[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13114-13118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6008]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Economic Analysis
[Docket 950-3020-64-5064-01]


Final Redefinition of the BEA Economic Areas

agency: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce.

action: Notice of final changes.

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summary: This is the third and final Federal Register notice relating 
to the redefinition of the BEA economic areas (EA's). In the first 
notice (56 FR 13049, March 9, 1993), BEA announced its ``Intent to 
Revise the Boundaries of the BEA Economic Areas'' and presented the 
procedures used to define the then-current EA's. In the second notice 
(59 FR 55416, November 7, 1994), BEA presented for public comment a 
``Proposed Redefinition of the BEA Economic Areas,'' which reduced 
their number from 183 to 174. This third notice presents the 172 EA's 
of the final redefinition, which reflects changes based on the comments 
received. In Alaska and western Montana, BEA is combining two EA's into 
one; and in Washington and Minnesota, BEA is reassigning a county from 
one EA to another.

effective date: April 10, 1995, BEA's regional economic measurement, 
analysis, and projections programs will use the new set of 172 EA's 
whenever EA data are presented.

addresses: Written inquiries may be sent to Kenneth Johnson, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis BE-61, Regional 
Economic Analysis Division, Washington, DC 20230; fax (202) 606-5321. 
Inquiries also may be sent by electronic mail on the Internet to 
``[email protected]''.

for further information contact: Kenneth Johnson, (202) 606-9219; fax 
(202) 606-5321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Part I: Background

    Under authority granted in 15 U.S.C. 175 et seq., BEA develops and 
presents geographically detailed economic data and facilitates regional 
economic analysis. As part of this obligation, in 1977, BEA defined 183 
economic area (EA's) covering the entire nation. The 1995 redefinition 
is necessary to maintain the analytical usefulness of the areas in 
light of the substantial changes in area commuting patterns shown by 
the 1990 Census of Population.
    Each EA consists of one or more economic nodes--metropolitan areas 
or similar areas that serve as centers of economic activity--and the 
surrounding counties that are economically related to the nodes. 
(Metropolitan areas include metropolitan statistical areas (MSA's), 
primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSA's), and New England county 
metropolitan areas (NECMA's).) Commuting patterns are the main factor 
used in determining the economic relationship among counties. The EA 
definition procedure requires that, as far as possible, each area 
include both the place of work and the place of residence of its labor 
force.
    For some analyses, government agencies and businesses need data 
that are more geographically detailed than EA data. Government agencies 
often use relatively small areas for design of their program 
regulations or implementation of their licensing programs. Businesses 
need such detail for determining plant locations and for defining sales 
and marketing territories. BEA is responding to these needs as part of 
the EA redefinition by first defining a set of 348 ``Component Economic 
Areas'' (CEA's) and then using these as building blocks for redefining 
the larger EA's.
    Each CEA consists of a single economic node and the surrounding 
counties that are economically related to the node. Of the nodes, 90 
percent are metropolitan, and 10 percent are nonmetropolitan. Each 
metropolitan area is the node of a different CEA; with minor 
exceptions, the nonmetropolitan nodes are nonmetropolitan counties 
where newspapers widely read in these areas are published.
    In general, the procedure used to redefine the EA's is similar to 
that used in 1977. First, nodes are identified. Then, non-nodal 
counties are assigned to nodes, mainly based on commuting patterns and 
on newspaper circulation. A procedural difference is that now node 
identification and the assignment to nodes of non-nodal counties are 
done in a more systematic way and at a more 
[[Page 13115]] geographically detailed level. The procedure first 
results in the definition of CEA's, which then are aggregated to form 
EA's.

Part II: Summary of Comments and Responses

    In the previous Federal Register notice (59 FR 55416, November 7, 
1994), BEA proposed the definition of 348 CEA's and 174 EA's. Persons 
who wished to comment on the proposal were given until December 22, 
1994, to do so. Of 12 comments received, seven suggested no changes, 
and five suggested changes. In response to the comments, in two 
instances, BEA is combining two EA's into one and thus is reducing 
their number from 174 to 172; in two other instances, BEA is 
reassigning a county from one EA to another. In one comment, a change 
was proposed in the criteria for identifying CEA's, and in another 
comment, a delay was proposed in the date when the new EA's become 
effective; neither of these comments affects the final EA definition.

1. Economic Area Combinations

    In the previous notice, BEA proposed two EA's, each a CEA as well, 
for Alaska--Anchorage and the Panhandle; a mountain range limits 
economic ties between the areas. In one comment, it was noted that for 
the two proposed EA's, a consistent set of regional economic data could 
be provided only for 1980 forward; prior to 1980, the Bureau of the 
Census used different boundaries for the ``Divisions'' of Alaska for 
which it assembled data. To overcome the data limitation, the final 
redefinition combines the two proposed EA's into one statewide EA, 
named for Anchorage. The proposed CEA's are retained, and they are 
subject to the data limitation.
    In addition, in the previous notice, BEA proposed two EA's, each a 
CEA as well, for western Montana--Missoula and Butte. In one comment, 
it was suggested that commuting across these EA boundaries is not 
minimal; in contrast, in another comment, the proposed EA's were 
endorsed. In response to the first comment, the final redefinition 
combines the two proposed EA's into one EA, named for Missoula. In 
response to the second comment, the proposed CEA's are retained.

2. County Reassignments

    In the previous notice, BEA proposed to assign Koochiching County, 
MN, to the Minneapolis EA and Kittitas County, WA, to the Seattle EA. 
In comments, it was noted that shopping opportunities attract many 
Koochiching residents to the Duluth EA and many Kittitas residents to 
the Richland EA. In addition, Koochiching residents are attracted by 
Duluth's recreational opportunities. In a further review of commuting 
data, BEA confirmed that nearly as many Koochiching residents commute 
to work to the Duluth EA as to the Minneapolis EA; and nearly as many 
Kittitas residents commute to work to the Richland EA as to the Seattle 
EA. Accordingly, Koochiching is reassigned to the Duluth EA, and 
Kittitas is reassigned to the Richland EA.

3. Identification of CEA's Having Nonmetropolitan Nodes

    In the previous notice, BEA proposed that each CEA that has a 
nonmetropolitan node should contain at least five counties that are 
linked by ties of labor-force commuting, as well as of newspaper 
circulation. In one comment, it was suggested that newspaper 
circulation data should play a larger role in the identification of 
such CEA's. In particular, counties that are locations of newspapers 
read by specified numbers of persons could be identified as 
nonmetropolitan nodes, regardless of the number of counties 
economically tied to the nodes. In BEA's view, economic ties among 
counties should be given substantial weight in the identification of 
CEA's.

4. Effective Date for the New Economic Areas

    The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics (BTS) presents data from its Commodity Flow Survey for 
regions; the regions, called National Transportation Analysis Regions 
(NTAR's), are groupings of the EA's previously published. This new set 
of EA's might entail a new set of NTAR's. In comments on the previous 
notice, BTS requested that BEA delay the effective date for the new 
EA's by one or two years in order to provide enough time for BTS and 
BEA to coordinate their area redefinitions. BEA cannot accommodate this 
request because it is committed to preparing economic projections for 
the redefined EA's as part of the set of BEA regional projections to be 
prepared this year (1995).

Part III: Map and List of the New 172 BEA Economic Areas

    Codes from 001 to 172 are assigned to the new EA's in approximate 
geographic order, beginning with 001 in northern Maine, continuing 
south to Florida, then north to the Great Lakes, and continuing in a 
serpentine pattern to the West Coast. Analysts are cautioned that these 
codes differ from those in the previous notice. Except for the Western 
Oklahoma EA (126), the Northern Michigan EA (058), and the 17 EA's that 
mainly correspond to consolidated metropolitan statistical areas 
(CMSA's), each EA is named for the metropolitan area or city that is 
the node of its largest CEA and that is usually, but not always, the 
largest metropolitan area or city in the EA. The following list 
provides EA codes and names. EA boundaries and codes are shown on the 
map following the list.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             EA code                                Name                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
001..............................  Bangor, ME.                          
002..............................  Portland, ME.                        
003..............................  Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-    
                                    Brockton, MA-NH.                    
004..............................  Burlington, VT.                      
005..............................  Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY.         
006..............................  Syracuse, NY.                        
007..............................  Rochester, NY.                       
008..............................  Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY.           
009..............................  State College, PA.                   
010..............................  New York-No. New Jersey-Long Island, 
                                    NY-NJ-CT-PA (CMSA-70)               
011..............................  Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA.     
012..............................  Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic     
                                    City, PA-NJ-DE-MD (CMSA-77)         
013..............................  Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV    
                                    (CMSA-97)                           
014..............................  Salisbury, MD.                       
015..............................  Richmond-Petersburg, VA.             
016..............................  Staunton, VA.                        
017..............................  Roanoke, VA.                         
018..............................  Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, 
                                    NC.                                 
019..............................  Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC.      
020..............................  Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, 
                                    VA-NC.                              
021..............................  Greenville, NC.                      
022..............................  Fayetteville, NC.                    
023..............................  Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC. 
024..............................  Columbia, SC.                        
025..............................  Wilmington, NC.                      
026..............................  Charleston-North Charleston, SC.     
027..............................  Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC.                
028..............................  Savannah, GA.                        
029..............................  Jacksonville, FL.                    
030..............................  Orlando, FL.                         
031..............................  Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL (CMSA-56). 
032..............................  Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL.           
033..............................  Sarasota-Bradenton, FL.              
034..............................  Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 
035..............................  Tallahassee, FL.                     
036..............................  Dothan, AL.                          
037..............................  Albany, GA.                          
038..............................  Macon, GA.                           
039..............................  Columbus, GA-AL.                     
040..............................  Atlanta, GA.                         
041..............................  Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC. 
042..............................  Asheville, NC.                       
043..............................  Chattanooga, TN-GA.                  
044..............................  Knoxville, TN.                       
[[Page 13116]]                                                          
                                                                        
045..............................  Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-  
                                    VA.                                 
046..............................  Hickory-Morganton, NC.               
047..............................  Lexington, KY.                       
048..............................  Charleston, WV.                      
049..............................  Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN (CMSA- 
                                    21).                                
050..............................  Dayton-Springfield, OH.              
051..............................  Columbus, OH.                        
052..............................  Wheeling, WV-OH.                     
053..............................  Pittsburgh, PA.                      
054..............................  Erie, PA.                            
055..............................  Cleveland-Akron, OH (CMSA-28).       
056..............................  Toledo, OH.                          
057..............................  Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI (CMSA-   
                                    35).                                
058..............................  Northern Michigan, MI.               
059..............................  Green Bay, WI.                       
060..............................  Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI.         
061..............................  Traverse City, MI.                   
062..............................  Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI.   
063..............................  Milwaukee-Racine, WI (CMSA-63).      
064..............................  Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI (CMSA-
                                    14).                                
065..............................  Elkhart-Goshen, IN.                  
066..............................  Fort Wayne, IN.                      
067..............................  Indianapolis, IN.                    
068..............................  Champaign-Urbana, IL.                
069..............................  Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY.         
070..............................  Louisville, KY-IN.                   
071..............................  Nashville, TN.                       
072..............................  Paducah, KY.                         
073..............................  Memphis, TN-AR-MS.                   
074..............................  Huntsville, AL.                      
075..............................  Tupelo, MS.                          
076..............................  Greenville, MS.                      
077..............................  Jackson, MS.                         
078..............................  Birmingham, AL.                      
079..............................  Montgomery, AL.                      
080..............................  Mobile, AL.                          
081..............................  Pensacola, FL.                       
082..............................  Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS.      
083..............................  New Orleans, LA.                     
084..............................  Baton Rouge, LA.                     
085..............................  Lafayette, LA.                       
086..............................  Lake Charles, LA.                    
087..............................  Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX.            
088..............................  Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.         
089..............................  Monroe, LA.                          
090..............................  Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR.   
091..............................  Fort Smith, AR-OK.                   
092..............................  Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR.  
093..............................  Joplin, MO.                          
094..............................  Springfield, MO.                     
095..............................  Jonesboro, AR.                       
096..............................  St. Louis, MO-IL.                    
097..............................  Springfield, IL.                     
098..............................  Columbia, MO.                        
099..............................  Kansas City, MO-KS.                  
100..............................  Des Moines, IA.                      
101..............................  Peoria-Pekin, IL.                    
102..............................  Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL. 
103..............................  Cedar Rapids, IA.                    
104..............................  Madison, WI.                         
105..............................  La Crosse, WI-MN.                    
106..............................  Rochester, MN.                       
107..............................  Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI.         
108..............................  Wausau, WI.                          
109..............................  Duluth-Superior, MN-WI.              
110..............................  Grand Forks, ND-MN.                  
111..............................  Minot, ND.                           
112..............................  Bismarck, ND.                        
113..............................  Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN.               
114..............................  Aberdeen, SD.                        
115..............................  Rapid City, SD.                      
116..............................  Sioux Falls, SD.                     
117..............................  Sioux City, IA-NE.                   
118..............................  Omaha, NE-IA.                        
119..............................  Lincoln, NE.                         
120..............................  Grand Island, NE.                    
121..............................  North Platte, NE.                    
122..............................  Wichita, KS.                         
123..............................  Topeka, KS.                          
124..............................  Tulsa, OK.                           
125..............................  Oklahoma City, OK.                   
126..............................  Western Oklahoma, OK.                
127..............................  Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (CMSA-31).     
128..............................  Abilene, TX.                         
129..............................  San Angelo, TX.                      
130..............................  Austin-San Marcos, TX.               
131..............................  Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX (CMSA-
                                    42).                                
132..............................  Corpus Christi, TX.                  
133..............................  McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.        
134..............................  San Antonio, TX.                     
135..............................  Odessa-Midland, TX.                  
136..............................  Hobbs, NM.                           
137..............................  Lubbock, TX.                         
138..............................  Amarillo, TX.                        
139..............................  Santa Fe, NM.                        
140..............................  Pueblo, CO.                          
141..............................  Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO (CMSA-34).
142..............................  Scottsbluff, NE.                     
143..............................  Caster, WY.                          
144..............................  Billings, MT.                        
145..............................  Great Falls, MT.                     
146..............................  Missoula, MT.                        
147..............................  Spokane, WA.                         
148..............................  Idaho Falls, ID.                     
149..............................  Twin Falls, ID.                      
150..............................  Boise City, ID.                      
151..............................  Reno, NV.                            
152..............................  Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT.            
153..............................  Las Vegas, NV-AZ.                    
154..............................  Flagstaff, AZ.                       
155..............................  Farmington, NM.                      
156..............................  Albuquerque, NM.                     
157..............................  El Paso, TX.                         
158..............................  Phoenix-Mesa, AZ.                    
159..............................  Tucson, AZ.                          
160..............................  Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, 
                                    CA (CMSA-49)                        
161..............................  San Diego, CA.                       
162..............................  Fresno, CA.                          
163..............................  San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA   
                                    (CMSA-84).                          
164..............................  Sacramento-Yolo, CA (CMSA-82)        
165..............................  Redding, CA.                         
166..............................  Eugene-Springfield, OR.              
167..............................  Portland-Salem, OR-WA (CMSA-79).     
168..............................  Pendleton, OR.                       
169..............................  Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA.        
170..............................  Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA (CMSA-  
                                    91)                                 
171..............................  Anchorage, AK.                       
172..............................  Honolulu, HI.                        
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                                                 BILLING CODE 3510-06-M
[[Page 13117]]

[GRAPHIC][TIFF OMITTED]TN10MR95.021



BILLING CODE 3510-06-C [[Page 13118]] 

Part IV: Availability of Additional Information

    The codes, names, and numerical counts of the counties contained in 
each EA and CEA and of the CEA's contained in each EA are available 
through two electronic services from the Commerce Department's STAT-
USA: For the Economic Bulletin Board (EBB), use a personal computer and 
modem, dial (202) 482-3870, and follow the instructions. For Internet, 
access the EBB using Telnet address ``ebb.stat-usa.gov'' for remote 
login, and download the file named ``eacodes.exe.'' For prices and 
other information about these services, call (202) 482-1986.
    The codes, names, and numerical counts are also available on a 3\1/
2\-inch, high-density diskette for $20. When ordering, please specify 
the BEA Accession Number 61-95-40-101. Send your order, along with a 
check or money order payable to ``Bureau of Economic Analysis,'' to 
Public Information Office, Order Desk BE-53, Bureau of Economic 
Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. For 
further information or to order using MasterCard or VISA, call (202) 
606-3700.
Carol S. Carson,
Director.
[FR Doc. 95-6008 Filed 3-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-M