Metropolitan Statistical Area

{
  "id": "MLC-T-TRA-000239",
  "term": "Metropolitan Statistical Area",
  "field": "Transportation",
  "definition": "1. A relatively freestanding metropolitan area (MA) that is not closely associated with other MAs. These areas typically are surrounded by nonmetropolitan counties. A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) comprises one or more counties except in New England where MSAs are composed of cities and towns rather than whole counties.\n\n2. An MSA is a county or group of contiguous counties that contains at least one city with a population of 50,000 or more or a Census Bureau-defined urbanized area of at least 50,000 with a metropolitan population of at least 100,000. In addition to the county or counties that contain all or part of the main city or urbanized area, an MSA may contain other counties that are metropolitan in character and are economically and socially integrated with the main city.",
  "abbreviation": "MSA",
  "references": [
    "TranStats Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/transportation/metropolitan-statistical-area/"
}