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 ]

Metro Areas - Twitter Search

RT @FistofDetroit: RT @DigitalVision Take this survey of your opinions to help Metro #Detroit - http://ow.ly/S2RO (all geographic areas ...
wondermichigan (Wonder Michigan) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:08:23 -0000
RT @FistofDetroit: RT @DigitalVision Take this survey of your opinions to help Metro #Detroit - http://ow.ly/S2RO (all geographic areas ...
@cuppa_coffee Much cheaper than Chi but not nearly as cosmo. Most areas except inner-city OK; have metro train for city + busline.
rstoup (Russ Stoup) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:21:47 -0000
@cuppa_coffee Much cheaper than Chi but not nearly as cosmo. Most areas except inner-city OK; have metro train for city + busline.
T @digitalvision: Take this surv Subscribe to Metro_Areas RSS feed