Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are official urban regions designated by the federal government and used by statistical agencies. A metropolitan area has an urban core with a population of at least 50,000 people, while a micropolitan area has a population between 10,000 and 50,000 people. MSAs refer to the core urban area, plus the counties containing the core urban area and any adjacent counties that have a high level of social and economic integration with the urban core. In Ohio, there are currently fourteen metropolitan areas: Akron, Canton-Massillon, Cincinnati, Cleveland-Elyria, Columbus, Dayton, Huntington-Ashland*, Lima, Mansfield, Springfield, Toledo, Weirton-Steubenville, Wheeling*, and Youngstown-Warren-Boardman. These areas are updated periodically, and may be revised with changes in Ohio’s population.
*Data on West Virginia MSAs including Ohio counties may be viewed at http://workforcewv.org/lmi