My boundaries for major regions (Los Angeles, San Diego: college, agricultural, commuting)

[the city]

Monterey to Santa Rosa (Bay Area)

Counties: Northern Monterey County, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Solano, Contra Costa, San Mateo, San Francisco, Sonoma, Marin, Alameda
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Sacramento metro to include Placer County, Sacramento County, and El Dorado Hills.
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Santa Barbara/Goleta to the end of San Diego county (Southern California)

Counties: Southern Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, LA County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County
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*Criteria for me to be a major metro is the city must have 400,000 population, a large college (20,000+ students), and have at least 500,000 population in the metro.The major metro area must have a large amount of population commuting into the metro region. Outlying counties to be included in the area must share similar cultural and economic ties. Major metro cities must have an economic presence in the state level.

San Francisco playing a large financial role, Los Angeles, playing a huge trade and entertainment role, and Sacramento playing a huge government role.

[Snort]

There's Arvin and there's "Not Arvin".

[kettlepot]

I assume for this discussion, the San Diego region is San Diego County, though if you wanted to refine it further, the mostly uninhabited eastern portion of the county covered by the Cleveland National "Forest" could be excluded.

Note for OP's original post - OP inadvertently left Napa County out of the Bay Area region - if you were counting counties and the number came up short.

[Adriatica]

Your "criteria" would also describe Fresno.

[the city]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

I assume for this discussion, the San Diego region is San Diego County, though if you wanted to refine it further, the mostly uninhabited eastern portion of the county covered by the Cleveland National "Forest" could be excluded.

Note for OP's original post - OP inadvertently left Napa County out of the Bay Area region - if you were counting counties and the number came up short.

yeah i did leave out napa by accident. my bad. it's definitely tied to the bay's economy.

[the city]

Originally Posted by Adriatica

Your "criteria" would also describe Fresno.

Yes, but on a state level if Fresno has a huge presence.

[cre8lite]

so what happens to the northern counties? mendocino, humboldt, del norte, etc

[the city]

Originally Posted by cre8lite

so what happens to the northern counties? mendocino, humboldt, del norte, etc

a bunch of small towns. no national or state play into the economy.

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by the city

Yes, but on a state level if Fresno has a huge presence.

Economically?

It is only the county seat of arguably the most productive agricultural county in the most productive agricultural state in the republic.

What else do you want?