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It matters for the Triangle's visibility. Together the two metros represent almost 1.7 million people. This helps the Triangle compete with other metro areas that are of similar size. When we combine all that the Triangle has to offer in one package, we are a stronger force. Apart, the metros areas don't bring as much visibility to our available workforce, talent, resources, institutions, etc.
I guess I don't see how the fact that the OBM has defined SMSAs in a particular way has any bearing on how this area presents itself.
.....Because people compare data apples to apples!
Using the current Metro area data, the Durham metro (including Chapel Hill) puts less than 500,000 people "on the table" when it competes for a site relocation, etc. with metros that are actually smaller than the Triangle.
Here's another example of why it matters. When Macy's bought Hecht's, they converted the store in Wilmington and then closed it because the Metro area didn't have 500,000 people. So, obviously, national retailers use data as much as corporations do to make decisions.
All of us who know the Triangle well know the reality of how it functions. Those who don't know it will rely on data. And, that data for the Triangle is diluted because of the way it's reported.
When I researched the Census methodology on establishing metro areas, I cannot identify a single objective reason why the Triangle was split into two Metros.
I tend to think that any business that relied solely on the OBM definition of the SMSAs, and ignored other readily available data, would be rather naive. Surely just because the OBM breaks the area into two SMSAs doesn't mean that data can't be aggregated for other purposes.
I tend to think that any business that relied solely on the OBM definition of the SMSAs, and ignored other readily available data, would be rather naive. Surely just because the OBM breaks the area into two SMSAs doesn't mean that data can't be aggregated for other purposes.
There's a second tier of census metro areas called a CSA (combined statistical area) which typically unites more disperate but relatively close metro areas.
In the end, I think that Durham has been suffering visibility since the split into two Metros. The big winner has been Cary because everytime the Raleigh/Cary Metro area has received an recent accolade, Cary's name has been included in the story. I really think that the Triangle's named (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill) communities are interdependent and that they all deserve to share in the accolades that are received.
There's a second tier of census metro areas called a CSA (combined statistical area) which typically unites more disperate but relatively close metro areas.
In the end, I think that Durham has been suffering visibility since the split into two Metros. The big winner has been Cary because everytime the Raleigh/Cary Metro area has received an recent accolade, Cary's name has been included in the story. I really think that the Triangle's named (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill) communities are interdependent and that they all deserve to share in the accolades that are received.
FWIW, a number of "Durham boosters" -- including the head of Durham's DCVB -- pushed for and are quite pleased with the split of MSAs.
First, it prevents the region from being seen as a monocentric region focused around Raleigh and makes clear there are two centers of activity.
Second, it hasn't prevented both areas from showing up in lists. In fact, you'll often see Durham and Raleigh make top 10 lists, giving us two showings there.
The metros were split by Census 7-8 years ago. Has growth slowed? New retail? New business relocations? Hardly (save for recent recession). Where's the impact?
I don't have a stake in the outcome of the debate but I don't think it's a strictly obvious decision.
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