CBS/Palm projects us in...

Thanks Casey -- I remembered from grad school there was more nuanced understanding (eg. shared workforce, commuter flow, etc).

But HD doesn't really do subtlety, and I wanted to break it down more to his level.

Not often do I get MSA questions, I figured I would indulge.

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Originally Posted by Champ967

But HD doesn't really do subtlety, and I wanted to break it down more to his level.

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Greatness!

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Originally Posted by CaseyDawg

Not often do I get MSA questions, I figured I would indulge.

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Sounds like -- for my purposes of computing sports attendance as function of surrounding population -- that "Urbanized Area" might be the most useful metric.

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Originally Posted by CaseyDawg

Close

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) are defined by commuting flows between counties. The Monroe MSA is comprised of Ouachita Parish and Union. MSAs exceed 50,000 population.

Monroe MSA (Ouachita and Union) – 180,000
Hattiesburg MSA (Forrest, Lamar and Perry) – 149,000

*Why is Union Parish part of the Monroe MSA and not Lincoln Parish? Because Lincoln Parish is a job center itself and sends a lower percentage of its residents to work in Ouachita Parish, therefore is less dependent on Ouachita Parish.

Lincoln Parish and Morehouse Parishes are both individual Micropolitan Statistical Area (µSA) <50K population.

Ruston µSA – 48,000

Lincoln and Morehouse Parishes combine with the Monroe MSA to form the Monroe – Ruston – Bastrop Combined Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA). CMSA’s are formed by adjacent MSA and µSA that have some economic ties but lower than the MSA standards.

Monroe – Ruston – Bastrop CMSA – 250,000
Hattiesburg – Laurel CMSA – 253,000

*Washington DC and Baltimore are separate MSA, but combine to form a single CMSA

The Census also defines Urbanized Areas. They represent an area of continuous development. They follow blocks so they can have odd shapes and are much smaller in size than MSA’s, but contain a majority of the population. They do not follow city or county boundaries.
Monroe Urbanized Area – 117,000
Hattiesburg Urbanized Area – 80,000

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This stuff is really interesting to me. I'm often surprised at which cities (themselves) are bigger or smaller compared to one another than I would have predicted. Same for metro areas, especially on a global scale.

I used to live in this metropolitan area. Sometimes it was hard to explain to friends and family in Arkansas just how big the city/metro really is.

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Originally Posted by inudesu

This stuff is really interesting to me. I'm often surprised at which cities (themselves) are bigger or smaller compared to one another than I would have predicted. Same for metro areas, especially on a global scale.

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Demographics as fascinating field. As is urban & regional planning.

I love how it touches so many other professions -- law, politics, engineering, architecture, construction, real estate, finance, etc. One meets lots of interesting people.

Is Ruston included in the Monroe UA? I wouldn't think so but just want to clear up the picture in my head.

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Originally Posted by Blue Dawg

Is Ruston included in the Monroe UA? I wouldn't think so but just want to clear up the picture in my head.

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No. Ruston is not in the Monroe UA. Nor is it in the Monroe MSA.

You have to go all the way out to the CMSA level for a Monroe-Ruston connection.

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Originally Posted by Blue Dawg

Is Ruston included in the Monroe UA? I wouldn't think so but just want to clear up the picture in my head.

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Ruston is not part of Monroe's UA or MSA.

Ruston has its own Urbanized Cluster comprised primarily of Ruston and Grambling, its population was 27,700 in the 2010 census.

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Champ967

Thanks Casey -- I remembered from grad school there was more nuanced understanding (eg. shared workforce, commuter flow, etc).

But HD doesn't really do subtlety, and I wanted to break it down more to his level.

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...and ordinary laypeople like me really appreciate it. We are so very fortunate to have so many highly intelligent people --like you-- in our alumni ranks who are willing to take time to share a post on this board. ;)

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Originally Posted by HogDawg

I'm fine with a trip to the Indy Bowl, as long as we get a quality, P5 opponent. For example, playing Florida St would be fantastic. Sure, it a "down season" for the 'Noles, but they are still a big name opponent with a bowl quality team. Let's not forget how some LA Tech fans criticized our 2001 H-Bolw matchup with Clemson fbecause Clemson was only 6-6. Puleeeze, Clemson spanked us like children. LOL!!

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Beating Florida St this year would mean nothing. They are trash. They would’ve lost to ULM if ULM had a kicker. That game went to OT.

I’d rather see how we measure up to App St who is currently ranked #21. Our posters trash the Sunbelt but are afraid to play their best team.

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Originally Posted by HogDawg

I'm fine with a trip to the Indy Bowl, as long as we get a quality, P5 opponent. For example, playing Florida St would be fantastic. Sure, it a "down season" for the 'Noles, but they are still a big name opponent with a bowl quality team. Let's not forget how some LA Tech fans criticized our 2001 H-Bolw matchup with Clemson fbecause Clemson was only 6-6. Puleeeze, Clemson spanked us like children. LOL!!

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LOL. You’re contradicting your own argument. We got stomped by a mediocre Clemson team. That really helped our image.

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Originally Posted by glm47

Beating Florida St this year would mean nothing. They are trash. They would’ve lost to ULM if ULM had a kicker. That game went to OT.

I’d rather see how we measure up to App St who is currently ranked #21. Our posters trash the Sunbelt but are afraid to play their best team.

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I'm definitely respectful of App St.

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Originally Posted by glm47

LOL. You’re contradicting your own argument. We got stomped by a mediocre Clemson team. That really helped our image.

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No contradiction at all. Just pointing out the absurdness of comments like yours, who somehow think we're too good to stoop to the level of playing Florida St. :laugh: