[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17018-17033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7690]



[[Page 17017]]

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Part IV





Department of Commerce





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Bureau of the Census



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Urban Area Criteria for Census 2000--Proposed Criteria; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 66 , No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 17018]]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 010209034-1034-01]
RIN Number 0607-XX63


Urban Area Criteria for Census 2000--Proposed Criteria

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Criteria and Request for Public Comment.

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SUMMARY: This Notice provides the Bureau of the Census' (Census 
Bureau's) proposed criteria for defining urban and rural territory 
based on the results of Census 2000. It also provides a description of 
the changes from the criteria used for the 1990 census. The Census 
Bureau identifies and classifies urban and rural population and 
delineates urbanized areas (UAs) after each decennial census using 
criteria that originated with the 1950 census. Since the 1950 census, 
the Census Bureau has reviewed and revised these criteria for each 
decennial census. These criteria revisions over the years reflect the 
Census Bureau's desire to improve the classification of urban and rural 
population by refining the criteria to take advantage of improvements 
in data collection and reporting methodologies as well as advancements 
in technology.
    Since the 1990 census, significant technological advancements, 
together with already existing nationwide block numbering (which was 
initiated with the 1990 census), has made it possible to classify urban 
and rural territory on a uniform basis. The Census Bureau proposes a 
number of significant changes to the criteria for classification of 
urban and rural population to make use of this opportunity to meet its 
objective of a uniform result nationwide.
    The Census Bureau identifies and tabulates data for the urban and 
rural population and territory solely for the purpose of statistical 
presentation and comparison. It does not take into account or attempt 
to anticipate any nonstatistical uses that may be made of these areas 
or their associated data, nor does it attempt to meet the requirements 
of such nonstatistical program uses. Nonetheless, the Census Bureau 
recognizes that some federal and state agencies are legally required to 
use the Census Bureau-defined urban and rural classifications for 
allocating program funds, setting program standards, and implementing 
aspects of their programs. The agencies that make such nonstatistical 
uses of the areas and data should be aware that the changes to the 
urban and rural criteria also might affect the implementation of their 
programs.
    If a federal, state, local, or tribal agency voluntarily uses these 
urban and rural criteria in a nonstatistical program, it is that 
agency's responsibility to ensure that the results are appropriate for 
such use. In considering the appropriateness of such nonstatistical 
program uses, the Census Bureau urges each agency to consider 
permitting appropriate modifications of the results of implementing the 
urban and rural criteria specifically for the purposes of its program. 
When a program permits such modifications, the Census Bureau urges each 
agency to use descriptive terminology that clearly identifies the 
different criteria being applied so as to avoid confusion with the 
Census Bureau's official urban and rural classifications.

DATES: Any comments, suggestions, or recommendations concerning this 
Census 2000 proposed program in this notice should be submitted in 
writing April 27, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Address all written comments to the Director, U.S. Census 
Bureau, Room 2049, Federal Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Marx, Chief, Geography 
Division, Census Bureau, Room 651, WP-1, Washington, DC 20233-7400, 
telephone (301) 457-1099-2131, or e-mail ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    This notice does not meet the criteria for a ``significant 
regulatory action'' as specified in Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because a notice of program criteria is not required by Title 5, 
United States Code (U.S.C.), section 553 or any other law, a Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis is not required and has not been prepared (5 
U.S.C. 603 (a)).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This program notice does not represent a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, Title 44, 
U.S.C., Chapter 35.

Criteria

    The following criteria will apply to the 50 states, the District of 
Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Census Bureau may 
apply these criteria to other areas as well.

I. Census 2000 Urbanized Area and Urban Cluster Definitions

    For Census 2000, an urbanized area (UA) will consist of a densely 
settled core of census block groups (BGs) \1\ and census blocks \2\ 
that meet minimum population density requirements, along with adjacent 
densely settled surrounding census blocks that together encompass a 
population of at least 50,000 people, at least 35,000 of whom live in 
an area that is not part of a military installation. For Census 2000, 
an urban cluster (UC) will consist of a densely settled core of census 
BGs and census blocks that meet minimum population density 
requirements, along with adjacent densely settled surrounding census 
blocks that together encompass a population of at least 2,500 people, 
but fewer than 50,000 people, or greater than 50,000 people if fewer 
than 35,000 of them live in an area that is not part of a military 
installation. All criteria based on land area, population, and 
population density will reflect the information contained in the Census 
Bureau's Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing 
(TIGER) data base and the population counts from the official Census 
2000 redistricting data file.
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    \1\ A census block group (BG) is a group of census blocks within 
a census tract whose numbers begin with the same digit; for example, 
BG 3 within a census tract includes all census blocks numbered from 
3000 to 3999.
    \2\ A census block is an area normally bounded by visible 
features, such as streets, streams, and railroads, and by nonvisible 
features, such as the boundary of an incorporated place, minor civil 
division, county, or other Census 2000 tabulation entity.
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    A. The ``densely settled core'' of a UA or UC shall include the 
following:
    1. One or more contiguous \3\ census BGs that have a total land 
area less than or equal to 2 square miles and a population density of 
at least 1,000 people per square mile (ppsm) \4\ (Figures 1 and 6.). 
(Please note that all illustrative figures are attachments located at 
the end of the document.)
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    \3\ Contiguity requires at least one point of intersection.
    \4\ Population density is calculated by dividing the total 
population of the census BG or census block by the land area of that 
BG or block.
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    2. One or more contiguous census blocks that have a population 
density of at least 1,000 ppsm, if no qualifying BG exists.
    3. One or more census BGs that have a land area less than or equal 
to 2 square miles, a population density of at least 500 ppsm, and that 
are contiguous with the census BGs and census blocks identified by 
criterion I.A.1. (Figures 1 and 6).

[[Page 17019]]

    4. One or more contiguous census blocks that have a population 
density of at least 500 ppsm and that are contiguous with the 
qualifying census BGs and census blocks identified by criterion I.A.1., 
I.A.2., or I.A.3. (Figures 2 and 7).
    5. The Census Bureau will include in the core any noncontiguous 
census BG(s) and/or census block(s) that otherwise qualifies based on 
population density and land area if it can be reached using a ``hop'' 
connection. That is, if the distance to the core is no greater than 0.5 
miles, and it is connected to the core by one or more nonqualifying 
census blocks that:
    a. When combined, have the highest population density along the 
shortest road connection, and
    b. Has a combined population density of at least 500 ppsm, or
    c. The least populated area (core or noncontiguous census BG(s) or 
census block(s) has a population greater than or equal to 1,000 
(Figures 3 and 9).
    6. Census BGs and/or census blocks surrounded by the core, as 
defined above, provided the BGs or blocks contain fewer than 5 square 
miles \5\ (Figure 8).
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    \5\ Census BGs and/or census blocks are defined as 
``surrounded'' if the boundary of the BG or block completely borders 
the core. Additionally, bodies of water wider than one mile across 
are excluded from the equation, so that a census BG and/or census 
block completely surrounded by the core and excluded water bodies 
are included in the core.
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    7. Census BGs and/or blocks that are indentations into the core, as 
long as the indentation is no longer than 1 mile across the open end, 
and has a length at least three times greater than the distance across 
the open end (Figure 8).
    B. Census BGs and/or census blocks adjacent to a UA or UC core 
consists of the following:
    1. Territory made up of one or more contiguous census blocks, with 
a population density of at least 500 ppsm, that are not contiguous to 
the core, provided that the core of the UA or UC has a population of at 
least 1,000, and that the contiguous blocks are within the distance of 
either a jump, a jump plus one or more hops, or an uninhabitable 
territory connection.
    2. The following connection criteria determine the method used for 
connecting densely settled noncontiguous territory to the qualifying 
core of a UA or UC:
    a. The Census Bureau will include additional noncontiguous area in 
a UA or UC using a ``jump'' connection if the noncontiguous area is 
within 2.5 miles of the main body of a core that has a total population 
of at least 1,500 people, and is connected to it by one or more 
nonqualifying census blocks that:
    (1) Are adjacent to a road connection;
    (2) When combined, have the highest population density along the 
connection; and
    (3) Together with the qualifying outlying blocks/BGs, have a 
combined population density of at least 500 ppsm (Figures 3 and 10), or 
the noncontiguous qualifying blocks/BGs has a total population greater 
than or equal to 1,000.
    The Census Bureau will not include additional noncontiguous area in 
a UA or UC if the connection required to include it is greater than 0.5 
miles and the link required to connect the additional area starts from 
territory already qualifying under criterion I.B.1.b.
    b. For territory added using a jump, the Census Bureau will include 
additional noncontiguous area in a UA or UC that is connected to 
territory added using a jump by using a ``hop'' connection if the 
distance between the UA or UC is within 0.5 miles of qualifying 
territory, and connected to it by one or more nonqualifying census 
blocks that:
    (1) When combined, have the highest population density along the 
shortest road connection; and
    (2) Together with the outlying qualifying territory, have a 
combined population density of at least 500 ppsm (Figures 3 and 9), or 
the noncontiguous qualifying territory has a total population greater 
than or equal to 1,000. Hop connections are allowed after jump 
connections as long as the conditions in criterion I.B.1.b. still 
apply.
    c. The Census Bureau will include uninhabitable territory \6\ to 
the main body of the core or adjacent qualifying territory if the area 
to connect it is within 5 road miles, and as long as the 5 miles 
include no more than 2.5 miles of otherwise habitable territory. In 
addition, one of the following conditions must be met:
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    \6\ Uninhabitable territory is defined as territory in which 
residential development is not possible; that is, it consists of 
bodies of water, national parks and monuments, and military 
installations. Water is an example of a topographic situation in 
which habitation is not possible due to a physical limitation. 
National parks, such as Yellowstone and Yosemite, and military 
installations are examples of territory in which habitation is 
restricted due to governmental regulations. Because the Census 
Bureau does not maintain an extensive land use data base for the 
entire country, only the aforementioned land use types, which are 
included within the Census Bureau's TIGER data base, will be used 
when distinguishing between habitable and uninhabitable territory.
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    (1) The noncontiguous qualifying territory has a total population 
greater than or equal to 1,000; or
    (2) The overall population density of the linking and noncontiguous 
qualifying territory (excluding water) has a total population density 
of at least 500 ppsm (Figure 4).
    Hops are allowed after uninhabitable territory connections as long 
as the conditions in criterion I.B.1.a. still apply.
    3. Other territory with a population density of less than 500 ppsm, 
provided that it:
    a. Eliminates an enclave of no more than 5 square miles in the 
territory otherwise qualifying for a UA or UC when the surrounding 
territory qualifies on the basis of population density, or
    b. Closes an indentation in the boundary of the territory otherwise 
qualifying for inclusion in a UA or UC if the contiguous territory 
qualifies on the basis of population density, provided that the 
indentation:
    (1) Is no more than 1 mile across the open end;
    (2) Has a length at least 3 times greater than the distance across 
the open end;
    (3) Is closeable by means of a census block boundary located across 
or close to its open end; and
    (4) Encompasses no more than 5 square miles.
    4. As a result of the UA and UC delineation, an incorporated place 
\7\ or census designated place (CDP) \8\, may be partially within and 
partially outside of a UA or UC. Any place that is split by a UA or UC 
boundary is referred to as an extended place (Figures 5 and 11).
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    \7\ An incorporated place is a governmental unit designated as a 
city, town (except in New England and Wisconsin), village, or 
borough (except in New York and Alaska), and includes all 
consolidated cities.
    \8\ A census designated place (CDP) is a statistical equivalent 
of an incorporated place and represents a locally defined named 
area. CDPs include comunidades and zonas urbana in Puerto Rico.
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II. UA and UC Central Places

    The Census Bureau will identify one or more central places for each 
UA and UC (if an incorporated place or CDP exists within the UC) using 
the following criteria:
    A. The UA or UC central place is an incorporated place or CDP with 
the most population within the UA or UC. Additional places may become 
UA or UC central places provided that:
    1. The place's population within a UA or UC exceeds 50,000 people; 
or
    2. The place's population is at least \2/3\ of the most populous UA 
or UC central place.

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III. UA and UC Titles and Codes

    The title of a UA or UC identifies the place(s) that is (are) most 
populated within the UA or UC. All population requirements for places 
and minor civil divisions \9\ (MCDs) apply to the population of the 
place or MCD that is within the specific UA or UC being named.
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    \9\ A minor civil division is a legal subdivision of a county or 
statistically equivalent entity. Governmental MCDs exist in 
Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, 
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, 
New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South 
Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
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A. UA and UC Titles
    The following criteria are used to determine UA and UC titles:
    1. The UA or UC title includes the name of the incorporated place 
with the most population within the UA or UC (minimum population of 
2,500). As many as two additional incorporated place names can be part 
of the UA or UC title. Additional incorporated place names are added to 
the title, provided that either the incorporated place's UA or UC 
population exceeds 250,000 people or the incorporated place has both 
(1) a UA or UC population of at least 2,500 and (2) a UA or UC 
population that is at least \2/3\ of the total in the most populous 
place in the UA or UC.
    If the UA or UC does not contain an incorporated place having at 
least 2,500 people, the UA or UC title will include the single name 
that occurs first from the following list:
    a. The nonmilitary CDP with the largest population within the UA or 
UC, if its population is at least 2,500;
    b. The incorporated place with the largest population within the UA 
or UC;
    c. The nonmilitary CDP with the largest population within the UA or 
UC;
    d. The military CDP with the largest population within the UA or 
UC;
    e. The governmental MCD with the largest population within the UA 
or UC; or
    f. A local name recognized for the area by the United States 
Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System, with 
preference given to post office names recognized by the United States 
Postal Service (USPS).
    2. The criterion for the sequence of place or MCD names in the UA 
or UC title consists of the qualifying names in descending order of 
their Census 2000 population within the UA or UC.
    3. The UA or UC title will include the USPS abbreviation of the 
name of each state into which the UA or UC extends. The order of the 
state names is the same as the order of the related place or MCD names 
in the UA or UC title. For UAs or UCs that extend into states in which 
there are no place names as part of the UA or UC title, the names of 
these states are included in descending order of the state's Census 
2000 population within the UA or UC.
    4. If a single place or MCD qualifies as the title of more than one 
UA or UC, the largest UA or UC will use the name of the place or MCD. 
The smaller UA or UC will have a title consisting of the place or MCD 
name and a compass directional. The compass directional will generally 
describe the location of the lesser populated UA or UC; for example, a 
UA titled Allenville and a UC titled Allenville South.
    5. If any name in a UA or UC name duplicates a name in another UA 
or UC within the same state, the name of the county that has most of 
the population of the largest place or MCD will be appended after the 
duplicate place or MCD name in parentheses for each UA or UC. If there 
is no central place or MCD, then the name of the county with the 
greatest population residing in the UA or UC will be appended. For 
example, Springfield (Ames County), OH, and Springfield (Jefferson 
County), OH.
B. UA and UC codes
    The Census Bureau will assign a 5-digit numeric code to each UA and 
UC. The code will be based on an alphabetic sequence of all UA and UC 
names, and sequenced by state code where names repeat.

IV. Splitting UAs

    The Census Bureau uses the geographic structure of metropolitan 
areas (MAs), which includes metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), 
consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs), and primary 
metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs) to determine when to define 
separate contiguous UAs.\10\ After delineating the boundary of each UA, 
the Census Bureau will examine the relationship between the UAs and any 
MSA, CMSA, or PMSA using the following criteria to determine if the UAs 
should be split and, if so, where the boundary should be located 
between these UAs:
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    \10\ The Census Bureau considers two UAs to be contiguous if 
they share a common boundary line (not simply a point), and the area 
on each side of this shared boundary qualifies for inclusion in its 
respective UA based on the minimum population density criterion of 
500 ppsm.
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A. UA Split Criteria
    The Census Bureau will split UAs when the following conditions 
exist:
    1. Two or more qualifying UAs are in different MSAs or PMSAs, and 
the distance along which their areas are contiguous is less than 3 
miles.
    The split will occur at the location nearest the MSA or PMSA 
boundary along which their area of contiguity is less than 3 miles.
    2. Two or more qualifying UAs are in different CMSAs, and the 
distance along which their areas are contiguous is less than 3 miles. 
The split will occur at the CMSA boundary.

V. Urban and Rural Classification

    The Census Bureau will classify as urban all population residing 
within the boundaries of UAs and UCs. Conversely, the Census Bureau 
will classify as rural all population and territory that are not within 
any UA or UC.

VI. Differences Between the Proposed Census 2000 UA Criteria and the 
1990 Census UA Criteria

    The following summary describes the most important differences 
between the 1990 census UA criteria and the UA criteria proposed for 
Census 2000:
    A. The Census Bureau will not automatically recognize previously 
existing UA territory for Census 2000 UA delineation. There will be no 
``grandfathering'' of areas that qualified for earlier censuses. In 
past censuses, the Census Bureau generally included all territory from 
previous UA \11\ delineations. Grandfathering was used extensively in 
past censuses.
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    \11\ The Census Bureau did not include previously existing 
territory within a UA for the 1990 census if the population of the 
pre-existing UA fell below a total population of 50,000.
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    Grandfathering creates a significant impediment when trying to 
implement UA criteria changes. When areas that would not qualify under 
new criteria are retained within UAs due to the use of 
``grandfathering,'' this diminishes the effect of the new criteria by 
retaining areas that the new criteria otherwise would exclude. 
Therefore, ``grandfathering'' creates an uneven application of the 
criteria where similar nonqualifying areas are either retained or 
excluded from different UAs based solely on ``grandfathering.''
    B. The Census Bureau will use UCs rather than places to determine 
the total urban population outside of UAs. Previously, place boundaries 
were used to determine the urban and rural classification of territory 
outside of UAs; all incorporated places that had at least 2,500 people 
had all or part (based on the extended city criteria) of their 
population classified as urban. The entire land area and population of 
all CDPs with a population of at least 2,500

[[Page 17021]]

people were classified as urban because the extended city criteria did 
not apply to CDPs. With the creation of UCs, place boundaries are 
``invisible'' when creating and classifying the cores of densely 
settled population agglomerations.
    Urban classification, based solely on the boundaries of 
incorporated places and CDPs, is very uneven and limited. Urban 
classification of a place outside of a UA stopped at the place's 
boundary. Densely settled areas that were adjacent to a qualifying 
place were not classified as urban. Areas that were densely settled and 
included more than 2,500 inhabitants, but did not include a place with 
a population of at least 2,500, were classified as rural. CDPs that 
were overbounded, containing little densely settled area, but with a 
population of at least 2,500, always were classified as entirely urban.
    The UC concept, based only on census BG and census block density, 
does not recognize incorporated place or CDP boundaries (except where 
the boundaries serve as qualifying BG or block boundaries). Densely 
settled qualifying agglomerations of 2,500 or more people qualify 
regardless of the total population, or even the existence, of 
incorporated places or CDPs. This eliminates bias by removing the 
effect of state laws governing incorporation and annexation or of local 
participation in the CDP program.
    C. The extended city criteria are extensively modified for 2000. 
Any place that is split by a UA or UC boundary is referred to as an 
extended place. Previously, sparsely settled areas were examined using 
density and area measurements to determine whether or not they were 
excluded from the UA.
    The 1990 extended city criteria complemented the previous UA 
criteria whose focus was to include whole places wherever possible, 
except for those incorporated places that were very overbounded and 
very large. The use of different density thresholds within incorporated 
place territory (100 ppsm rather than 1,000 ppsm outside of places) 
again was biased based on state laws of incorporation and annexation. 
The new urban criteria, based solely on the population density of 
census BGs and census blocks, will provide a continuum of urban areas.
    D. The proposed criteria increase the permitted jump distance from 
1.5 to 2.5 miles. Jumps between qualifying areas that are less than or 
equal to 0.5 miles are hops, not jumps. In addition, noncontiguous 
areas with a population of 1,000 or more qualify for inclusion 
regardless of the overall combined density of the qualifying and 
connecting areas.
    The increase in the permitted jump distance is proposed as a means 
to recognize improvements in the transportation network, and the 
associated changes in development patterns that reflect these 
improvements, coupled with governmental influence to provide additional 
``green space'' between developments.
    The Census Bureau developed the use of hops to extend the urban 
definition across small nonqualifying census blocks, thereby avoiding 
the need to designate the break in qualifying blocks as a jump. Most of 
these hop blocks are developed for nonresidential uses, such as 
schools, shopping centers, office complexes, industrial parks, and 
parks or other green space.
    E. An indentation in qualifying territory has to be three times 
longer than the distance across its mouth for its inclusion in a UA or 
UC. Previously, an indentation only had to be two times longer. 
Increasing the distance it takes for inclusion of indentations reduces 
the chances of sparsely settled area along the fringe of a core being 
classified as urban.
    F. The revised uninhabitable jump criteria are more restrictive 
regarding the types of terrain over which an uninhabitable jump can be 
made than was permitted under the 1990 census UA criteria.
    The new restriction on the types of territory that can be treated 
as uninhabitable is an attempt to remove ambiguity from the designation 
of undevelopable or uninhabitable territory. The 1990 census criteria 
permitted jumps across various types of supposedly undevelopable 
terrain based on information that normally is not contained within the 
TIGER data base. For example, floodplains, mud flats, steep slopes, and 
marshes were designated as undevelopable, but only where a census or 
local official specifically requested the designation. Because this 
type of terrain information usually does not exist within the TIGER 
data base, attempting to use such information under the current 
criteria is inappropriate. Therefore, the designation of uninhabitable 
territory is limited to those types of terrain and land use for which 
the TIGER data base has a complete inventory, such as bodies of water, 
national parks and monuments, and military installations.
    G. The UA central place and title criteria will no longer follow 
standards predefined by other federal agencies. Previously, many UA 
central places and titles were based on MA central city definitions set 
forth by the Office of Management and Budget.
    The new MA criteria will be, and always have been, applied later 
than the UA criteria. To avoid creating a situation in which the 2000 
UA or UC central places and titles would need to follow MA central city 
definitions that were established in the early 1990s, these criteria 
create an objective zero-based approach.

VII. Effects of the Census 2000 UA Criteria on the 1990 Urban 
Classification

    A. The aforementioned changes in urban criteria may classify as 
much as three percent (five million) more people as urban than the 
previous criteria did.
    The majority of this increase will come from how urban population 
is defined outside of UAs. Under the former criteria, urban population 
outside of UAs was limited to people living in incorporated places and 
CDPs that had a total population of 2,500 or more. With the change to 
UC delineation, many densely settled unincorporated areas will be 
classified as urban for the first time, as well as places having a 
population fewer than 2,500 that adjoin densely settled territory that 
brings the total population of the area to 2,500 or more.
    The overwhelming majority of densely settled unincorporated areas 
are located adjacent to incorporated places. Incorporated places in 
states with strict annexation laws are less likely to annex the densely 
settled areas that are adjacent to them. Connecticut, Massachusetts, 
Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are states with strict 
annexation laws. These states will have a higher proportional increase 
in urban population than those states with liberal annexation laws, 
such as Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, 
where incorporated places are more likely to annex adjacent densely 
settled areas.
    Another element of the criteria that will cause an increase in 
total urban population is the inclusion into UAs of nearby areas that 
did not qualify under the former jump criteria. Some areas that were 
excluded from a 1990 UA because it took two jumps to get to them may be 
included in a Census 2000 UA because one of the jumps is now classified 
as a hop. Others may be included because of the increase in the jump 
distance from 1.5 to 2.5 miles.
    B. The total urban area may decrease by as much as 7 percent (6,600 
square miles).
    The decrease in urban area is due to the removal of the whole place 
and extended city qualification criteria and

[[Page 17022]]

the requirement to retain areas that were previously within UAs 
(``grandfathering''). The decrease results from using a higher density 
requirement in places (500 ppsm rather than the 100 ppsm used for the 
1990 census in extended cities) and the ability to classify CDPs as 
part urban and rural. States that have liberal annexation laws or 
overbounded places will notice the most significant decreases in total 
urban land area.
    C. When the Census 2000 UA criteria are applied using 1990 census 
data, the following four 1990 census UAs fail to qualify using the 
proposed criteria:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1990 UA       Proposed criteria
              1990 UA                   population         population
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Bristol, VA.......................             52,563             49,687
Brunswick, GA.....................             50,066             47,282
Dover, DE.........................             50,787             49,355
Ithaca, NY........................             50,132             49,416
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    The removal of the whole place qualification criteria is the 
primary reason why these four areas may fail to qualify as UAs 
following Census 2000. The 1990 census whole place qualification 
criteria required that whole CDPs were either included or excluded from 
a 1990 UA, but there is no requirement under the Census 2000 criteria 
to include whole CDPs. The 1990 UA qualification of Brunswick, Dover, 
and Ithaca relied on the inclusion of whole CDPs, but large areas of 
these CDPs did not meet the population density requirement under the 
2000 criteria. Bristol was a 1980 UA, which by virtue of 
``grandfathering,'' qualified all 1980 UA territory as 1990 qualifying 
territory. In addition, the entire area of Bristol City was included in 
the UA because it failed to meet the extended city criteria. However, 
portions of Bristol City do not qualify under the Census 2000 criteria 
because of low population density.
    Even though the 1990 UAs listed above fail to qualify using Census 
2000 criteria and 1990 data, they do not necessarily indicate that they 
will not qualify as Census 2000 UAs. There may have been positive 
population growth since 1990 in those four areas such that the total 
qualifying population will rise above 50,000. As stated previously, 
1990 census population data were used to determine the qualifying area 
for these four 1990 UAs. No other 1990 UAs failed to qualify as a 
result of the criteria changes.
    A. Former urban places may be classified as rural under the Census 
2000 UC criteria.
    The UC criteria do not qualify incorporated places and CDPs that 
have a population of 2,500 or more as urban based solely on their total 
populations. Urban classification is based solely on the delineation of 
a qualifying UC of at least 2,500 people at a density of at least 500. 
Those places that do not have a qualifying UC of at least 2,500 
population based primarily on density will be classified as rural. 
Places with a population just above 2,500 and those with low densities 
or dispersed cores may not qualify as urban. Conversely, incorporated 
places and CDPs that have a population less than 2,500 may be 
classified wholly or partially as urban when the population outside the 
place is inside part of a qualifying UC that reaches the 2,500 
population threshold.

    Dated: February 12, 2001.
William G. Barron,
Acting Director, Bureau of the Census.
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P

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[FR Doc. 01-7690 Filed 3-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-C