Micro-urban

Micro-urban is an informal term for smaller cities of 250,000 or less with specific urban characteristics normally found in large metropolitan centers. The characteristics generally associated with micro-urban locations are diversity, arts, culture, technology, public discourse, and public transportation.^[1]

Micro-urban areas fall between "micropolitan", which was introduced by the United States Census Bureau in 2003 to refer to areas with populations of 10,000-49,999, and larger areas designated as "urban" or "metropolitan". While micro-urban areas carry many of the characteristics that contribute to quality of life typically found in major urban centers, these smaller communities have a lower cost of living, less traffic/easier transportation and a stronger sense of community that comes with the feeling of knowing your neighbors.

Examples of micro-urban communities

• Albany, New York
• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Asbury Park, New Jersey
• Asheville, North Carolina
• Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
• Columbia, Missouri
• Fargo, North Dakota
• Gainesville, Florida
• Greater Binghamton, New York
• Iowa City, Iowa
• Lawrence, Kansas
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Moorhead, Minnesota
• Olympia, Washington
• Roanoke, Virginia
• Rochester, New York
• Syracuse, New York
• Winona, Minnesota

References

External links

• The Micro-Urbanist
• Mike Ross on Micro-Urbanism at TEDxUIUC 2010
• Krannert Center for the Performing Arts - Our Setting
• News-Gazette, November 2009
• News-Gazette, April 2009
• Smile Politely - Busey Economic Summit
• Smile Politely - A Micro-Urban Evening
• "Dreamtowns that offer refuge from big cities and congested suburbs"