title: Monitoring the metropolitanization process.
abstract: Alternative approaches have led to different interpretations of the metropolitanization process in the United States. We identify and illustrate several methods and procedures for monitoring metropolitan-nonmetropolitan population change using the 1950-1980 U.S. decennial censuses. Two basic approaches are compared: constant area approaches and component methods. In addition, we assess the effects of changing metropolitan definitions on metropolitan-nonmetropolitan growth. The results clearly reveal that the underlying mechanics of metropolitanization not only are complex but have changed substantially during the 1950-1980 period. We conclude with observations regarding the use of these procedures in future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rural Sociology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Fuguitt
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Lichter
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011158:Population Growth; D014481:United States; D014507:Urbanization