In all instances, the entire entity is classified as a central place. Extended cities are an exception—only their urban portions are classified as central. There is no limit on the number of central places in a UA; however, not all central places are necessarily included in the UA title.
The title of a UA identifies those places that are most important within the UA; where appropriate, it links the UA to the encompassing MA. If a single MA encompasses most of the UA, the title of the UA generally is the same as the title of the MA.
The title of a UA generally is different from any MA title when:
- Most of the UA is not part of a single MA.
- The UA does not include any place that is a central city of the encompassing MA.
- The UA is not located in an MA.
In these instances, the Census Bureau uses the total population of the central places included in the UA—with a preference for incorporated places—to determine the UA title. The name(s) of the State(s) in which the UA is located is (are) always part of the UA title.
A regional title may be used to identify a UA with a population of one million or more where such a name provides an unambiguous description of the area. Regional titles include only the name of the largest city in the UA, followed by the regional reference; for example: Chicago–Northwestern Indiana and New York–Northeastern New Jersey.
The MA central cities and titles used to determine UA central places were those that were in effect on June 30, 1990. Even though the MA central cities, titles, and geographic components underwent a later review and revision by the OMB based on the 1990 census results, such revisions did not affect the central places, titles, or boundaries of UAs already defined. (For information on how UAs delineated during the intercensal period may affect MAs, see the “Intercensal MA Changes” section in Chapter 13.)
