Where does wikipedia get metro population numbers? (Minneapolis, Austin: statistics, design)

[pete6032]

Wikipedia article on TC metro:
Minneapolis

Population 3,615,902 (US: 13th)

2010 Census says 3,279,833

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by pete6032

Wikipedia article on TC metro:
Minneapolis



2010 Census says 3,279,833

Wikipedia says 3,615,902 (US: 13th) for CSA, and 3,317,308 (US: 16th) for MSA.

You appear to be mixing up CSA and MSA numbers. Wikipedia provides links to all of its sources, though it does look like the source for MSA information:

http://www.census.gov/compendia/stat...es/12s0020.xls

has been updated since the Wikipedia text was updated. It says 3,279,833 now, but that was apparently not the case when it was originally used as a footnote.

[politiker]

Two different types of measurements. 3.6 is the CSA, 3.2 is the MSA.

Here is the link to the Wiki page on CSAs in the US. Table of United States Combined Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Thegonagle]

Wiki gets their population data from the last person to edit the article.

[knke0204]

While you're on Wikipedia, search the difference between an MSA and a CSA and you'll find your answer.

[Astron1000]

Also realize that some metropolitan areas do NOT qualify for a CSA designation. Therefore they are excluded from the rankings. Phoenix is a prime example. It's clearly the 14th most populous region in America, but doesn't even show up at all in the CSA ranking. All told, the Twin Cities are roughly the 16th most populous area in the US. Just ahead of San Diego and just behind Seattle. Third largest in the Midwest (with a healthy growth rate). It's smaller than Chicago and Detroit, but larger than St. Louis or Cleveland.

In this regard, the MSA statistics are probably the best indicator of national rank. But it's also tricky. Washington DC and Baltimore are considered two separate metro areas under the MSA rules. But they are just close enough that they can be considered one CSA. Hence, it's the 4th-largest CSA in America. But it's the 7th and 20th-largest metro areas if taken separately.

Basically, it is not wise to accept just one number or one ranking to give you some sort of "absolute" answer!

It is interesting though, when you look at the numbers and realize the following (regarding METRO areas!):

Tampa is bigger than Denver.

Pittsburgh is smaller than Minneapolis

Portland is bigger than Cleveland

Nashville is smaller than Columbus

Miami is bigger than San Francisco

St. Louis is smaller than San Diego

Omaha is larger than El Paso

New Orleans is smaller than Hartford

Sacramento is bigger than Kansas City

Indianapolis is smaller than San Jose

Charlotte is bigger than Austin

Memphis is smaller than Providence

Just some interesting comparisons!