Table 2-2. Number of Geographic Entities of the 1992 Economic and Agriculture Censuses
| Type of Geographic Entity | Status | Economic | Agriculture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nation (the United States) |
Legal |
1 |
1 |
| Regions (of the United States) |
Statistical |
4 |
__ |
| Divisions (of the United States) |
Statistical |
9 |
__ |
| States and Statistically Equivalent Entities |
Legal |
55 |
55 |
| Counties and Statistically Equivalent Entities |
Legal |
3,227 |
3,171 |
| County Subdivisions and Places | 9,063 | __ | |
| Incorporated Places | Legal | 6,897 | __ |
| Consolidated Cities | Legal | 7 | __ |
| Census Designated Places (CDPs) | Statistical | 65 | __ |
| Special Economic Urban Areas (SEUAs) | Legal | 1,640 | __ |
| Balance of Metropolitan Areas |
Statistical |
454 |
__ |
| Metropolitan Areas (MAs) | 348 |
__ | |
| Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) | Statistical | 253 | __ |
| Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs) | Statistical | 19 | __ |
| Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) |
Statistical |
76 |
__ |
| Special-Purpose Entities | 40,900 | 40,900 | |
| ZIP Codes | Administrative | 40,900 | 40,900 |
showing the geographic hierarchies used in recent U.S. censuses provide a general picture of the most significant geographic patterns (see Figures 2-1 and 2-2). Figure 2-3 shows how several categories of small-area geographic entities subdivide a county.
The Presentation of Data for Geographic Entities
The value of statistical data is directly related to the appropriateness of the geographic entities for which it is reported. Existing legal and administrative entities suffice for some purposes. For others, it is better to use a set of statistical entities; still other applications require both kinds of entities. Some
Geographic Overview2-5
