MSA = Metropolitan Statistical Area, a term defined by the federal government for a multi county area with a major urban core or cores of a population of 50,000 or more, wherin the additional county or county-sized areas have a significant social and economic impact upon one another.
There are 381 MSAs in the United States, 25 of which are in Texas.
In our forum, we have 3 MSAs (Waco, BCS and Killeen/Temple/Ft Hood MSA). "Close to us", on the Texas board, we also have the Austin MSA, DFW MSA, Houston MSA and the San Antonio MSA.
DFW MSA is the 4th in the nation, following NY, LA and Chicago. Houston is the 5th.
FWIW. The Waco MSA is McLennan and Falls county, is 259,000 people and includes Waco plus all or portions of 25 other incorporated cities as well as several unincorporated area.
The Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood MSA is some 351,000 population and consists of Bell, Coryell and Lampassas counties.
The College Station - Bryan MSA is some 192,000 and includes Burleson, Robertson and Brazos counties. (Historically, we say BCS, as Bryan is the county seat and for many years, there population of College Station was very small, compared to Bryan.)
I mention these facts as a means of helping us to keep things in perspective, particularly when comparing one forum to another in the hobby.
The way things may work in an area of 5 to 6 million (DFW and Houston) or an area between 1.6 and 1.9 million (Austin/RR and San Antonio) may be very different than the way things work in areas betweeen 190,00 and 350,000 in population and especially will be different in the way things work in towns of 16,000 people.
Respectfully,
OldSarge
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