U.S. Census Designated Urban Areas

The U.S. Census Bureau defines and publishes data on urban areas (formerly known as urbanized areas) to distinguish densely populated regions from rural ones. These designations are crucial for federal agencies when allocating grant funding, for researchers as a baseline to analyze changes in the characteristics of urban and rural populations, and for urban and transportation planners to assess community needs and plan infrastructure accordingly.

Both the 2010 and 2020 Urban Area layers from the U.S. Census are available for viewing below. To toggle between years, click the layers button . Alternatively, the data can be downloaded directly from the Census.

To view the map in a new browser click here.

2010 Vs. 2020 Urban Area Definition

Besides the slight name change from “Urbanized Area” in 2010 to “Urban Area” in 2020, there are several significant differences in how the U.S. Census defined and tabulated urban areas across the country. Below is a frequently asked questions document from the U.S. Census, outlining the key differences between the 2010 and 2020 designations.