METROPOLITAN AREA RANKINGS (in alphabetic order) [Areas ranked include 273 metropolitan areas (MAs): 245 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), 17 consolidated MSAs (CMSAs), and 11 New England county metropolitan areas (NECMAs) defined as of June 30, 1996. When MAs share the same rank, the next lower rank is omitted. MAs may share the same value but have different ranks due to rounding] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Persons per square mile of land area, Metropolitan area 1997 ------------------- Number Rank ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abilene, TX MSA 132.6 197 Albany, GA MSA 171.7 167 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA 272.0 87 Albuquerque, NM MSA 113.5 216 Alexandria, LA MSA 95.6 231 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA MSA 556.4 24 Altoona, PA MSA 249.0 96 Amarillo, TX MSA 114.1 213 Anchorage, AK MSA 147.9 186 Anniston, AL MSA 192.4 145 Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI MSA 244.6 99 Asheville, NC MSA 191.1 149 Athens, GA MSA 234.4 108 Atlanta, GA MSA 592.1 20 Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA 186.7 153 Austin-San Marcos, TX MSA 253.4 93 Bakersfield, CA MSA 77.2 242 Bangor, ME NECMA 42.2 262 Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA NECMA 518.3 25 Baton Rouge, LA MSA 359.4 59 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA 174.1 164 Bellingham, WA MSA 72.8 244 Benton Harbor, MI MSA 281.5 81 Billings, MT MSA 47.7 259 Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS MSA 192.4 145 Binghamton, NY MSA 205.4 128 Birmingham, AL MSA 282.4 78 Bismarck, ND MSA 25.6 270 Bloomington, IN MSA 295.8 76 Bloomington-Normal, IL MSA 119.0 204 Boise City, ID MSA 233.4 109 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH NECMA 903.5 9 Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX MSA 354.2 60 Bryan-College Station, TX MSA 227.1 114 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA 742.9 15 Burlington, VT NECMA 151.8 181 Canton-Massillon, OH MSA 414.7 44 Casper, WY MSA 11.9 272 Cedar Rapids, IA MSA 253.2 95 Champaign-Urbana, IL MSA 168.9 168 Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA 196.7 136 Charleston, WV MSA 203.2 129 Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA 399.7 50 Charlottesville, VA MSA 124.6 200 Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA 245.2 98 Cheyenne, WY MSA 29.2 269 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA 1,247.0 3 Chico-Paradise, CA MSA 118.4 205 Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN CMSA 507.7 30 Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY MSA 156.7 178 Cleveland-Akron, OH CMSA 805.1 12 Colorado Springs, CO MSA 225.7 117 Columbia, MO MSA 187.2 152 Columbia, SC MSA 345.8 62 Columbus, GA-AL MSA 173.3 165 Columbus, OH MSA 464.7 35 Corpus Christi, TX MSA 253.4 93 Cumberland, MD-WV MSA 131.6 199 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA 514.4 28 Danville, VA MSA 107.1 224 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA 209.1 123 Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA 561.3 22 Daytona Beach, FL MSA 292.9 77 Decatur, AL MSA 111.1 218 Decatur, IL MSA 196.8 134 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO CMSA 272.9 86 Des Moines, IA MSA 248.7 97 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA 828.3 11 Dothan, AL MSA 117.6 207 Dover, DE MSA 207.7 126 Dubuque, IA MSA 144.8 189 Duluth-Superior, MN-WI MSA 31.6 265 Eau Claire, WI MSA 87.1 236 El Paso, TX MSA 692.5 17 Elkhart-Goshen, IN MSA 368.1 57 Elmira, NY MSA 228.0 113 Enid, OK MSA 53.6 256 Erie, PA MSA 348.4 61 Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA 68.4 248 Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY MSA 196.9 133 Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN MSA 59.2 253 Fayetteville, NC MSA 434.9 41 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA 148.9 185 Flagstaff, AZ-UT MSA 5.3 273 Florence, AL MSA 108.6 221 Florence, SC MSA 155.6 179 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA 86.9 237 Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL MSA 481.7 31 Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL MSA 262.1 90 Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA 106.5 226 Fort Walton Beach, FL MSA 179.1 161 Fort Wayne, IN MSA 195.1 137 Fresno, CA MSA 107.2 223 Gadsden, AL MSA 195.1 137 Gainesville, FL MSA 226.8 116 Glens Falls, NY MSA 71.9 245 Goldsboro, NC MSA 202.6 131 Grand Forks, ND-MN MSA 29.8 267 Grand Junction, CO MSA 33.3 263 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA 372.0 56 Great Falls, MT MSA 29.3 268 Green Bay, WI MSA 405.2 48 Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC MSA 296.9 75 Greenville, NC MSA 185.8 156 Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC MSA 281.8 80 Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA MSA 308.9 69 Hartford, CT NECMA 729.5 16 Hattiesburg, MS MSA 113.7 215 Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC MSA 194.3 142 Honolulu, HI MSA 1,449.3 2 Houma, LA MSA 81.7 239 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA 560.6 23 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA 145.9 187 Huntsville, AL MSA 242.5 101 Indianapolis, IN MSA 426.7 42 Iowa City, IA MSA 166.5 170 Jackson, MI MSA 219.8 119 Jackson, MS MSA 180.0 159 Jackson, TN MSA 117.5 208 Jacksonville, FL MSA 392.5 51 Jacksonville, NC MSA 186.5 154 Jamestown, NY MSA 131.8 198 Janesville-Beloit, WI MSA 208.6 124 Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA 160.6 175 Johnstown, PA MSA 134.8 196 Jonesboro, AR MSA 108.2 222 Joplin, MO MSA 116.2 209 Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI MSA 237.4 105 Kansas City, MO-KS MSA 316.1 68 Killeen-Temple, TX MSA 142.0 193 Knoxville, TN MSA 267.1 89 Kokomo, IN MSA 180.6 158 La Crosse, WI-MN MSA 120.2 202 Lafayette, LA MSA 143.4 191 Lafayette, IN MSA 189.6 151 Lake Charles, LA MSA 167.0 169 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA 239.3 104 Lancaster, PA MSA 478.4 33 Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA 262.0 91 Laredo, TX MSA 54.6 255 Las Cruces, NM MSA 44.2 260 Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA 32.1 264 Lawrence, KS MSA 199.3 132 Lawton, OK MSA 106.6 225 Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECMA 214.9 120 Lexington, KY MSA 231.3 110 Lima, OH MSA 192.3 147 Lincoln, NE MSA 278.1 84 Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR MSA 189.8 150 Longview-Marshall, TX MSA 118.3 206 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA 459.5 37 Louisville, KY-IN MSA 479.4 32 Lubbock, TX MSA 256.4 92 Lynchburg, VA MSA 115.8 210 Macon, GA MSA 206.3 127 Madison, WI MSA 330.7 63 Mansfield, OH MSA 194.4 141 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA 325.6 64 Medford-Ashland, OR MSA 61.4 252 Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL MSA 452.6 39 Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA 360.1 58 Merced, CA MSA 101.7 228 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA 1,114.7 4 Milwaukee-Racine, WI CMSA 912.7 7 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA 460.4 36 Mobile, AL MSA 186.3 155 Modesto, CA MSA 282.2 79 Monroe, LA MSA 240.7 102 Montgomery, AL MSA 159.0 177 Muncie, IN MSA 299.1 74 Myrtle Beach, SC MSA 149.2 184 Naples, FL MSA 96.6 229 Nashville, TN MSA 278.5 82 New London-Norwich, CT NECMA 379.8 55 New Orleans, LA MSA 384.7 53 New York-No. New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA/NECMA 1,955.3 1 Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 657.8 18 Ocala, FL MSA 150.3 182 Odessa-Midland, TX MSA 135.1 195 Oklahoma City, OK MSA 242.6 100 Omaha, NE-IA MSA 277.7 85 Orlando, FL MSA 420.2 43 Owensboro, KY MSA 196.8 134 Panama City, FL MSA 191.5 148 Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH MSA 150.3 182 Pensacola, FL MSA 236.4 106 Peoria-Pekin, IL MSA 192.6 144 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA 1,006.0 5 Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA 194.8 139 Pine Bluff, AR MSA 93.0 232 Pittsburgh, PA MSA 510.6 29 Pittsfield, MA NECMA 144.1 190 Pocatello, ID MSA 66.3 250 Portland, ME NECMA 300.9 71 Portland-Salem, OR-WA CMSA 303.8 70 Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI NECMA 961.6 6 Provo-Orem, UT MSA 164.2 172 Pueblo, CO MSA 55.6 254 Punta Gorda, FL MSA 192.7 143 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 300.8 72 Rapid City, SD MSA 31.4 266 Reading, PA MSA 412.1 45 Redding, CA MSA 43.1 261 Reno, NV MSA 48.2 258 Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA MSA 62.1 251 Richmond-Petersburg, VA MSA 320.3 66 Roanoke, VA MSA 268.6 88 Rochester, MN MSA 175.5 163 Rochester, NY MSA 317.0 67 Rockford, IL MSA 228.3 112 Rocky Mount, NC MSA 139.2 194 Sacramento-Yolo, CA CMSA 325.1 65 Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI MSA 227.1 114 St. Cloud, MN MSA 92.0 234 St. Joseph, MO MSA 114.9 212 St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 400.1 49 Salinas, CA MSA 108.9 219 Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA 771.3 13 San Angelo, TX MSA 67.4 249 San Antonio, TX MSA 454.3 38 San Diego, CA MSA 647.6 19 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA 909.4 8 San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA MSA 70.6 246 Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA MSA 142.5 192 Santa Fe, NM MSA 69.4 247 Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA 410.3 46 Savannah, GA MSA 208.6 124 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA MSA 278.4 83 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA CMSA 466.2 34 Sharon, PA MSA 181.6 157 Sheboygan, WI MSA 213.9 122 Sherman-Denison, TX MSA 108.8 220 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA 163.5 173 Sioux City, IA-NE MSA 106.3 227 Sioux Falls, SD MSA 115.8 210 South Bend, IN MSA 564.3 21 Spokane, WA MSA 229.4 111 Springfield, IL MSA 172.5 166 Springfield, MO MSA 164.3 171 Springfield, MA NECMA 515.1 27 State College, PA MSA 120.1 203 Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV MSA 235.1 107 Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA 387.7 52 Sumter, SC MSA 160.2 176 Syracuse, NY MSA 240.3 103 Tallahassee, FL MSA 220.3 118 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA 871.8 10 Terre Haute, IN MSA 145.9 187 Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR MSA 81.6 240 Toledo, OH MSA 448.3 40 Topeka, KS MSA 299.9 73 Tucson, AZ MSA 84.9 238 Tulsa, OK MSA 152.4 180 Tuscaloosa, AL MSA 121.3 201 Tyler, TX MSA 179.6 160 Utica-Rome, NY MSA 113.9 214 Victoria, TX MSA 92.9 233 Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA MSA 73.2 243 Waco, TX MSA 194.8 139 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA 752.4 14 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA 214.1 121 Wausau, WI MSA 79.3 241 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL MSA 515.9 26 Wheeling, WV-OH MSA 162.2 174 Wichita, KS MSA 178.8 162 Wichita Falls, TX MSA 89.2 235 Williamsport, PA MSA 95.9 230 Wilmington, NC MSA 202.7 130 Yakima, WA MSA 50.8 257 York, PA MSA 409.6 47 Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA 380.7 54 Yuba City, CA MSA 113.0 217 Yuma, AZ MSA 23.6 271 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, State and Metropolitan Area Data Book 1997-98, table B-1.