Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Metropolitan areas in the U.S. - statistics & facts
A metropolitan area is typically a densely populated urban area and its industrial surroundings. Cities, neighborhoods, towns, and suburbs can all be found inside of a metro area, as well as local businesses and industries, commercial sites, infrastructure, and housing. They can sit inside of a single state, such as the Denver metro area, or cross multiple state lines, such as the Washington D.C. metro area, which includes Washington D.C., and parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia. Various government-associated organizations, such as the Census Bureau or Bureau of Labor Statistics, use metropolitan statistical areas to measure various economic and demographic characteristics of given areas.
