The major objective of the Bureau of the Census in delineating urbanized areas was to provide a better separation of urban and rural population near the larger cities, but individual urbanized areas have proved to be useful statistical areas. They correspond to what are called “conurbations” in some other countries.

An urbanized area contains at least one city of 50,000 inhabitants or more in 1960, as well as the surrounding closely settled incorporated places and unincorporated areas that meet the criteria listed on page 2. All persons residing in an urbanized area are included in the urban population.

It appeared desirable to delineate the urbanized areas in terms of the 1960 Census results rather than prior to the census as was done in 1950. For this purpose a peripheral zone around each 1950 urbanized area and around cities that were presumably approaching a population of 50,000 was recognized. Within the unincorporated parts of this zone, small enumeration districts were planned, usually including no more than one square mile of land area and no more than 75 housing units.

The PDF to the right contains the 12-page report. Table 22 shows the population and land area of urbanized areas.