Blomquist, William A.Nieto, Suani I.Ferguson, Margaret R.Bandele, Ramla M.2019-12-272019-12-272019-12https://hdl.handle.net/1805/21598http://dx.doi.org/10.7912/C2/671Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)The U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s designation of Micropolitan Statistical Areas brought to light communities with quasi-rural characteristics that had previously been ignored or hidden between their metro and non-metro category. The present study analyzes three recognition elements: political atmosphere, geography, and population characteristics of the state to analyze their effects on micropolitan areas’ economic strength.en-USMicropolitanSMSAmicroSAsEconomic strength rankingsRuralExburbThesis