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Urban areaAn urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
s in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are defined by the
U.S. Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
as contiguous
census block groupA census block group is a geographical unit used by the United States Census Bureau which is between the census tract and the census block. It is the smallest geographical unit for which the bureau publishes sample data, i.e data which is only collected from a fraction of all households.Census...
s with a
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of at least 1000 /sqmi with any census block groups around this core having a density of at least 500 /sqmi. Urban areas are delineated without regard to political boundaries. The census has two distinct categories of urban areas.
Urbanized Areas have populations of greater than 50,000, while
Urban Clusters have populations of less than 50,000. An urbanized area serves as the core of a metropolitan statistical area, while an urban cluster serves as the core of a micropolitan statistical area.
See also
- List of United States urban areas
- List of United States cities by population
- Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
- Core Based Statistical Area
A Core Based Statistical Area is a U.S. geographic area defined by the Office of Management and Budget based around an urban center of at least 10,000 people and adjacent areas that are socioeconomically tied to the urban center by commuting. Areas defined on the basis of these standards applied...
- Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Micropolitan Statistical Area
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