Metropolitan & Micropolitan Area Profiles

The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas according to published standards that are applied to Census Bureau data. The general concept of a metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area is that of a core area containing a substantial population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core. Currently defined metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas are based on application of 2000 standards to 2000 decennial census data. New metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area definitions were announced by OMB effective June 6, 2003. These are revised annually by OMB, though no changes affecting Kentucky have occurred since June 2003.

Standard definitions of metropolitan areas were first issued in 1949 by the then Bureau of the Budget (predecessor of OMB), under the designation "standard metropolitan area" (SMA). The term was changed to "standard metropolitan statistical area" (SMSA) in 1959, and to "metropolitan statistical area" (MSA) in 1983. The term "metropolitan area" (MA) was adopted in 1990 and referred collectively to metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs), and primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs). The term "core based statistical area" (CBSA) became effective in 2000 and refers collectively to metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas.

Note: For a better understanding of this topic, please read the Census Bureau discussion and history of Metropolitan and Micropolitan concepts. You can follow the additions and changes at this Census Bureau link to current definitions.

Linked below are 58-page demographic profiles in Adobe PDF format. The profiles are derived from the 2000 Census SF3 data.

Map: 2003 Geography - Kentucky Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas

Map: 2000 Geography - Kentucky Metropolitan Areas

Combined Statistical Area Profiles (2000 Census Data, 2003 Geography)

• Cincinnati CSA
• Corbin-London CSA
• Lexingtion CSA
• Louisville CSA
• Paducah CSA

Metropolitan Statistical Area Profiles (2000 Census Data, 2003 Geography)

• Bowling Green
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Clarksville, Tennessee
• Elizabethtown Metro Area
• Evansville
• Huntington-Ashland
• Lexington
• Louisville
• Owensboro

Micropolitan Statistical Area Profiles (2000 Census Data, 2003 Geography)

• Campbellsville Micro Area
• Corbin Micro Area
• Danville Micro Area
• Frankfort Micro Area
• Glasgow Micro Area
• London Micro Area
• Madisonville Micro Area
• Mayfield Micro Area

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Metropolitan Statistical Areas (2000 Census Data, 2000 Geography)

Linked below are 19-page demographic profiles in Adobe PDF format. The profiles are derived from the 2000 Census SF3 data, but represent the 2000 geography). Note that these profiles contain only the part of the MSA in Kentucky.

Cincinnati Combined MSA (Kentucky part only)

Cincinnati Primary MSA (Kentucky part only)

Clarksville-Hopkinsville MSA (Kentucky part only)

Evansville MSA (Kentucky part only)

Huntington-Ashland MSA (Kentucky part only)

Lexington MSA (Kentucky part only)

Louisville MSA (Kentucky part only)

Louisville MSA (Kentucky and Indiana parts)

Owensboro MSA (Kentucky part only)