Urban and Rural, 1990 and 2000
1990
Source: U.S.
Bureau of the Census, 1990 Census of Population, Summary Tape File 3A, Table
P-6.
2000 Source: U.S.
Bureau of the Census, 2000 Census of Population, Summary File 3, Table
P5.
Updated every 10 years.
1990
Definition:
Urban-- All territory, population, and housing units
in urbanized areas and in places of 2,500 or more persons outside urbanized
areas. The urban and rural classifications cut across other hierarchies; for
example, there are generally both urban and rural territories within both
metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Areas not classified as urban are rural
areas.
An Urbanized Area is one or more places and the
adjacent densely settled surrounding territory that together includes at least
50,000 people.
Rural-- Territory, population, and
housing units in an area with a decennial census population of less than 2,500.
The urban and rural classifications cut across other hierarchies; for example,
there are generally both urban and rural territories within both metropolitan
and nonmetropolitan areas. Areas not classified as rural are urban areas.
2000
Definition:
Urban-- All territory, population, and housing units
located within urbanized areas (UAs) and urban clusters (UCs). It delineates UA
and UC boundaries to encompass densely settled territory, which generally
consists of:
• A cluster of one or more block groups or
census blocks each of which has a population density of at least 1,000 people
per square mile at the time.
• Surrounding block groups and census blocks
each of which has a population density of at least 500 people per square mile at
the time.
• Less densely settled blocks that form
enclaves or indentations, or are used to connect discontiguous areas with
qualifying densities.
Rural-- All territory, population, and housing units
located outside of UAs and UCs.
Geographic entities, such as metropolitan areas, counties,
townships, and places, often contain both urban and rural territory, population,
and housing units.
Definitions for 2000 Census
Terms:
Appendix
A, “Census 2000 Geographic Terms and Concepts”
Definitions for 1990 Census
Terms: http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/ur-def.html
http://www.census.gov/td/stf3/append_a.html
Appendix A, “Area Classifications”
