RUCA Version 1.11 Definitions

Census tracts are assigned to categories based on commuting data and Census Bureau definitions (e.g., urbanized area and urban place are Census Bureau terms with specific definitions).

Version 1.11 of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs). For information, contact the University of Washington Rural Health Research Center at 206-685-0401.

1. Urban core Census tract
[primary flow within Census Bureau defined Urbanized Area (metroŽ 50,000)]
1.1 secondary flow (30-50%) to larger urbanized area
1.0 otherwise

2. Census tract strongly tied to urban core
[primary flow to Census Bureau defined Urbanized Area (>30%)]
2.1 secondary flow (30-50%) to larger urbanized area)
2.2 combined flows to urbanized areas of >30% and greater than primary flow
2.0 otherwise

3. Census tract weakly tied to urban core
[primary flow to Census Bureau defined Urbanized Area but 5-30%]
3.0 --

4. Large town Census tract
[primary flow within large Census Bureau defined Urban Place (10,000-49,999 & >30%)]
4.1 secondary flow (30-50%) to urbanized area
4.0 otherwise

5. Census tract strongly tied to large town
[primary flow to large Census Bureau defined Urban Place (>30%)]
5.1 secondary flow (30-50%) to urbanized area
5.0 otherwise

6. Census tract weakly tied to large town
[primary flow to large Census Bureau defined Urban Place (5-30%)]
6.0 --

7. Small town Census tract
[primary flow within small Census Bureau defined Urban Place (Ž 2,500 & <10,000 & >30%)]
7.1 secondary flow (30-50%) to urbanized area
7.2 secondary flow (30-50%) to large urban place
7.3 secondary flow (5-30%) to urbanized area
7.4 secondary flow (5-30%) to large urban place
7.0 otherwise

8. Census tract strongly tied to small town
[primary flow to a small Census Bureau defined Urban Place (>30%)]
8.1 secondary flow (30-50%) to urbanized area
8.2 secondary flow (30-50%) to large urban place
8.3 secondary flow (5-30%) to urbanized area
8.4 secondary flow (5-30%) to large urban place
8.0 otherwise

9. Census tract weakly tied to small town
[primary flow to a small Census Bureau defined Urban Place (5-30%)]
9.1 secondary flow (5-30%) to urbanized area
9.2 secondary flow (5-30%) to large urban place
9.0 otherwise

10. Isolated small rural Census tract (remaining rural tracts)
[no primary flows over 5% to any Census Bureau defined Urbanized Area (metro), large Urban Place, or small Urban Place]
10.1 secondary flow (30-50%) to urbanized area
10.2 secondary flow (30-50%) to large urban place
10.3 secondary flow (30-50%) to small urban place
10.4 secondary flow (5-30%) to urbanized area
10.5 secondary flow (5-30%) to large urban place
10.0 otherwise

 

updated December 2002