| Sources: |
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 1993, 113th ed., 1993; 1990 Census of Population,
General Population Characteristics, United States, CP-1-1. |
| Notes: |
Resident population as of April
1. |
| |
According to the 1990 census
definition, the urban population comprises all persons living in (a) places of 2,500 or
more inhabitants incorporated as cities, villages, boroughs (except in Alaska and New
York), and towns (except in the New England states, New York, and Wisconsin), but
excluding those persons living in the rural portions of extended cities (places with low
population density in one or more large parts of their area); (b) census designated places
(previously termed unincorporated) of 2,500 or more inhabitants; and (c) other territory,
incorporated or unincorporated, included in urbanized areas. An urbanized area comprises
one or more places and the adjacent densely settled surrounding territory that together
have a minimum population of 50,000 persons. |
| |
In censuses prior to 1950, the
urban population comprised all persons living in incorporated places of 2,500 or more
inhabitants and areas (usually minor civil divisions) classified as urban under special
rules relating to population size and density. To improve its measure of the urban
population, the Bureau of the Census in 1950 adopted the concept of the urbanized area and
delineated boundaries for unincorporated places. The 1950 definition has continued
substantially unchanged, except for minor modifications in 1960, the introduction of the
extended city concept in 1970, and changes since the 1970 census in the criteria for
defining urbanized areas so as to permit such areas to be defined around smaller centers.
In all definitions, the population not classified as urban constitutes the rural
population. |
|
