Q: Im doing some research on Atlanta. Why is it that Atlanta is said to have a population of 486,000+, yet it is also said that the "metro" area has over 5 million residents? If the metro area alone had 5 million residents, I would think the population of Atlanta be at least 5 million...
A: Metro Atlanta means the city of Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs. The Atlanta Metropolitian Statistical area covers 28 counties including Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb. Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton. (sorry don't know the other 7 for sure) The census bureau defines Metropolitoan statistical areas. Some groups notably Community Foundation for Metro Atlanta have a 14 county definition. That is probably closer to the mental picture people have when they say "Metro Atlanta" but your stats would be likely to relate to the area defned by the census bureau.