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I was asked by private message why I was comparing msa's to csa's. In particular, I was asked about Albuquerque.
Well, my answer is simple. I was comparing PCSA's since, in its infinite wisdom, the Census Bureau has made it impossible to compare apples to apples any other way with some metros having a multiple number of components while others do not. In the end, the PCSA table is the closest thing we have to compare the full extent of metros nationally. Why does Charlotte's PCSA have 8 components while places like Albuquerque only has one? I don't know. But, I suspect that Albuquerque's one component measures what the Census Bureau considers the full extent of the city's metro area.
So, to that end and according to the table, Albuquerque is a primary census area and is not part of a greater CSA. Now, that table could be wrong and am happy to look at tables that show otherwise.
BTW, this poll is not an apples to apples comparison in my opinion.
Using the PCSAs of the cities listed in the poll, it comes out like this:
Omaha - 58th in size
Jacksonville - 40th in size
Charlotte - 24th in size
Albuquerque - 60th in size
Riverside - a part of L.A.'s #2
Oklahoma City - 44th in size
Clearly, Riverside is part of the largest metro of the group. However, it can't be compared to the others because it's a piece of a much larger pie in which it is not the "headliner" city. It lacks the ability to become its own identity in the way that the others can.
As for the others, they range from 24th to 60th with largest one being 2.5 times the size of the smallest one. These are not comparable in my opinion and this looks like another one of these push polls where there is an intended correct answer by the O.P. I could be wrong but it feels that way to me. So, I am choosing to not participate in the poll itself.
While I think it's logical to compare what might happen going forward between Jacksonville (40) and Oklahoma City (44) or between Omaha (58) and Albuquerque (60), I think it's silly to have Riverside, Charlotte and Albuquerque lumped together in a horse race of any sort.
I created this thread a long time ago. I didn't realize how much of a distance was between Charlotte and Omaha or ABQ. I knew their city proper population was relatively close. Riverside, I didn't realize was sort of a bedroom community to LA. At the time I had heard about Omaha's growth and was curious to what extent. Now, as you know I am from Charlotte and love my city. However, as the OP I voted for Jacksonville. I can't remember why though.
I was asked by private message why I was comparing msa's to csa's. In particular, I was asked about Albuquerque.
Well, my answer is simple. I was comparing PCSA's since, in its infinite wisdom, the Census Bureau has made it impossible to compare apples to apples any other way with some metros having a multiple number of components while others do not. In the end, the PCSA table is the closest thing we have to compare the full extent of metros nationally. Why does Charlotte's PCSA have 8 components while places like Albuquerque only has one? I don't know. But, I suspect that Albuquerque's one component measures what the Census Bureau considers the full extent of the city's metro area.
So, to that end and according to the table, Albuquerque is a primary census area and is not part of a greater CSA. Now, that table could be wrong and am happy to look at tables that show otherwise.
To add to what you're saying, the components in Charlotte's CSA are mostly micro areas with Charlotte as the only MSA. Places like Mooresville, Shelby, and Salisbury in NC and Chester and Lancaster in SC are very connected to Charlotte, but for some reason aren't apart of the MSA. As we all know Raleigh and Durham are one metro and never should have been separated. The PCSA is an attempt to capture the true SIZE of a metro. IMO, the urban area tells how a metro FEELS.
Well....sort of....
The urban area tells you how the more developed parts of a metro FEELS but it doesn't tell you diddly squat about how the the more suburban and more rural/less undeveloped parts of a metro feel.
Well....sort of....
The urban area tells you how the more developed parts of a metro FEELS but it doesn't tell you diddly squat about how the the more suburban and more rural/less undeveloped parts of a metro feel.
True. I guess I should say the urban area gives you an idea of urban an area feels. The suburban areas and rural areas are definitely not connected in this sense.
I'd put Sacramento on the list. It is on the fringe of becoming a metropolis type city in terms of population. The Metro is roughly 2.2 mil people, which is bigger than metro areas such as Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Charelotte, which have professional sports teams and are already viewed as major US cities. There have been two 25+ office buildings built downtown within the last 5 years, and while that is not entirely impressive, two 59 story residential condo towers began construction there about 5 years ago, but were dropped due to rising costs (there is now a giant hole downtown where the pile driving began). Those condos would have been the largest on the entire west coast and are a signal that Sacramento is at least beginning to think and plan like a city should of it's size.
How is Louisville underrated??? I don't recall too many threads dissing Louisville. And it has national attention due to the Kentucky Derby.
Its not that its underrated its just like unknown on the national level.
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