The U.S. Office of Management and Budget designates the area as the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), a metropolitan statistical area used for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau and other government agencies. The Gainesville, Florida Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area was first defined in 1971, consisting of only Alachua County. In 1983 Bradford County was added to the MSA.[3] Bradford County was removed from the MSA in 1993.[4] Gilchrist County was added to the MSA in 2003.[5] Levy County was added to the MSA in 2018.[6]
^"OMB Bulletin No. 18-04 Appendix"(PDF). Office of Management and Budget. September 14, 2018. p. 51. Archived(PDF) from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.