A Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA):
A) must contain one city of 10,000 or more people.
B) is an urbanized area with a population of at least 2,000,000 people.
C) is an integrated economic and social unit with a large population nucleus.
D) usually includes several cities.
E) Both B and D are true.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An MSA is defined as an integrated economic and social unit with a large population nucleus. It may include several cities, but the key factor is that there is a central city with a large population that dominates the area's economy and social life. Option A is incorrect because there is no requirement for an MSA to contain one city of 10,000 or more people, although it must have a minimum population threshold. Option B refers to a different classification, a "megacity," which is not the same as an MSA. Option D is partially true, but the presence of multiple cities is not a defining characteristic of an MSA.