Table 1. Number and Components of Metropolitan Areas: 1952 to 1993

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Table 1. Number and Components of Metropolitan Areas: 1952 to 1993

(Includes Alaska and Hawaii but excludes Puerto Rico.)

Definitions as of-- Separate metropolitan areas/1 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

/1 Comprises 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).

/2 Reflects 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.

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

/4 Includes one American Indian reservation.
1950 census (March 1952; SMAs) 169 ... ... ... 169 265 208 194
                 
1960 census (November 1960; SMSAs,SCAs) 208 206 2/3 6 214 335 265 257
1960 census updating (October 1963; SMSAs,SCAs) 212 210 2/3 6 218 398 302 266
                 
1970 census (February 1971; SMSAs,SCAs) 239 237 2/3 6 245 452 310 308
1970 census updating (1974/2; SMSAs,SCAs) 258 256 2/3 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 76 351 707 516/4 507
                 
1990 census (June 30, 1990; MSAs,CMSAs,PMSAs) 284 264 20 71 355 719 516/4 525
1990 census updating (December 31, 1992; MSAs,CMSAs,PMSAs) 268 250 18 59 327 800 575/4 524
1990 census updating (June 30, 1993; MSAs, CMSAs, PMSAs) 268 250 18 73 341 806 576/4 532

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

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Page Last Revised - January 22, 2022