The heterogeneity and change in the urban structure of metropolitan areas in the United States, 1990-2010.

ABSTRACT: While the population of the United States has been predominantly urban for nearly 100 years, periodic transformations of the concepts and measures that define urban places and population have taken place, complicating over-time comparisons. We compare and combine data series of officially-designated urban areas, 1990-2010, at the census block-level within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with a satellite-derived consistent series on built-up area from the Global Human Settlement Layer to create urban classes that characterize urban structure and provide estimates of land and population. We find considerable heterogeneity in urban form across MSAs, even among those of similar population size, indicating the inherent difficulties in urban definitions. Over time, we observe slightly decl

SUBMITTER: Leyk S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6915769 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature