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 When one or more PMSAs have been recognized, the balance of the original, larger area becomes an additional PMSA; the larger area of which they are components then is designated a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA). PMSAs were first defined and effective on June 30, 1983. See also consolidated metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan area, metropolitan statistical area, standard consolidated area, standard consolidated statistical area, standard metropolitan area, standard metropolitan statistical area.

PSAD See political/statistical area description.

Pseudo MCD Refers to the MCD recognized in, and comprising the area of, Arlington County, Virginia; St. Louis, Missouri; other independent cities; and independent places below the county level. Although these entities have no MCDs, it is inappropriate to classify them as unorganized territory. See also county subdivision, independent city, independent place.

Public land survey system (PLSS) The grid system by which units of land in the United States are described in relation to established north-south (township) and east-west (range) base lines. The resultant areas are referred to as congressional townships, survey townships, or townships, and generally are six-square-mile units. Townships, in turn, may be subdivided into one-square-mile units, called sections, which also may be subdivided further. Because of the spherical shape of the earth and irregularities in the original surveys, occasional corrections, which appear on maps as jogs or offsets, are introduced along specific township and range lines. See also minor civil division, survey township, township (civil or governmental), township (congressional or survey), township and range system.

Public-use microdata area (PUMA) An area that defines the extent of territory for which the Census Bureau tabulates PUMS data. See also public use microdata samples.

Public-use microdata samples (PUMS) Computerized files consisting of the actual responses provided by individuals about themselves and their housing units rather than summary or tabulated statistics for geographic areas. G-40Glossary