Discussion Paper

Updates to Rural and Urban Areas Based on the 2020 Census

Abstract: Earlier this year, the U.S. Census Bureau released updated boundaries for urban areas based on the 2020 census. These definitions are widely used by analysts, researchers, and government agencies. Federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Education incorporate the designations into their own urban-rural classifications. The U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development use census-based classifications in their funding formulas and to make decisions about program eligibility. This post examines the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 urban delineations and explores how they shift the urban-rural distribution in the Fifth District.

Keywords: 5th district; Census; urban areas; rural communities;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Part of Series: Regional Matters

Publication Date: 2023-06-22