Census Bureau

Table 1. NUMBER AND COMPONENTS OF METROPOLITAN AREAS: 1952 to 1993

(Includes Alaska and Hawaii but excludes Puerto Rico.)


Definitions as of-- Separate
metro-
politan
areas1		 SMSAs
outside
SCAs and
SCSAs;
MSAs		 SCAs;
SCSAs;
CMSAs		 SMSAs
inside
SCAs and
SCSAs;
PMSAs		 Total
MAs
defined		 Component
counties and
county
equivalents		 Component
New England
cities and
towns		 Central
cities
1950 census (March 1952; SMAs)................. 169 ... ... ... 169 265 208 194
                 
1960 census (November 1960;
  SMSAs,SCAs)............................................		 208 206 23 6 214 335 265 257
1960 census updating (October 1963;
  SMSAs,SCAs)............................................		 212 210 23 6 218 398 302 266
                 
1970 census (February 1971;
  SMSAs,SCAs).........................................		 239 237 23 6 245 452 310 308
1970 census updating (19742;
  SMSAs,SCAs)............................................		 258 256 23 8 268 622 378 361
                 
1980 census (June 30, 1981;SMSAs,SCSAs) 286 270 16 48 334 696 430 429
1980 census updating (June 30, 1983;
  MSAs,CMSAs,PMSAs)............................		 275 253 22 76 351 707 5164 507
                 
1990 census (June 30, 1990;
  MSAs,CMSAs,PMSAs).........................		 284 264 20 71 355 719 5164 525
1990 census updating (December 31, 1992;
  MSAs,CMSAs,PMSAs).........................		 268 250 18 59 327 800 5754 524
1990 census updating (June 30, 1993;
  MSAs, CMSAs, PMSAs)...........................		 268 250 18 73 341 806 5764 532

1Comprises SCAs and SCSAs and SMSAs outside of SCAs and SCSAs (1960, 1963, 1971, 1974, and 1981); also comprises MSAs and CMSAs (1983, 1990, 1992, and 1993). Excludes SMSAs within SCAs and SCSAs (1960, 1963, 1971, 1974, and 1981) and PMSAs (1983, 1990, 1992, and 1993).

2Reflects all changes based on 1970 census data, the last of which occurred in August 1974; excludes certain changes based on 1973 and 1974 special census results.

3SCA definitions included Middlesex and Somerset Counties, NJ, although they were not part of any SMSA; they are excluded from component counties totals.

4Includes one American Indian reservation.

Note: CMSA = Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area; MSA = Metropolitan Statistical Area; PMSA = Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area; SCA = Standard Consolidated Area; SCSA = Standard Consolidated Statistical Area; SMA = Standard Metropolitan Area; SMSA = Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division,
Population Distribution Branch
Authors: Richard L. Forstall and James D. Fitzsimmons
Last Revised: July 09, 2008 at 02:50:39 PM
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