SAIPAN, the biggest island in the CNMI, is now one of the 466 total “urbanized areas” in the U.S. and its island territories, according to the U.S. Bureau of Census.
This new classification based on the results of the Census 2000 may qualify Saipan for additional funding from the federal government.
Saipan used to be a rural area based on Census 1990.
“It may open up opportunities for public transportation like busing and street naming funds which we currently don’t have,” a government official who requested anonymity said.
An “urbanized area” consists of densely settled territory that contains 50,000 or more people — a criteria published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2002.
Saipan’s population is pegged at 62,392 based on the results of the Census 2000. This is about 90 percent of the CNMI’s total population of 69,221.
The U.S. Census Bureau also created a title for an urbanized area in island areas or territories.
Saipan and Hagåtña were designated as capitals of Guam and the CNMI, respectively, to identify more clearly the most important centers within each urbanized area.
The 466 total urbanized areas based on the results of Census 2000 represents an increase of 15 percent or 61 urbanized areas from the 1990 census results of 405 areas.
Under the 2000 classifications, there are now 453 urbanized areas in the U.S., 11 in Puerto Rico, one in Guam and one in the CNMI.
The increase consists of 76 entirely new urbanized areas, plus an additional 15 urbanized areas created from splitting existing areas, minus 29 areas lost through combination, and one 1990 urbanized area failing to qualify.
In the 1990 census, there were only 396 urbanized areas in the U.S. and nine in Puerto Rico.
Both Guam and the CNMI did not have urbanized areas during the previous census.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, it identifies and tabulates the data for the urban and rural populations and their associated areas solely for the presentation and comparison of census statistical data.
It does not take into account or attempt any non-statistical uses that may be made of these areas or their associated data, nor does it attempt to meet the requirements of such program uses.
Nonetheless, the bureau said it recognizes that some federal and state agencies are required by law to use Census Bureau-defined urban and rural classifications for allocating program funds, setting program standards, and implementing aspects of their programs.
