The New Market Economy of Micropolitan Areas
Robert E. Lang, Professor and Director Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech ICSC Spring Conference—Las Vegas, NV May 23, 2006
Census Population Totals in 2000
Metropolitan Areas Principal Cities Suburbs Micropolitan Areas Non-Metropolitan Areas 82.6% 32.9% 49.8% 10.5% 6.9%
What is a Micropolitan Area?
• A brand new census category • Mostly smaller than Metros • Cities from 10,000 to 50,000 • Formally non-metro counties
Top 5 Micro States
State Texas Ohio North Carolina Indiana Georgia No of Micros 41 29 26 25 24
US Micropolitan Areas
Virginia Tech’s 2005 Megapolitan Geography
“Dallas is Coming Our Way” Ardmore, OK
The Booming Micros
• Near Big Metropolitan Areas • In Fast Growing US Regions • In Path of Megapolitan Growth • Near Natural Amenities
Some Key Findings
• Over half the US Metro or Micro • 30 mil. people live in Micros • Micros a fifth of all US counties • Micros grow slower than US rate
More Key Findings
• Top Micro out ranks 105 Metros • Micro 68% Suburbs, Metro 62% • Micro are very diverse group • Big difference East vs. West
Micropolitics: 2000 and 2004 Elections
• Micros are mostly Republican • Micros vote similar to rural areas • Ohio Micros helped elect Bush • It’s the density, stupid
So What for Retail
• These are Still Rural Markets • Yet the Largest Rural Clusters • Think Traditional Products • Comparable to Small Metros
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