The New York Metropolitan Region Study

Beginning in 1956, the Fund supported the Regional Plan Association’s three-year, in-depth study of the New York City metropolitan area. The study was the first to produce long-term projections of trends in population, economy, housing, transportation, industry, and land use affecting the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Jointly sponsored by the RBF and the Ford Foundation, the study provided data for business leaders, regional and city planners, and state and local governments.

It offered snapshots over a 25-year period, through 1985, and released several influential publications. 'Anatomy of a Metropolis' focuses on population shifts. 'The Newcomers' describes the influx and status of African Americans and Puerto Ricans. 'Made in New York' profiles the manufacturing industries. Many new initiatives were prompted by the study, including explorations of staggered work hours to relieve the transit crush and a tri-state commission on parks and open spaces.