The SAGE Key Concepts series provides students with accessible and authoritative knowledge of the essential topics in a variety of disciplines. Cross-referenced throughout, the format encourages critical evaluation through understanding.

Written by experienced and respected academics, the books are indispensable study aids and guides to comprehension.

Key Concepts in Urban Studies:

Clearly and concisely explains the basic ideas in the interdisciplinary field of urban studies; Offers concise discussions of concepts ranging from community, neighbourhood, and the city to globalization, the New Urbanism, feminine space, and urban problems; Constitutes a re-examination of the key ideas in the field; Is illustrated throughout with international examples; Provides an essential reference guide for all students and teachers across the urban disciplines within sociology, political science, planning and geography.

Counties, Places, MSAs and other Census Definitions

Counties, places, MSAs and other census definitions

(NOTE: the following consists of definitions alone. For a more analytical perspective on these spatial distinctions see the entry on the Multi-centered Metropolitan Region.)

In the United States

Counties

Counties and their equivalents are the primary political and administrative divisions of states. These areas are called parishes in Louisiana. In Alaska, 27 boroughs and ‘census areas’ are treated as county equivalents for census purposes. Several cities – Baltimore, MD, St. Louis, MO, Carson City, NV and 40 cities in Virginia – are independent of any county organization and, because they constitute primary divisions of their states, are accorded the same treatment as counties in census tabulations. The District of Columbia, i.e., Washington, DC, has no primary divisions and the entire area is treated as a ...

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