Knowledgebase

How do we define the Washington DC metropolitan area for research purposes?


Depending on how broadly the researcher wants to define the geographic boundaries of the Washington DC metropolitan area for his/her study, there are several options listed below. Note that the geographic codes used below (CSA, CBSA, and county) can be found in the NCCS Counties file (nccs.counties table on the data web).

By Census CSA (Combined Statistical Area):

CSA: 548

CSA Name: Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV Combined Statistical Area

Population (Census 2006 est.): 8,129,395

By Census CBSA (Core Based Statistical Area):

CBSA: 47900

CBSA Name: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area

Population (Census 2006 est.): 5,226,411

By Jurisdiction *

Jurisdiction Name: DC-NoVA-Suburban MD

Included County Codes:

District of Columbia

11001 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Suburban Maryland

24027 HOWARD COUNTY

24031 MONTGOMERY COUNTY

24033 PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY

24003 ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

Northern Virginia

51510 ALEXANDRIA CITY

51013 ARLINGTON

51059 FAIRFAX COUNTY

51600 FAIRFAX CITY

51610 FALLS CHURCH CITY

51107 LOUDOUN COUNTY

51683 MANASSAS CITY

51153 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

51685 MANASSAS PARK CITY

Population (Census 2006 est.): 4,658,743

Population (Census 2006 est.) by Jurisdiction Components:

JurisdictionPopulation
District of Columbia585,459
Northern Virginia2,042,792
Suburban Maryland2,030,492

  • Note: This is not Census defined. The "jurisdiction" definition was used by reporter Drew Lindsay of the Washingtonian.

  • Added 11/12/2008 by pkehayov, Modified 11/12/2008 by pkehayov

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