Which description defines an Urban Cluster?

• A. Over 100,000 population
• B. At least 2,500 but less than 50,000 with population density of 1,000 per square mile
• C. A metropolitan statistical area
• D. A rural area with low density

Answer: (B)

Urban Clusters are defined by a specific population range and density: they must have at least 2,500 residents but fewer than 50,000, and the area is built up to a density of about 1,000 people per square mile. That combination—between 2,500 and 50,000 people with a high enough density—is what sets an Urban Cluster apart from other categories. The description that matches this precisely reflects how UCs are identified.

The other descriptions describe places outside that range: a population over 50,000 points to a larger urbanized area, a metropolitan statistical area covers an even broader region spanning multiple counties, and a rural area with low density does not meet the density threshold or population size.