MSA	475,367	17.29%
120	Visalia, CA MSA	473,117	7.00%
121	Asheville, NC MSA	469,015	10.39%
122	York-Hanover, PA MSA	456,438	4.94%
123	Vallejo, CA MSA	453,491	9.71%
124	Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA	448,229	5.74%
125	Salinas, CA MSA	439,035	5.78%
126	Salem, OR MSA	433,353	10.91%
127	Mobile, AL MSA	430,197	-0.09%
128	Reading, PA MSA	428,849	4.23%
129	Manchester-Nashua, NH MSA	422,937	5.54%
130	Corpus Christi, TX MSA	421,933	4.17%
131	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA	421,017	3.64%
132	Fort Wayne, IN MSA	419,601	7.97%
133	Salisbury, MD-DE MSA	418,046	11.84%
134	Gulfport-Biloxi, MS MSA	416,259	7.15%
135	Flint, MI MSA	406,211	-4.60%
136	Savannah, GA MSA	404,798	16.45%
137	Peoria, IL MSA	402,391	-3.33%
138	Canton-Massillon, OH MSA	401,574	-0.70%
139	Anchorage, AK MSA	398,328	4.60%
140	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA	397,565	2.27%
141	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA	393,406	-1.30%
142	Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA	387,340	5.68%
143	Montgomery, AL MSA	386,047	3.07%
144	Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA	384,324	1.22%
145	Tallahassee, FL MSA	384,298	4.60%
146	Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA	382,971	8.89%
147	Ocala, FL MSA	375,908	13.47%
148	Naples-Marco Island, FL MSA	375,752	16.87%
149	Ann Arbor, MI MSA	372,258	7.97%
150	Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA	365,276	-0.06%
151	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA	359,862	-2.98%
152	Fort Collins, CO MSA	359,066	19.84%
153	Lincoln, NE MSA	340,217	12.60%
154	Gainesville, FL MSA	339,247	11.20%
155	Rockford, IL MSA	338,798	-3.04%
156	Boulder, CO MSA	330,758	12.29%
157	Greeley, CO MSA	328,981	30.12%
158	Columbus, GA-AL MSA	328,883	6.85%
159	Green Bay, WI MSA	328,268	7.19%
160	Spartanburg, SC MSA	327,997	15.37%
161	South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI MSA	324,501	1.65%
162	Lubbock, TX MSA	321,368	10.51%
163	Clarksville, TN-KY MSA	320,535	17.01%
164	Roanoke, VA MSA	315,251	2.12%
165	Evansville, IN-KY MSA	314,049	0.80%
166	Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA	307,614	-0.62%
167	Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA	303,622	19.85%
168	Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA	294,793	16.86%
169	Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV MSA	293,844	9.18%
170	Utica-Rome, NY MSA	292,264	-2.38%
171	Duluth, MN-WI MSA	291,638	0.34%
172	Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL MSA	286,973	21.67%
173	Longview, TX MSA	286,184	2.21%
174	Aguadilla-Isabela, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area	286,064	-15.72%
175	Wilmington, NC MSA	285,905	12.17%
176	San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA MSA	282,424	4.74%
177	Merced, CA MSA	281,202	9.93%
178	Waco, TX MSA	277,547	9.80%
179	Sioux Falls, SD MSA	276,730	21.23%
180	Cedar Rapids, IA MSA	276,520	7.20%
181	Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA MSA	275,611	9.75%
182	Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ MSA	274,534	-0.01%
183	Erie, PA MSA	270,876	-3.45%
184	Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA	270,861	3.23%
185	Amarillo, TX MSA	268,761	6.68%
186	Tuscaloosa, AL MSA	268,674	12.32%
187	Norwich-New London, CT MSA	268,555	-2.01%
188	College Station-Bryan, TX MSA	268,248	17.31%
189	Laredo, TX MSA	267,114	6.72%
190	Kalamazoo-Portage, MI MSA	261,670	4.53%
191	Lynchburg, VA MSA	261,593	3.55%
192	Charleston, WV MSA	258,859	-6.89%
193	Yakima, WA MSA	256,728	5.55%
194	Fargo, ND-MN MSA	249,843	19.67%
195	Binghamton, NY MSA	247,138	-1.82%
196	Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA	244,310	-1.57%
197	Appleton, WI MSA	243,147	7.75%
198	Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ MSA	236,209	11.93%
199	Macon-Bibb County, GA MSA	233,802	0.65%
200	Tyler, TX MSA	233,479	11.33%
201	Topeka, KS MSA	233,152	-0.31%
202	Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL MSA	231,767	27.16%
203	Barnstable Town, MA MSA	228,996	6.07%
204	Bellingham, WA MSA	226,847	12.78%
205	Rochester, MN MSA	226,329	9.40%
206	Burlington-South Burlington, VT MSA	225,562	6.77%
207	Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN MSA	223,716	6.38%
208	Medford, OR MSA	223,259	9.87%
209	Champaign-Urbana, IL MSA	222,538	2.17%
210	Lake Charles, LA MSA	222,402	11.42%
211	Charlottesville, VA MSA	221,524	9.91%
212	Las Cruces, NM MSA	219,561	4.94%
213	Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC MSA	215,908	15.45%
214	Athens-Clarke County, GA MSA	215,415	11.88%
215	Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ MSA	213,267	6.53%
216	Chico, CA MSA	211,632	-3.80%
217	Ponce, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area	211,465	-19.48%
218	Columbia, MO MSA	210,864	10.76%
219	Springfield, IL MSA	208,640	-0.73%
220	Johnson City, TN MSA	207,285	4.31%
221	Houma-Thibodaux, LA MSA	207,137	-0.50%
222	Monroe, LA MSA	207,104	1.31%
223	Elkhart-Goshen, IN MSA	207,047	4.80%
224	Jacksonville, NC MSA	204,576	15.08%
225	Yuma, AZ MSA	203,881	4.15%
226	Gainesville, GA MSA	203,136	13.05%
227	Florence, SC MSA	199,964	-2.73%
228	St. Cloud, MN MSA	199,671	5.59%
229	Bend, OR MSA	198,253	25.69%
230	Racine, WI MSA	197,727	1.19%
231	Warner Robins, GA MSA	191,614	14.33%
232	Saginaw, MI MSA	190,124	-5.02%
233	Punta Gorda, FL MSA	186,847	16.80%
234	Terre Haute, IN MSA	185,031	-2.49%
235	Billings, MT MSA	184,167	10.17%
236	Redding, CA MSA	182,155	2.78%
237	Dover, DE MSA	181,851	12.04%
238	Kingston, NY MSA	181,851	-0.35%
239	Joplin, MO MSA	181,409	3.36%
240	Yuba City, CA MSA	181,208	8.58%
241	Jackson, TN MSA	180,504	0.45%
242	St. George, UT MSA	180,279	30.53%
243	El Centro, CA MSA	179,702	2.96%
244	Bowling Green, KY MSA	179,639	13.27%
245	Abilene, TX MSA	176,579	6.85%
246	Muskegon, MI MSA	175,824	2.11%
247	Iowa City, IA MSA	175,419	14.96%
248	Midland, TX MSA	175,220	23.68%
249	Panama City, FL MSA	175,216	3.77%
250	Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA	174,241	24.24%
251	Arecibo, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area	173,218	-13.16%
252	Hattiesburg, MS MSA	172,231	6.05%
253	Eau Claire, WI MSA	172,007	6.74%
254	Oshkosh-Neenah, WI MSA	171,730	2.84%
255	Burlington, NC MSA	171,415	13.42%
256	Coeur d'Alene, ID MSA	171,362	23.73%
257	Bloomington, IL MSA	170,954	0.81%
258	Greenville, NC MSA	170,243	1.25%
259	Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA	168,461	0.38%
260	East Stroudsburg, PA MSA	168,327	-0.89%
261	Pueblo, CO MSA	168,162	5.72%
262	Wausau-Weston, WI MSA	166,428	2.22%
263	Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA MSA	166,378	2.10%
264	Odessa, TX MSA	165,171	20.45%
265	Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI MSA	164,754	6.41%
266	Janesville-Beloit, WI MSA	163,687	2.09%
267	Bloomington, IN MSA	161,039	0.93%
268	Jackson, MI MSA	160,366	0.07%
269	Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL MSA	159,788	15.76%
270	State College, PA MSA	158,172	2.72%
271	Idaho Falls, ID MSA	157,429	18.13%
272	Decatur, AL MSA	156,494	1.73%
273	Madera, CA MSA	156,255	3.57%
274	Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA MSA	155,932	4.22%
275	Grand Junction, CO MSA	155,703	6.12%
276	Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY MSA	155,572	4.88%
277	Santa Fe, NM MSA	154,823	7.39%
278	Monroe, MI MSA	154,809	1.83%
279	Niles, MI MSA	154,316	-1.59%
280	Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ MSA	154,152	-1.75%
281	Homosassa Springs, FL MSA	153,843	8.93%
282	Hanford-Corcoran, CA MSA	152,486	-0.32%
283	Bangor, ME MSA	152,199	-1.12%
284	Alexandria, LA MSA	152,192	-1.12%
285	Dothan, AL MSA	151,007	3.69%
286	Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL MSA	150,791	2.48%
287	Jefferson City, MO MSA	150,309	0.34%
288	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA	149,940	4.43%
289	Albany, GA MSA	148,922	-3.21%
290	Wichita Falls, TX MSA	148,128	-2.10%
291	Valdosta, GA MSA	148,126	6.12%
292	Texarkana, TX-AR MSA	147,519	-1.13%
293	Logan, UT-ID MSA	147,348	17.46%
294	Flagstaff, AZ MSA	145,101	7.95%
295	Rocky Mount, NC MSA	143,870	-5.59%
296	Lebanon, PA MSA	143,257	7.25%
297	Dalton, GA MSA	142,837	0.43%
298	Morristown, TN MSA	142,709	4.47%
299	Winchester, VA-WV MSA	142,632	11.02%
300	Morgantown, WV MSA	140,038	7.96%
301	La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN MSA	139,627	4.46%
302	Wheeling, WV-OH MSA	139,513	-5.70%
303	Rapid City, SD MSA	139,074	10.04%
304	Napa, CA MSA	138,019	1.12%
305	Sumter, SC MSA	136,700	-4.02%
306	Springfield, OH MSA	136,001	-1.69%
307	Harrisonburg, VA MSA	135,571	8.26%
308	Sherman-Denison, TX MSA	135,543	12.13%
309	Battle Creek, MI MSA	134,310	-1.35%
310	Jonesboro, AR MSA	134,196	10.88%
311	Manhattan, KS MSA	134,046	5.48%
312	Bismarck, ND MSA	133,626	20.79%
313	Johnstown, PA MSA	133,472	-7.10%
314	Carbondale-Marion, IL MSA	133,435	-4.11%
315	Hammond, LA MSA	133,157	9.96%
316	The Villages, FL MSA	129,752	38.89%
317	Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA MSA	129,523	10.80%
318	Pittsfield, MA MSA	129,026	-1.67%
319	Albany-Lebanon, OR MSA	128,610	10.23%
320	Glens Falls, NY MSA	127,039	-1.46%
321	Lawton, OK MSA	126,652	-2.79%
322	Cleveland, TN MSA	126,164	8.96%
323	Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ MSA	125,447	-4.49%
324	Staunton, VA MSA	125,433	5.85%
325	Ames, IA MSA	125,252	8.12%
326	Mansfield, OH MSA	124,936	0.37%
327	San Angelo, TX MSA	122,888	8.78%
328	Altoona, PA MSA	122,822	-3.36%
329	New Bern, NC MSA	122,168	-3.65%
330	Wenatchee, WA MSA	122,012	10.04%
331	Farmington, NM MSA	121,661	-6.45%
332	Owensboro, KY MSA	121,559	5.93%
333	St. Joseph, MO-KS MSA	121,467	-4.60%
334	San Germán, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area	120,280	-12.50%
335	Lawrence, KS MSA	118,785	7.18%
336	Sheboygan, WI MSA	118,034	2.19%
337	Missoula, MT MSA	117,922	7.89%
338	Goldsboro, NC MSA	117,333	-4.31%
339	Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH MSA	116,903	-6.07%
340	Watertown-Fort Drum, NY MSA	116,721	0.42%
341	Anniston-Oxford, AL MSA	116,441	-1.80%
342	Beckley, WV MSA	115,079	-7.86%
343	Twin Falls, ID MSA	114,283	14.74%
344	Williamsport, PA MSA	114,188	-1.66%
345	California-Lexington Park, MD MSA	113,777	8.20%
346	Brunswick, GA MSA	113,495	1.00%
347	Michigan City-La Porte, IN MSA	112,417	0.85%
348	Muncie, IN MSA	111,903	-4.90%
349	Lewiston-Auburn, ME MSA	111,139	3.19%
350	Longview, WA MSA	110,730	8.12%
351	Kankakee, IL MSA	107,502	-5.24%
352	Ithaca, NY MSA	105,740	4.11%
353	Grand Forks, ND-MN MSA	104,362	5.99%
354	Fond du Lac, WI MSA	104,154	2.48%
355	Decatur, IL MSA	103,998	-6.11%
356	Bay City, MI MSA	103,856	-3.63%
357	Gettysburg, PA MSA	103,852	2.41%
358	Mankato, MN MSA	103,566	7.06%
359	Gadsden, AL MSA	103,436	-0.95%
360	Lima, OH MSA	102,206	-3.88%
361	Sebring-Avon Park, FL MSA	101,235	2.48%
362	Cheyenne, WY MSA	100,512	9.56%
363	Hot Springs, AR MSA	100,180	4.33%
364	Dubuque, IA MSA	99,266	5.99%
365	Rome, GA MSA	98,584	2.35%
366	Victoria, TX MSA	98,331	4.60%
367	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL MSA	97,517	1.29%
368	Fairbanks, AK MSA	95,655	-1.97%
369	Ocean City, NJ MSA	95,263	-2.06%
370	Corvallis, OR MSA	95,184	11.22%
371	Cumberland, MD-WV MSA	95,044	-7.99%
372	Pocatello, ID MSA	94,896	4.68%
373	Mayagüez, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area	93,412	-19.62%
374	Parkersburg-Vienna, WV MSA	89,490	-3.43%
375	Grants Pass, OR MSA	88,090	6.50%
376	Pine Bluff, AR MSA	87,751	-12.47%
377	Great Falls, MT MSA	84,414	3.80%
378	Elmira, NY MSA	84,148	-5.27%
379	Yauco, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area	84,112	-21.63%
380	Kokomo, IN MSA	83,658	1.09%
381	Midland, MI MSA	83,494	-0.16%
382	Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA MSA	82,863	-3.15%
383	Columbus, IN MSA	82,208	7.05%
384	Hinesville, GA MSA	81,424	4.50%
385	Casper, WY MSA	79,955	5.97%
386	Grand Island, NE MSA	77,038	5.93%
387	Danville, IL MSA	74,188	-9.11%
388	Guayama, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area	72,240	-14.22%
389	Lewiston, ID-WA MSA	64,375	5.73%
390	Enid, OK MSA	62,846	3.74%
391	Walla Walla, WA MSA	62,584	6.47%
392	Carson City, NV MSA	58,639	6.09%

From Metro to Micro

The wide variety of population patterns around the country can make it tricky to divide regions up into uniform units. There are two main divisions to consider when viewing this map:

1. Metropolitan Areas (metro areas) have at least one urban core area of at least 50,000 population. These are the largest population centers, sometimes encompassing many counties. In some instances, these metro areas are further subdivided into Metropolitan Divisions.
2. Micropolitan Areas are the smallest areas measured on this map (indicated by a lighter shade of green). These smaller regions, which are generally located further away from large cities, have at least one urban core area of at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 people.

One thing to note about all of these definitions is that the cities in these regions must have significant ties to a neighboring region—usually in the form of commuting ties. This is what warrants binding adjacent counties into a measurable area.

Another unique layer of data on this map is the shading that indicates the actual urbanized area within metro areas. In the example of Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, it’s easy to see how urban sprawl has expanded the urban area into a number of neighboring counties.

With this context in mind, we’ll take a closer look at three points of interest on the map that show this concept at work with varying degrees of complexity.

Level One: The Central City

The Texas Triangle offers what is perhaps the most straightforward example of metro areas.

As seen above, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio anchor their respective regions, and surrounding counties are bundled into a metro area. The surrounding counties have all been identified as having ties to the central county, and, in some cases, the urban area has spread into the neighboring county over time.

Level Two: The City Cluster

The region anchored by Salt Lake City requires more thought to divide into statistical areas.

While there are a number of population centers in the area, including Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden, they all have enough of an economic “magnetic pull” to warrant splitting the region into distinct statistical areas.

Of course, regions are always evolving, and occasionally these areas are updated. Salt Lake City and Ogden were previously combined into a single metro area, but were separated in 2005.

Level Three: The Megaregion

New York City is the ultimate challenge for planners looking to categorize population centers into a neat and tidy statistical box.

For one, the contiguous urban area is massive, stretching from the west side of Long Island out to the east side of New Jersey. In addition to New York City itself, the metro area includes 19 other municipalities with over 100,000 people.

Next, NYC is an unparalleled economic magnet. Measuring commuting activity is a challenge because a wide variety of people visit the city for so many different reasons. The interconnectedness of the Northeast Megaregion also adds to the complexity.

New York-Newark-Jersey City is such a big pie to carve up, that four of the country’s 11 metro divisions (as indicated by the italicized text and dotted lines) occur in this one area.

Blurring the Lines

Population patterns are constantly changing across the country, so the next version of this map may have a number of changes on it. Our “straightforward” Texas Triangle example may become tougher to divide up as the population boom continues in the region.

Here’s how the population of U.S. countries changed over the past decade:

Further complicating matters is the rapid move to remote work and distributed teams. A key element of these census divisions are commuting ties. With work increasingly not bound by geographic limitations, it remains unclear how that trend will impact this type of statistical exercise in the future.