Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:42:37 -0400
Reply-To: "Gerstle, John (CDC/CCID/NCHHSTP) (CTR)" <yzg9@CDC.GOV>
Sender: "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: "Gerstle, John (CDC/CCID/NCHHSTP) (CTR)" <yzg9@CDC.GOV>
Subject: Re: MSA Code to Determine Rural vs. Urban Designation
In-Reply-To: <456B52C41B724C41B96561D7AD283E7D052164@mail.chpdm.umbc.edu>
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Jack,
I played with the Census MSA/CBSA data a bit recently and have read up
on several documents. Don't remember which document, but I do remember
that the Census bureau does not suggest using zip codes, as zip codes
tend to change based on postal routes.
MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area, not assigned since 1999) and CBSA
(Core Based Statistical Areas, which include Metropolitan and
Micropolitan Statistical Areas) codes might be useful in that they're
based on population counts and accepted definitions of what the
statistical area for a city/town may be for a state.
Each county in the US is assigned only one CBSA code; each CBSA code may
have several counties in it. A CBSA represents an area where the
population is at least 10,000 (Micropolitan SA's are 10,000 to 50,000;
Metropolitan SA's are over 50,000).
If you define a rural county as one with a population less than 10,000,
then any county without a CBSA assigned is a rural county. It's a bit
more difficult within a county.
There do exist place codes (FIPS55)(which are labeled as sub-county
population estimates), but that may be more complicated. :)
Hopefully that helps some...
John Gerstle
MS Applied Neuroscience, MS Applied Statistics
Biostatistician
Northrop Grumman
CDC Information Technological Support Contract (CITS)
NCHSTP \DHAP \HICSB \Research and Dissemination Team
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
yzg9 at cdc dot gov
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: owner-sas-l@listserv.uga.edu
[mailto:owner-sas-l@listserv.uga.edu]
>>On Behalf Of Jack Clark
>>Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 3:00 PM
>>To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>>Subject: MSA Code to Determine Rural vs. Urban Designation
>>
>>I am trying to find out whether I can make a (gross) Rural vs. Urban
>>designation based on a mailing address of a nursing facility. I will
>>have the physical address to the ZIP level, the FIPS county code and
the
>>Long/Lat values of the address. All addresses are in the state of
>>Maryland.
>>
>>
>>
>>In reviewing the archives and a SUGI 31 paper by Louise Hadden and
Mike
>>Zdeb, I see that the SASHELP.ZIPCODE file is a zip-level file that
>>contains MSA code. The paper by Hadden and Zdeb suggest that MSA code
>>can be used to make inferences regarding a Rural vs. Urban label - but
>>did not explain how. Is it as simple as an MSA value of 0 means rural
>>and anything else is urban?
>>
>>
>>
>>Any information on this is appreciated. I've been clicking through
the
>>Census Bureau site and related links, but thought we might have some
>>mapping experts here on SAS-L.
>>
>>
>>
>>Thanks in advance.
>>
>>
>>
>>Jack Clark
>>
>>Research Analyst
>>
>>Center for Health Program Development and Management
>>
>>University of Maryland, Baltimore County
>>
>>
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