Data collected by the 2010 Census has redefined the region’s Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that the latest Census data indicates that Surry County is no longer in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). However, Gates County in North Carolina has joined the MSA. In addition, Elizabeth City Micropolitan Area and the Kill Devil Hills Micropolitan Area join the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA MSA to form the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area (CSA). A CSA depicts a complementary relationship between Micropolitan and Metropolitan Statistical Areas, but a CSA designation does not supersede the individual areas. The CSA merely suggests a larger sharing of economic and social interests among the Micropolitan and Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

According to OMB, a Metropolitan Statistical Areas has at least “one urbanized area of 50,000 or more population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties.” To be considered a Micropolitan Statistical Area by OMB, a region has to “have at least one urban cluster of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000 population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties.” 

These are just a few classifications that OMB establishes and maintains solely for providing consistent statistics across the country.  Such classifications are intended to provide nothing more than a basis on which to compare data from set geographic areas in the U.S. Because they periodically change as a result of Census updates, they are not intended to be used to establish program boundaries or participation, or as part of a funding decisions.  

During the creation of Planning District Commissions in the late 1960s, such classifications were used as the basis for PDC boundaries, however given a PDC’s scope of purpose, PDC boundaries were further refined.  PDC boundaries required at least three independent local governments and considered:

• Whether the combination of jurisdictions created a land area that could effectively perform and support true regional planning;
• If the combined jurisdictions have a population of a 100,000 or more;
• Whether or not there was political compatibility or existing relationships and cooperation already existed among the jurisdictions;
• What natural geographic elements – mountains, rivers, bays, etc. – provided natural barriers to jurisdictional cooperation, and
• What socio-economic factors were shared among the jurisdictions.

To review the entire list of MSAs, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b-13-01.pdf