Midwest Statistical Areas

[Phizzy]

Rank Statistical Area                               Type    2005 Pop.

1 Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI CombdSA 9,661,840

2 Detroit-Warren-Flint, MI CombdSA 5,428,000

3 Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN-WI CombdSA 3,467,108

4 Cleveland-Akron-Elyria, OH CombdSA 2,931,774

5 St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL CombdSA 2,864,111

6 Cincinnati-Middletown-Wilmington, OH-KY-IN CombdSA 2,113,011

7 Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS CombdSA 2,015,282

8 Indianapolis-Anderson-Columbus, IN CombdSA 1,954,063

9 Columbus-Marion-Chillicothe, OH CombdSA 1,936,351

10 Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI CombdSA 1,708,563

11 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI CombdSA 1,315,319

12 Dayton-Springfield-Greenville, OH CombdSA 1,078,634

13 Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA CombdSA 849,248

14 Toledo-Fremont, OH CombdSA 718,372

15 Youngstown-Warren-East Liverpool, OH-PA CombdSA 704,096

16 Wichita-Winfield, KS CombdSA 622,353

17 Madison-Baraboo, WI CombdSA 594,785

18 Des Moines-Newton-Pella, IA CombdSA 593,112

19 Fort Wayne-Huntington-Auburn, IN CombdSA 565,606

20 Lansing-East Lansing-Owosso, MI CombdSA 528,260

21 Rockford-Freeport-Rochelle, IL CombdSA 441,433

22 Canton-Massillon, OH MetroSA 409,996

23 Peoria-Canton, IL CombdSA 406,869

24 Springfield, MO MetroSA 398,124

25 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MetroSA 376,309

26 Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI CombdSA 374,625

27 Evansville, IN-KY MetroSA 349,543

28 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI MetroSA 319,348

29 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI MetroSA 318,156

30 Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North, MI CombdSA 317,385

31 Green Bay, WI MetroSA 297,493

32 Lincoln, NE MetroSA 281,553

33 Duluth, MN-WI MetroSA 275,413

34 Cedar Rapids, IA MetroSA 246,412

35 Topeka, KS MetroSA 229,075

36 Lafayette-Frankfort, IN CombdSA 217,431

37 Champaign-Urbana, IL MetroSA 215,742

38 Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN CombdSA 208,999

39 Sioux Falls, SD MetroSA 207,918

40 Springfield, IL MetroSA 205,527

41 Eau Claire-Menomonie, WI CombdSA 195,747

42 Elkhart-Goshen, IN MetroSA 195,362

43 Fond du Lac-Beaver Dam, WI CombdSA 187,440

44 Lima-Van Wert-Wapakoneta, OH CombdSA 182,630

45 Bloomington, IN MetroSA 177,709

46 Rochester, MN MetroSA 176,984

47 Mansfield-Bucyrus, OH CombdSA 173,723

48 Terre Haute, IN MetroSA 168,059

49 Joplin, MO MetroSA 166,178

50 Jackson, MI MetroSA 163,629

51 Niles-Benton Harbor, MI MetroSA 162,611

52 Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH MetroSA 162,529

53 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MetroSA 161,897

54 Wausau-Merrill, WI CombdSA 159,260

55 Bloomington-Normal, IL MetroSA 159,013

56 Janesville, WI MetroSA 157,538

57 Sioux City-Vermillion, IA-NE-SD CombdSA 155,566

58 Ottawa-Streator, IL MetroSA 154,028

59 Columbia, MO MetroSA 153,283

60 Wheeling, WV-OH MetroSA 148,677

61 Jefferson City, MO MetroSA 143,867

62 Traverse City, MI MicroSA 141,011

63 Battle Creek, MI MetroSA 139,191

64 Iowa City, IA MetroSA 138,524

65 Kokomo-Peru, IN CombdSA 136,982

66 Cape Girardeau-Sikeston-Jackson, MO-IL CombdSA 133,556

67 Findlay-Tiffin, OH CombdSA 130,986

68 La Crosse, WI-MN MetroSA 128,899

69 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH MetroSA 126,464

70 St. Joseph, MO-KS MetroSA 121,961

71 Rapid City, SD MetroSA 118,203

2 Muncie, IN MetroSA 116,362

73 Sheboygan, WI MetroSA 114,610

74 Wooster, OH MicroSA 113,697

75 Decatur, IL MetroSA 110,167

76 Ames-Boone, IA CombdSA 106,554

77 Manhattan, KS MicroSA 106,540

78 Lawrence, KS MetroSA 102,914

79 Adrian, MI MicroSA 102,033

80 Whitewater, WI MicroSA 99,844

81 Bismarck, ND MetroSA 99,346

82 Grand Forks, ND-MN MetroSA 97,073

83 New Philadelphia-Dover, OH MicroSA 91,944

84 Dubuque, IA MetroSA 91,631

85 Mankato-North Mankato, MN MicroSA 88,878

86 Brainerd, MN MicroSA 88,827

87 Zanesville, OH MicroSA 85,579

88 Midland, MI MicroSA 84,064

89 Danville, IL MetroSA 82,344

90 Manitowoc, WI MicroSA 81,949

91 Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI MicroSA 79,328

92 Sandusky, OH MetroSA 78,665

93 Quincy, IL-MO MetroSA 77,226

94 Portsmouth, OH MicroSA 76,561

95 Warsaw, IN MicroSA 76,072

96 Marshfield-Wisconsin Rapids, WI MicroSA 75,234

97 Branson, MO MicroSA 73,916

98 Galesburg, IL MicroSA 70,867

99 Marion, IN MicroSA 70,557

100 Grand Island, NE MicroSA 69,878

101 Richmond, IN MicroSA 69,192

102 Marinette, WI-MI MicroSA 68,402

103 Stevens Point, WI MicroSA 67,585

104 Mount Pleasant, MI MicroSA 65,618

105 Marquette, MI MicroSA 64,760

106 Minot, ND MicroSA 63,700

107 Marion-Herrin, IL MicroSA 63,617

108 Hutchinson, KS MicroSA 63,558

109 Sturgis, MI MicroSA 62,984

110 Athens, OH MicroSA 62,062

111 Charleston-Mattoon, IL MicroSA 62,038

112 Norwalk, OH MicroSA 60,385

113 Salina, KS MicroSA 60,042

114 Sterling, IL MicroSA 59,863

115 Carbondale, IL MicroSA 57,954

116 Fergus Falls, MN MicroSA 57,658

117 Point Pleasant, WV-OH MicroSA 57,123

118 Muscatine, IA MicroSA 54,598

119 Ashland, OH MicroSA 54,123

120 Jasper, IN MicroSA 53,624

121 Mason City, IA MicroSA 52,413

122 Kearney, NE MicroSA 50,346

123 Clinton, IA MicroSA 49,717

124 Platteville, WI MicroSA 49,671

125 Norfolk, NE MicroSA 49,622

126 Winona, MN MicroSA 49,276

127 Burlington, IA-IL MicroSA 48,782

128 Sidney, OH MicroSA 48,736

129 Mount Vernon, IL MicroSA 48,735

130 Marshall, MO MicroSA 47,547

131 Cadillac, MI MicroSA 47,175

132 Plymouth, IN MicroSA 46,945

133 Bellefontaine, OH MicroSA 46,580

134 Coldwater, MI MicroSA 46,460

135 Bedford, IN MicroSA 46,403

136 Fort Leonard Wood, MO MicroSA 44,187

137 Fort Madison-Keokuk, IA-MO MicroSA 44,028

138 Bemidji, MN MicroSA 42,871

139 Big Rapids, MI MicroSA 42,391

140 Alma, MI MicroSA 42,345

141 Seymour, IN MicroSA 42,237

142 Rolla, MO MicroSA 42,125

143 Poplar Bluff, MO MicroSA 41,338

144 Celina, OH MicroSA 41,202

145 Willmar, MN MicroSA 41,199

146 Jacksonville, IL MicroSA 41,134

147 Cambridge, OH MicroSA 41,123

148 Centralia, IL MicroSA 40,144

149 Logansport, IN MicroSA 40,130

150 Sedalia, MO MicroSA 40,121

151 Hastings, NE MicroSA 39,803

152 Marshalltown, IA MicroSA 39,418

153 Pontiac, IL MicroSA 39,186

154 Defiance, OH MicroSA 39,112

155 Fort Dodge, IA MicroSA 39,003

156 Garden City, KS MicroSA 38,988

157 Aberdeen, SD MicroSA 38,818

158 Austin, MN MicroSA 38,799

159 Sault Ste. Marie, MI MicroSA 38,780

160 Emporia, KS MicroSA 38,690

161 West Plains, MO MicroSA 38,400

162 Vincennes, IN MicroSA 38,366

163 Escanaba, MI MicroSA 38,347

164 Crawfordsville, IN MicroSA 38,239

165 Pittsburg, KS MicroSA 38,222

166 Hannibal, MO MicroSA 38,136

167 Houghton, MI MicroSA 37,900

168 Scottsbluff, NE MicroSA 37,485

169 Coshocton, OH MicroSA 36,945

170 North Platte, NE MicroSA 36,883

171 Ottumwa, IA MicroSA 35,965

172 Owatonna, MN MicroSA 35,755

173 Dixon, IL MicroSA 35,669

174 Taylorville, IL MicroSA 35,176

175 Monroe, WI MicroSA 35,165

176 Alexandria, MN MicroSA 35,138

177 Effingham, IL MicroSA 34,581

178 Coffeyville, KS MicroSA 34,570

179 Lebanon, MO MicroSA 34,492

180 Wabash, IN MicroSA 33,843

181 Angola, IN MicroSA 33,773

182 Dodge City, KS MicroSA 33,751

183 Iron Mountain, MI-WI MicroSA 33,006

184 Kennett, MO MicroSA 32,545

185 Madison, IN MicroSA 32,430

186 Macomb, IL MicroSA 31,966

187 Albert Lea, MN MicroSA 31,946

188 Watertown, SD MicroSA 31,717

189 Columbus, NE MicroSA 31,262

190 Lincoln, IL MicroSA 30,603

191 Washington, IN MicroSA 30,466

192 Alpena, MI MicroSA 30,428

193 McPherson, KS MicroSA 29,523

194 Kirksville, MO MicroSA 28,817

195 Brookings, SD MicroSA 28,121

196 Great Bend, KS MicroSA 28,105

197 Hays, KS MicroSA 26,767

198 Lexington, NE MicroSA 26,637

199 New Ulm, MN MicroSA 26,534

200 Harrisburg, IL MicroSA 26,072

201 Mexico, MO MicroSA 25,759

202 Moberly, MO MicroSA 25,336

203 Greensburg, IN MicroSA 25,184

204 Connersville, IN MicroSA 24,885

205 Beatrice, NE MicroSA 23,306

206 Liberal, KS MicroSA 23,274

207 Dickinson, ND MicroSA 22,886

208 Mitchell, SD MicroSA 22,524

209 Spearfish, SD MicroSA 22,395

210 Oskaloosa, IA MicroSA 22,364

211 Parsons, KS MicroSA 22,169

212 Yankton, SD MicroSA 21,718

213 Maryville, MO MicroSA 21,710

214 Fairmont, MN MicroSA 21,002

215 Jamestown, ND MicroSA 20,835

216 Worthington, MN MicroSA 20,508

217 Storm Lake, IA MicroSA 20,151

218 Pierre, SD MicroSA 19,704

219 Williston, ND MicroSA 19,282

220 Spencer, IA MicroSA 16,897

221 Spirit Lake, IA MicroSA 16,687

222 Huron, SD MicroSA 15,896

[Puant en la Baye]

Rank Statistical Area                               Type    2005 Pop.

26 Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI CombdSA 374,625

31 Green Bay, WI MetroSA 297,493

I don't understand why Green Bay isn't combined with Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah. (all together are called the "Fox Cities").

There's like a 20 minute drive between GB and Appeton, and the urbanized areas are pretty much continuous.

Combined, the MSA would put us at about #16 on this list (672,118).

Someday, maybe?

[hudkina]

I doubt it. Appleton and Oskosh would have to merge MSAs before Green Bay's commuter numbers would even begin to approach a possible CSA. But even if the two combined the Green Bay MSA would still only have an exchange percentage of about 8.5%. It needs to be double that to be included in a CSA.

On the other hand, the Fond du Lac MSA would be very close to joining a combined Appleton-Oshkosh in a CSA. The exchange percentage is 14.7%, which is just below the 15% needed to join a CSA. Also, Waupaca County's commuter rate would jump to nearly 24% (just below the 25% needed to be included in an MSA) if Appleton and Oshkosh shared an MSA.

So, if Appleton and Oshkosh combined by 2010, you might see an Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah MSA with a population of 445,000 and an Appleton-Oshkosh-Fond du Lac CSA with a population of 546,000.

[Puant en la Baye]

The Gren Bay and Appleton exchange percentage is only 8.5%? Who figures this & how? Living here, I would guess that percentage is much higher.

We do all share media coverage. Doesn't that factor into it also?

[hudkina]

Only two things are figured when defining MSAs and CSAs, urban areas and commuter exchange rates. Media coverage and anything else has nothing to do with MSAs. Also, as far as commuter exchange rates go, the numbers are collected and tabulated by the Census Bureau.

[kcpimp]

Interesting. I would have thought KC was much higher given the reduction of blight

My hometown of Rolla made the list.

Rolla is your typical Midwestern town, and on that note I suppose Missoura is your typical Midwestern state, huh?

[slyder1]

I bet that Springfield and Branson will become a CSA or whatever it means. I don't know what the exchange rate is but I would imagine that it is fairly good for a metro Springfield's size. Plus if you factor the way this area is growing, especially Branson, I could see it within 10-15 years.

[Snowguy716]

WOOOHOO!

Bemidji at 138 with nearly 43,000 people! This is really interesting, considering that the sign when you enter the city says 11,917.

[slyder1]

WOOOHOO!

Bemidji at 138 with nearly 43,000 people! This is really interesting, considering that the sign when you enter the city says 11,917.

[Snowguy716]

lol,

I know.. but thanks.

People always say "Bemidji only has 12,000 people?" or people will say 12,000 when asked.. there are 42,000 in our MSA, 32,000 in our school district, and 120,000 people in our retail draw area...

[dtown]

I didnt know that Flint Metro was combined with metro Detroit. In that case, cool, im at #2.

[Snowguy716]

MSA's are misleading. St. Cloud is really in no way connected to the Twin Cities. It is its own economy and is a full 75 miles away from Minneapolis.

But you can still compare them because almost all of the metro areas on here include outlying areas.

[hudkina]

The reason St. Cloud is included with the CSA is because it just barely made the 15% cutoff. The commuter exchange rate is 15.2% The reality is that St. Cloud and Minneapolis have a very small commuter exchange rate, but Sherburne County which sends most of its commuters to Minneapolis sends just enough of its commuters to the St. Cloud MSA to barely push the number over the 15% range. If Sherburn County was split into an eastern half and a western half, St. Cloud wouldn't even come close to being included in the Minneapolis CSA.

Compare that to Red Wing which has a 36% commuter exchange rate with Minneapolis or Faribault which has a 31% commuter exchange rate with Minneapolis or Hutchinson which has a 30% commuter exchange rate with Minneapolis.

In the Detroit CSA Ann Arbor has a 42% commuter exchange rate with Detroit, Monroe has a 31% commuter exchange rate with Detroit, and even Flint which is 70 miles from Detroit has a 26% commuter exchange with Detroit.

So you can see that with just 15% St. Cloud, while technically in the Minneapolis CSA, really doesn't have the same type of connection that the other MSAs have with their larger neighbors.

[SkyDave]

So you can see that with just 15% St. Cloud, while technically in the Minneapolis CSA, really doesn't have the same type of connection that the other MSAs have with their larger neighbors.

[hudkina]

http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/commuting.html

The way you determine the commuter exchange rate between two adjacent MSAs is combine the percentage of users who commute from the smaller MSA to the larger MSA with the percentage of workers who live in the larger MSA and commute to the smaller MSA.

For example, if 11% of the workers of the smaller metro commute to the larger metro, and 7% of the workforce in the smaller metro are residents from the larger metro, then the commuter exchange rate is 18%. When that number is between 15% and 25%, local opinion (in the form of local delegates or politicians) of the smaller metro can determine whether or not they want to join the larger CSA. IF the number is 25% or more the two metros are automatically combined.

[slyder1]

How do you determine the exchange rate from one mtero to another? I would likt to know what the exchange rate is between Springfield, MO and Branson, MO. Can someone help me out here?

[hudkina]

2,957 of the 30,198 workers who live in the Branson MSA work in the Springfield MSA, which is 9.8% of the workforce. 1,791 of the 29,136 workers who work in the Branson MSA live in the Springfield MSA., which is 6.1% of the workforce. When you add those two numbers together you get 15.9%, which is above the 15% minimum to be considered. However, since that number is below 25%, local deligates had the choice in whether both metros should be combined into a CSA. Obviously, deligates from one or both of the metros decided not to be combined into a larger CSA.

If they had decided the two MSAs should combine into a larger CSA, it would have ranked 68th on the list of 121 CSAs ahead of the Reno CSA, but behind the Johnson City CSA. Granted, it would probably rank lower if all the other possible CSAs had been approved as well. It should also be noted that the list is only of CSAs, and doesn't include possible MSAs that have a larger population than a combined Springfield/Branson CSA would have.

[slyder1]

2,957 of the 30,198 workers who live in the Branson MSA work in the Springfield MSA, which is 9.8% of the workforce. 1,791 of the 29,136 workers who work in the Branson MSA live in the Springfield MSA., which is 6.1% of the workforce. When you add those two numbers together you get 15.9%, which is above the 15% minimum to be considered. However, since that number is below 25%, local deligates had the choice in whether both metros should be combined into a CSA. Obviously, deligates from one or both of the metros decided not to be combined into a larger CSA.

If they had decided the two MSAs should combine into a larger CSA, it would have ranked 68th on the list of 121 CSAs ahead of the Reno CSA, but behind the Johnson City CSA. Granted, it would probably rank lower if all the other possible CSAs had been approved as well. It should also be noted that the list is only of CSAs, and doesn't include possible MSAs that have a larger population than a combined Springfield/Branson CSA would have.

[hudkina]

I'm not sure why some politcians opt for the combination while others do not. In Michigan, the Midland MSA opted not to join into a CSAwith the Saginaw MSA while the Bay City MSA did. I'm willing to guess it has to do with Saginaw's high crime rate and low public image, but I doubt that's the same case as far as Branson is concerned. My guess is that because Branson has such a high national image for being such a small metro, they didn't want to be viewed as being a "suburb" of Springfield.

[Rybak 187]

Is Hemlock in the Saginaw/Bay City CSA? If it is, maybe with the Hemlock Semiconductor expansion will increase the amount of cross traffic between Bay/Sag CSA and Midland MSA and force Midland in.

[hudkina]

Hemlock is in Saginaw County, so if many of the people who work there live in Midland County it might increase the numbers. I doubt that one facility will jump the number over 25%, but it could add to it considering Hemlock is just as close to Midland as it is to Saginaw.