Wilmington Statistical Area gets smaller

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — The Wilmington metropolitan area is getting smaller, at least as far as the federal government is concerned.

The StarNews of Wilmington reports (http://bit.ly/149KpBw ) that Brunswick County — just across the Cape Fear River from Wilmington — has been moved into the Myrtle Beach, S.C., Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The move by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget reflects 2010 Census figures showing much of the growth in southern Brunswick County nearer the South Carolina state line.

That leaves only Pender and New Hanover counties in the Wilmington standard metropolitan statistical area. The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce doesn't like the change.

Nationwide chains use the size of metropolitan areas in deciding where to put new outlets. The change affects the calculation of jobs, income and other statistics for economic development.

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Information from: The StarNews, http://starnewsonline.com