MSA Code

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Metropolitan, or Metro Statistical Area (MSA) is one of the 306 high population-density geographic areas into which the U.S. is divided by the Office of Management & Budget for collecting, tabulating, and publishing federal statistics. It is an economically and socially integrated unit consisting of one or more contiguous counties (or statistically equivalent areas) containing at least one city of a population of 50,000 or more, and a metropolitan population of 100,000 or more (75,000 in New England). MSA code is a 4-digit numeric code assigned to each MSA.

There are three types of Metropolitan Statistical Areas:

         Regular MSA

         CMSA (Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area). An area that meets the requirements to qualify as an MSA, and also has a population of one million people or more.

         PMSA (Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area). A subarea defined within a CMSA that would qualify as metropolitan area on its own, yet is linked to other cities in close proximity. A PMSA consists of a large urbanized county or a cluster of counties that demonstrate strong internal economic and social links in addition to close ties with the central core of the larger area. For example, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, are each classified as PMSAs, while the Dallas-Fort Worth area is a CMSA.

You can limit the results of your search to records containing ZIP+4 information within the MSA codes that you specified. For more information, see Order Only Records with ZIP+4.

Specify MSA selections

1           On the Geography tab, click MSA Code.

2           In the corresponding text boxes, enter the MSA codes you want to include in the search. If you do not know them, use Lookup.

To clear the text boxes of all entries, click Clear All.

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MSA Code Lookup

1           On the MSA page, click Look Up.

2           In the Search Criteria text box, enter full or partial name of the MSA or a 2-letter abbreviation for the state.

3           Click Search.

4           Select the MSA (PMSA, CMSA) codes that you want to include in the search.

5           Click Add Selected Codes.

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