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4 <br /> <br />Department of ComMerce <br /> <br /> Bureau of the Census. The Bureau of the Census :: <br />makes use o~ SMSA's rn irs data tabulation programs for <br />the decennial census,, the economic censuses, and other <br />surveys. When changes occur in criteria for SMSA's, <br />the changes may be reflected in areas recognized for <br />data tabulation; examples are programs which provide <br />data for central business districts and major retail <br />centers where all cities named in the titles of S~4SA's <br />are eligible to have ~ central business district defined. <br />If the SMSA criteria change and name changes occur, or <br />if the way in which central cities are defined is revised, <br />the Bureau of the Census will consider changing the criteria <br />for eligibility for some programs, such as those for <br />centca! business districts, pending the effects of the <br />proposed changes in SMSA criteria on the existing list <br />of central cities. <br /> <br />The Bureau of the Census maintains the GBF/DIb!E files :.i[ <br />which reference ranges of addresses to census geoqraphy ~.:' <br />for tabulation purposes. While traditionally the Bureau <br />ha~ made commitments to use these files only in SMSA's, <br />it is presently working with several nonmetropo!itan ~:: <br />agencles to create these files, for use locally where city- <br />rype address systems exist. The Bureau plans to continue <br />to cover, such areas in this manner. <br /> <br />The establishment of census tracts and tabulation of data <br />~o these tracts, as well as the collection and tabulation <br />of dare at the block level, are non dependent on an area's '~.:. <br />S.~SA status. Whether the data are published or made avail- ... <br />able only ~n unpublished form, however, may be dependent <br />on S~!SA status, tn addition, ~arlous Federal and State. <br />laws require the use of census tract numbers in bank <br />mortgage records. (See the section on' the Home Mortgage <br />Disclosure Act.) Usually the guidelines for implementing <br />these laws limit this requirement to areas with ~eadily <br />available source material for the tract members. Generally <br />such areas coincide with the SMSA's reflected in the <br />latest decennial censu~ publications. <br /> <br />Likewise, the definition of urbanized areas by the Bureau <br />of the Census ~s not dependent on SMSA status. [n general, <br />however, the criteria for central cities of an urbanized <br />area have tended to parallel the criteria for central <br />cities of an SMSA. Changes ~n SMSA criteria could affect <br />the number of urbanized areas, but not the areal extent <br />of individual urbanized areas. <br /> <br /> <br />