A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs.

A metropolitan area usually combines an agglomeration (the contiguous built-up area) with peripheral zones not themselves necessarily urban in character, but closely bound to the centre by employment or commerce; these zones are also sometimes known as a commuter belt, and may extend well beyond the urban periphery depending on the definition used.

The core cities in a polycentric metropolitan area need not be physically connected by continuous built-up development, distinguishing the concept from conurbation, which requires urban contiguity. In a metropolitan area, it is sufficient that central cities together constitute a large population nucleus with which other constituent parts have a high degree of integration.

More on [ Metropolitan area ]

NewsObserver.com - Home

Cary police find woman dead
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:42:54 -0500
Cary police are investigating the death of a woman at a home off Seabrook Avenue this morning.
Women crowd North Carolina ballots
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:30:00 -0500
The nomination of Sarah Palin for vice president means that voters in North Carolina this year have the chance to elect women at every level of government.
Hunts to cull Duke Forest's deer
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:30:00 -0500
Duke Forest, the sylvan refuge for joggers, nature lovers, bird-watchers and environmental researchers, will soon become a firing range, with white-tailed deer in the crosshairs.
They've preached to the choir; now they're aiming for you
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:30:00 -0500
After two weeks of political theater -- the Democrats at their national convention in Denver, Republicans in St. Paul -- the contest for the White House is a 61-day surge, no longer played for the committed but aimed at swing states and undecided voters.
Citizenship oath ends an ordeal
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:30:00 -0500
Daisy Diaz and Jose Frederico Campos became local celebrities in Chapel Hill a decade ago, when Campos was suddenly deported back to the tumult of his homeland, leaving Diaz to care for five children, one with a serious neurological condition.
Dickerson convicted in slaying
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:30:00 -0500
A jury finds that the Raleigh man acted with premeditation in the beating death of Brenda Fox.

Subscribe to North_Carolina RSS feed