urban area

urban area

(1) As used by the U.S.Census Bureau,the term refers to all areas that are urban.Since the 2000 census,that includes urban clusters and urbanized areas.An urban cluster is a densely settled territory with more than 2,500 people but less than 50,000.An urbanized area is one “consisting of a central place(s) and adjacent territory with a general population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile of land area that together have a minimum residential population of at least 50,000 people.”(2) The Census Bureau's definition of “urban area”has changed several times in the past. If researching a particular subject that uses the term,it may be important to find the definition in effect at the time the book or article was written. (3) In popular speech,any densely populated area of a city or town.