Comment: The RuralUrban Continuum (2013) codes separate counties into four metropolitan and six non-metropolitan categories, based on the size their populations and form a classification scheme that distinguishes metropolitan counties by size and non-metropolitan counties by degree of urbanization and proximity to metro areas.

These codes can be derived electronically, using patients’ state and county at diagnosis, so registrars do not need to provide them. FIPS state and county code mappings to Beale Codes can be obtained in an Excel file athttp://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/RuralUrbanContinuumCodes.

The code is a 9-point continuum, transmitted in standard NAACCR record form with a leading 0, (01-09). Abstractors do not enter these codes.

Areas that are not included in the Rural-Urban Continuum code table, such as Canadian provinces/territories and U.S. territories (other than Puerto Rico) will be coded 98. Records for non-residents of the state of the reporting institution (County at DX = 998) also will be coded 98. If Addr at DX–State is XX, YY or ZZ, or if County at DX = 999, the Rural-Urban Continuum will be coded 99.

Categorizing counties by population size helps researchers investigate geographic correlates of the burden of cancer in the area of interest.

Metropolitan Counties (00-03)
01	Counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more
02	Counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population
03	Counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population
Nonmetropolitan Counties (04-09)
04	Urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area
05	Urban population of 20,000 or more, not adjacent to a metro area
06	Urban population of 2,500 to 19,999, adjacent to a metro area
07	Urban population of 2,500 to 19,999, not adjacent to a metro area
08	Completely rural or less than 2,500 urban population, adjacent to a metro area
09	Completely rural or less than 2,500 urban population, not adjacent to a metro area
98	Program run, but: (1) area is not included in Rural-Urban Continuum code table, or (2) record is for resident outside of state of reporting institution
99	Unknown
Blank	Program not run; record not coded