What is required for a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) to be designated?

For a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) to be designated, it must meet specific population criteria that ensure it represents a sizable urban area with a significant core of population. The correct requirement for a CMA is that it must have a minimum total population of 100,000, with at least 50,000 residents living in the core urban area. This ensures that the CMA has a substantial urban heart, which is essential for its classification.

The rationale behind these specific numbers is to capture the essence of urban agglomeration. Having a core of at least 50,000 ensures that the center of the CMA is large enough to support urban infrastructure and services, which can influence economic activities and demographic trends.

While the other options present various population numbers and criteria, they do not meet the established definitions set by statistical authorities that designate CMAs. For instance, 50,000 total population without a core requirement, as stated in one option, would not adequately reflect the concentrated urbanization necessary for CMA designation. Similarly, establishing adjacent rural municipalities or relying solely on a single large population without considering the core area misses the concept of a cohesive urban environment that CMAs are intended to represent. Hence, the designation requires both a significant total population and a considerable