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Key words: 
• GIS /
• cluster analysis /
• PM2.5 /
• census tract /
• urban-suburban-rural classification

Abstract: This study was undertaken to construct a preliminary spatial analysis method for building an urban-suburban-rural category in the specific sample area of central California and providing distribution characteristics in each category, based on which, some further studies such as regional manners of residential wood burning emission (PM2.5, the term used for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air, refers to particulate matter that is 2.5μm or smaller in size) could be carried out for the project of residential wood combustion. Demographic and infrastructure data with spatial characteristics were processed by integrating both Geographic Information System (GIS) and statistics method (Cluster Analysis), and then output to a category map as the result. It approached the quantitative and multi-variables description on the major characteristics variations among the urban, suburban and rural; and perfected the TIGER’s urban-rural classification scheme by adding suburban category. Based on the free public GIS data, the spatial analysis method provides an easy and ideal tool for geographic researchers, environmental planners, urban/regional planners and administrators to delineate different categories of regional function on the specific locations and dig out spatial distribution information they wanted. Furthermore, it allows for future adjustment on some parameters as the spatial analysis method is implemented in the different regions or various eco-social models.