 Conover has been designated a stop on the future Western NC Rail service.As of the census of 2000, there were 341,851 people, 133,966 households, and 95,583 families residing within the MSA.The racial makeup of the MSA was 87.47% White, 6.91% African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.95% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races.