
DSDR KB:
What’s the difference between a PMSA and an MSA?
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) are one or more counties that contain a city of 50,000 or more, whereas Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSA) are subareas that meet the qualification to be an MSA, but have a population of one million or more. PMSAs are always part of a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA).
Here is a link to the metropolitan areas at the time of the 2000 Census:
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro-city/99mfips.txt
The Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint CMSA (2162) is comprised of the Ann Arbor PMSA (0440), the Detroit PMSA (2160) and the Flint PMSA ( 2640).
Dothan, Alabama (2180) is an example of an MSA.
Note that the metropolitan area definitions have changed since the 2000 Census. The new definitions (November 2007) are:
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2007/List4.txt
A good starting point is:
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metrodef.html
This link allows you to look at the definitions on selected dates for many different geographies. It will always include the latest standard.
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