What’s an MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) and who defines it?
The Office of Management and Budget of the federal government defines MSAs. According to their site: “The general concept of a metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area is that of a core area containing a substantial population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core.” ( http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/aboutmetro.html)The most recent definitions were announced June 6, 2003 and are the first to incorporate the idea of “micropolitan” areas. The Erie MSA consists of just Erie County, PA. About the process of defining MSAs, the OMB says: “The 2000 standards provide that each CBSA (core based statistical area—metro- and micropolitan statistical areas) must contain at least one urban area of 10,000 or more population. Each metropolitan statistical area must have at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more inhabitants. Each micropolitan statistical area must have at least one urban cluster of at le
