Southern Baptist Metro Areas (1980)

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Using data from the 1980 Churches and Church Membership Study, this list ranks U.S. metro areas on the highest total number of adherents and the highest percent of the population that are Southern Baptist. You can sort the list by clicking on the column headings. Most historically African American denominations are not included in the 1980 congregation and membership totals.

Congregational "adherents" include all full members, their children, and others who regularly attend services.

[More information on the data source]

Complete List

Ranking	Metro Area	Adherents	Percent
1	Gadsden, AL MSA	46,818	45.4
2	Knoxville, TN MSA	222,783	40.8
3	Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC MSA	287,940	38.7
4	Sherman-Denison, TX MSA	32,759	36.5
5	Anniston, AL MSA	42,871	35.8
6	Decatur, AL MSA	42,436	35.3
7	Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC MSA	94,488	34.9
8	Waco, TX MSA	59,521	34.9
9	Asheville, NC MSA	61,130	34.4
10	Owensboro, KY MSA	29,550	34.4
11	Dothan, AL MSA	41,415	33.8
12	Hattiesburg, MS MSA	30,337	33.8
13	Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR MSA	35,710	31.6
14	Wichita Falls, TX MSA	40,442	31.5
15	Jackson, TN MSA	27,461	31.5
16	Monroe, LA MSA	43,316	31.1
17	Tyler, TX MSA	39,546	30.8
18	Abilene, TX MSA	33,497	30.2
19	Amarillo, TX MSA	52,264	30.1
20	Jonesboro, AR MSA	18,957	30.0
21	Birmingham, AL MSA	243,630	29.9
22	Alexandria, LA MSA	40,409	29.9
23	Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA	46,904	28.8
24	Longview-Marshall, TX MSA	51,882	28.8
25	Jackson, MS MSA	102,393	28.3
26	Myrtle Beach, SC MSA	28,204	27.8
27	Lawton, OK MSA	30,472	27.1
28	Tuscaloosa, AL MSA	36,582	26.6
29	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA	97,300	25.8
30	Macon, GA MSA	68,953	25.3
31	Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA	91,691	25.2
32	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA	93,914	25.0
33	Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA	108,138	24.9
34	Mobile, AL MSA	107,632	24.3
35	Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA	100,280	24.0
35	Florence, AL MSA	32,403	24.0
36	Oklahoma City, OK MSA	204,997	23.8
37	Lubbock, TX MSA	49,985	23.6
38	Odessa-Midland, TX MSA	46,353	23.4
39	Huntsville, AL MSA	56,585	23.3
40	Montgomery, AL MSA	63,300	23.2
41	San Angelo, TX MSA	19,240	22.7
42	Columbus, GA-AL MSA	57,038	22.4
43	Joplin, MO MSA	28,465	22.3
44	Danville, VA MSA	24,893	22.3
45	Panama City, FL MSA	21,583	22.1
46	Rocky Mount, NC MSA	26,651	21.6
47	Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA	210,047	21.6
48	Springfield, MO MSA	49,097	21.5
49	Roanoke, VA MSA	47,296	21.5
49	Wilmington, NC MSA	29,882	21.5
50	Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR MSA	101,224	21.3
51	Athens, GA MSA	21,934	21.0
52	Tulsa, OK MSA	137,215	20.9
53	Atlanta, GA MSA	461,718	20.7
54	Pine Bluff, AR MSA	18,615	20.5
55	Fort Walton Beach, FL MSA	22,508	20.5
56	Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA	136,010	20.5
57	Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA	15,567	20.4
57	Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA	191,614	20.4
58	Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA	606,628	19.9
59	Albany, GA MSA	22,198	19.8
60	Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY MSA	29,590	19.7
61	Killeen-Temple, TX MSA	42,213	19.7
62	Florence, SC MSA	21,500	19.5
63	Lynchburg, VA MSA	35,143	19.3
64	Lexington, KY MSA	70,731	19.1
65	Lake Charles, LA MSA	31,867	19.1
66	Pensacola, FL MSA	54,998	19.0
67	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA	33,447	18.7
67	Nashville, TN MSA	159,312	18.7
68	Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS MSA	56,141	18.7
69	Savannah, GA MSA	42,418	18.4
70	Jacksonville, FL MSA	130,487	18.1
71	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA	57,071	17.7
72	Enid, OK MSA	11,048	17.6
73	Baton Rouge, LA MSA	82,938	16.8
74	Columbia, SC MSA	68,026	16.6
75	Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC MSA	157,487	16.6
76	Richmond-Petersburg, VA MSA	123,006	16.2
77	Sumter, SC MSA	14,225	16.1
78	Corpus Christi, TX MSA	51,858	15.9
79	Charlottesville, VA MSA	17,453	15.4
80	Louisville, KY-IN MSA	146,381	15.4
81	Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA	65,400	15.2
82	Bryan-College Station, TX MSA	14,066	15.0
83	St. Joseph, MO MSA	14,864	14.6
84	Tallahassee, FL MSA	26,843	14.1
85	Austin-San Marcos, TX MSA	80,738	13.8
86	Gainesville, FL MSA	20,344	13.4
87	Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA	415,332	13.3
88	Ocala, FL MSA	16,069	13.1
89	Fayetteville, NC MSA	31,657	12.8
90	Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY MSA	34,255	12.4
91	Victoria, TX MSA	8,336	12.1
92	Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC MSA	137,613	11.5
93	Jacksonville, NC MSA	12,635	11.2
94	Columbia, MO MSA	10,615	10.6
95	Orlando, FL MSA	82,688	10.3
96	Daytona Beach, FL MSA	27,481	10.2
97	Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL MSA	26,013	9.5
98	Kansas City, MO-KS MSA	136,177	9.4
99	San Antonio, TX MSA	100,238	9.2
100	Goldsboro, NC MSA	8,281	8.5
101	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA	133,054	8.3
102	Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX MSA	17,063	8.1
103	Las Cruces, NM MSA	7,476	7.8
104	Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL MSA	14,638	7.1
105	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA	23,053	6.9
106	St. Louis, MO-IL MSA	165,210	6.8
107	Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL MSA	10,161	6.7
108	El Paso, TX MSA	30,006	6.3
108	Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA	21,926	6.3
109	Wichita, KS MSA	26,321	6.0
110	Greenville, NC MSA	5,326	5.9
111	Anchorage, AK MSA	10,264	5.9
112	Albuquerque, NM MSA	28,481	5.9
113	Lafayette, LA MSA	19,036	5.8
114	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA	16,009	5.7
115	Houma, LA MSA	9,696	5.5
116	Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN CMSA	92,671	5.4
117	New Orleans, LA MSA	68,388	5.3
118	Yuma, AZ MSA	3,989	5.1
119	Bakersfield, CA MSA	19,976	5.0
120	Colorado Springs, CO MSA	14,822	4.8
121	West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL MSA	26,914	4.7
122	Naples, FL MSA	3,949	4.6
123	Punta Gorda, FL MSA	2,645	4.5
124	Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA	67,612	4.2
125	Cumberland, MD-WV MSA	4,389	4.1
126	Merced, CA MSA	5,442	4.0
127	Yuba City, CA MSA	4,075	4.0
128	Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA	228,059	3.9
129	Casper, WY MSA	2,797	3.9
130	Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA	35,450	3.8
131	Santa Fe, NM MSA	3,446	3.7
132	Flagstaff, AZ-UT MSA	2,859	3.6
133	Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA MSA	5,206	3.6
134	Tucson, AZ MSA	18,324	3.5
135	Decatur, IL MSA	4,383	3.3
136	Cheyenne, WY MSA	2,245	3.3
137	Rapid City, SD MSA	2,167	3.1
138	Fresno, CA MSA	16,485	2.9
139	Modesto, CA MSA	7,517	2.8
140	Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA	27,962	2.8
140	Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA MSA	6,749	2.8
141	Lawrence, KS MSA	1,844	2.7
142	Redding, CA MSA	2,974	2.6
143	Grand Junction, CO MSA	2,087	2.6
144	Pueblo, CO MSA	3,179	2.5
145	Topeka, KS MSA	3,813	2.5
146	Salinas, CA MSA	6,993	2.4
147	Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA	12,532	2.4
148	Springfield, IL MSA	4,420	2.4
149	Sacramento-Yolo, CA CMSA	24,351	2.2
150	Columbus, OH MSA	23,138	1.9
151	Laredo, TX MSA	1,880	1.9
152	Champaign-Urbana, IL MSA	3,132	1.9
153	Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA	6,405	1.8
154	Peoria-Pekin, IL MSA	6,551	1.8
155	Chico-Paradise, CA MSA	2,532	1.8
156	Great Falls, MT MSA	1,366	1.7
157	Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO CMSA	29,186	1.7
158	Yakima, WA MSA	2,784	1.6
159	Kokomo, IN MSA	1,654	1.6
160	Muncie, IN MSA	2,019	1.6
160	San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA MSA	2,434	1.6
161	San Diego, CA MSA	28,411	1.5
162	Dover, DE MSA	1,488	1.5
162	Honolulu, HI MSA	11,482	1.5
163	Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA	2,244	1.5
164	Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA	168,136	1.5
165	Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA MSA	4,220	1.4
166	Grand Forks, ND-MN MSA	1,380	1.4
167	Spokane, WA MSA	4,640	1.4
168	San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA	68,294	1.3
169	Jackson, MI MSA	1,855	1.2
170	Billings, MT MSA	1,299	1.2
170	Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA	3,289	1.2
171	Indianapolis, IN MSA	15,114	1.2
172	Pocatello, ID MSA	749	1.1
173	Bloomington-Normal, IL MSA	1,345	1.1
173	Rockford, IL MSA	3,668	1.1
174	Omaha, NE-IA MSA	6,768	1.1
175	Medford-Ashland, OR MSA	1,397	1.1
176	Lafayette, IN MSA	1,591	1.0
177	Corvallis, OR MSA	664	1.0
178	Mansfield, OH MSA	1,669	0.9
179	Boise City, ID MSA	2,253	0.9
179	Reno, NV MSA	1,703	0.9
180	Charleston, WV MSA	2,316	0.9
181	Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH MSA	1,342	0.9
182	Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA CMSA	20,085	0.8
183	Benton Harbor, MI MSA	1,361	0.8
183	Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA	41,676	0.8
184	Lima, OH MSA	1,200	0.8
185	Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA	58,728	0.7
185	Toledo, OH MSA	4,444	0.7
186	Portland-Salem, OR-WA CMSA	11,219	0.7
187	Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI MSA	2,844	0.7
188	Cleveland-Akron, OH CMSA	19,788	0.7
189	New London-Norwich, CT NECMA	1,536	0.6
190	Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA	2,395	0.6
190	Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA	5,649	0.6
191	Lincoln, NE MSA	1,157	0.6
192	Bloomington, IN MSA	529	0.5
192	Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA	3,477	0.5
193	Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA	735	0.5
194	Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV MSA	854	0.5
195	Missoula, MT MSA	389	0.5
195	Terre Haute, IN MSA	796	0.5
196	Cedar Rapids, IA MSA	798	0.5
196	Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA	1,970	0.5
197	Lancaster, PA MSA	1,674	0.5
198	Des Moines, IA MSA	1,672	0.5
199	York, PA MSA	1,352	0.4
200	Milwaukee-Racine, WI CMSA	5,865	0.4
201	Iowa City, IA MSA	283	0.4
202	Bismarck, ND MSA	274	0.3
202	Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA MSA	1,884	0.3
203	Fort Wayne, IN MSA	1,473	0.3
204	Wheeling, WV-OH MSA	587	0.3
205	Janesville-Beloit, WI MSA	436	0.3
206	Elmira, NY MSA	289	0.3
207	Madison, WI MSA	876	0.3
207	Provo-Orem, UT MSA	580	0.3
207	Utica-Rome, NY MSA	879	0.3
208	Sioux Falls, SD MSA	324	0.3
209	Bellingham, WA MSA	241	0.2
209	Sioux City, IA-NE MSA	265	0.2
210	Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA	12,483	0.2
210	Sharon, PA MSA	279	0.2
211	Rochester, MN MSA	188	0.2
211	Wausau, WI MSA	217	0.2
212	Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN MSA	257	0.2
212	Portland, ME NECMA	413	0.2
212	Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI MSA	813	0.2
213	Green Bay, WI MSA	290	0.2
214	Altoona, PA MSA	214	0.2
214	Binghamton, NY MSA	415	0.2
214	Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECMA	155	0.2
214	State College, PA MSA	183	0.2
215	Duluth-Superior, MN-WI MSA	369	0.1
215	Pittsburgh, PA MSA	3,687	0.1
216	Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA	1,102	0.1
216	La Crosse, WI-MN MSA	142	0.1
216	South Bend, IN MSA	321	0.1
217	Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA	1,486	0.1
217	Erie, PA MSA	344	0.1
218	Dubuque, IA MSA	102	0.1
218	Syracuse, NY MSA	780	0.1
219	Jamestown, NY MSA	125	0.1
219	New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA	16,063	0.1
219	Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA MSA	570	0.1
220	Hartford, CT NECMA	840	0.1
220	Johnstown, PA MSA	204	0.1
220	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA	1,798	0.1
220	Rochester, NY MSA	861	0.1
220	Williamsport, PA MSA	100	0.1
221	Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH NECMA	3,484	0.1
221	Burlington, VT NECMA	110	0.1
221	Elkhart-Goshen, IN MSA	90	0.1
221	Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI NECMA	589	0.1
221	Sheboygan, WI MSA	72	0.1
222	Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI MSA	185	0.1
223	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA MSA	249	0.1
224	Pittsfield, MA NECMA	52	0.0
224	Springfield, MA NECMA	236	0.0
225	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA	280	0.0
225	Canton-Massillon, OH MSA	133	0.0
225	Reading, PA MSA	88	0.0
225	St. Cloud, MN MSA	42	0.0
226	Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA NECMA	0	0.0
226	Glens Falls, NY MSA	0	0.0

Source

The data presented in this list were collected by the Glenmary Research Center and include statistics for 111 Judeo-Christian church bodies, including number of churches and adherents. Bernard Quinn, Herman Anderson, Martin Bradley, Paul Goetting and Peggy Shriver supervised the collection. These data originally appeared in Churches and Church Membership in the United States, 1980, published by the Glenmary Research Center.

[More information about this data source]