Geographic Definitions/Statistical Areas
You will see references to these statistical areas throughout Metro Dataline.
Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
Through the 2000 census, this area was composed of 11 counties:
Cass County, Mo.- Clay County, Mo.
- Clinton County, Mo.
- Jackson County, Mo.
- Johnson County, Kan.
- Lafayette County, Mo.
- Leavenworth County, Kan.
- Miami County, Kan.
- Platte County, Mo.
- Ray County, Mo.
- Wyandotte County, Mo.
In June 2003, the US Office of Management and Budget added the following counties:
- Bates County, Mo.
- Caldwell County, Mo.
- Franklin County, Kan.
- Linn County, Kan.
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City Combined Statistical Area (CSA)
In
February 2004, Atchison County, Kan., and Johnson County, Mo., were added to
the 15 counties in the MSA to form the new 17-county Combined Statistical Area (CSA).
Douglas County
Douglas County in Kansas, although not a part of the MSA or the CSA, is often included because of its cultural and economic ties to the region.
MARC Region
MARC functions as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for greater Kansas
City. The planning boundary does not extend to the entire MARC region and several
MARC member counties are only partially within this boundary, so separate or
overlay maps and data sets are often created for this area.
The Mid-America Regional Council is composed of nine counties and 120 cities and towns in the Kansas City region.
Not all the counties in the MSA, or CSA, nor Douglas County are MARC members. However, we include their maps and data because many researchers and planners have an interest in the entire region.
Peer Metros
Starting with data sets updated in May 2006, information about "peer" metros may be included.
These peers - Austin, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Omaha, Portland, Salt Lake City and St. Louis, were identified by MARC Research Services and other organizations as metropolitan areas that share some (but not all by any measure) characteristics with Kansas City.
Comparing these characteristics will enable us to better measure our progress.