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COPYRIGHT 2004 Winston-Salem Journal
Byline: Richard Craver
Nov. 15--The Triad no longer exists according to the federal government -- at least, not in the geographic form in which it has been identified for decades.
In the place of what was classified as an eight-county metropolitan statistical area, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget has established five statistical areas that enable federal agencies to gather more in-depth data.
The change, 15 years in the making, separates Winston-Salem's economic data from Greensboro and High Point. It also splits up the Triad's population base, which was ranked as the 36th largest in the nation.
The Triad is not alone in being affected by the changes. At least 33 other former metro areas have been divided into two or more sections.
The shift has some groups and counties facing potential federal funding cuts and officials questioning the potential impact on the profile of a region already struggling to cooperate economically.
"The changes represent another element to overcome when it comes to how the Triad is perceived by others," said Ron Morgan, the economic-development director for Stokes County.
"How we choose to define the region for a marketing perspective is up to us, and not the federal government. We know who we are. Our ties extend beyond county boundaries to cultural and economic links.
"That said, the changes could affect us in ways we're not aware of yet," Morgan said.
When it comes to MSA size, the changes are pretty significant to the Triad's ranking in national terms.
The Greensboro-High Point MSA of Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham counties is now the 73rd largest out of the 370 metro areas in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Winston-Salem MSA of...
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