Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Metro Areas (1990)

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Using data from the 1990 Religious Congregations and Membership Study, this list ranks U.S. metro areas on the highest total number of adherents and the highest percent of the population in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can sort the list by clicking on the column headings.

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
9	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA	389,811	15.4
72	Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA	179,523	2.2
120	New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA	163,896	0.8
65	Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA	149,475	2.5
78	Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA	129,615	1.9
38	Milwaukee-Racine, WI CMSA	91,152	5.7
50	Pittsburgh, PA MSA	88,675	3.7
138	Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA	87,651	0.6
10	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA MSA	83,689	14.1
64	Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA CMSA	79,805	2.7
93	Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA	75,747	1.5
19	Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA MSA	57,430	9.8
6	Reading, PA MSA	54,953	16.3
1	Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN MSA	48,991	32.0
13	Madison, WI MSA	47,758	13.0
25	Toledo, OH MSA	47,699	7.8
87	Cleveland-Akron, OH CMSA	46,488	1.6
14	York, PA MSA	43,945	12.9
134	San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA	42,786	0.7
74	Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO CMSA	41,238	2.1
61	Columbus, OH MSA	39,624	3.0
83	Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA	39,486	1.8
56	Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA	37,006	3.2
36	Omaha, NE-IA MSA	36,958	5.8
76	Portland-Salem, OR-WA CMSA	35,704	2.0
3	Sioux Falls, SD MSA	33,046	23.7
11	Duluth-Superior, MN-WI MSA	32,693	13.6
18	Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI MSA	31,211	9.9
22	Rockford, IL MSA	28,428	8.6
70	Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA	27,883	2.3
30	Lancaster, PA MSA	27,686	6.6
63	Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA	27,497	2.9
131	Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA	26,974	0.7
26	Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA	26,556	7.6
2	Grand Forks, ND-MN MSA	26,515	25.7
39	Columbia, SC MSA	25,624	5.7
154	Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH NECMA	24,462	0.4
32	Des Moines, IA MSA	24,158	6.2
86	San Antonio, TX MSA	22,539	1.7
20	Johnstown, PA MSA	22,400	9.3
7	Eau Claire, WI MSA	21,735	15.8
108	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA	21,699	1.1
145	Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA	21,594	0.5
5	La Crosse, WI-MN MSA	20,440	17.6
57	Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA MSA	19,842	3.1
136	Atlanta, GA MSA	19,629	0.7
125	St. Louis, MO-IL MSA	19,320	0.8
128	San Diego, CA MSA	18,687	0.8
12	Janesville-Beloit, WI MSA	18,518	13.3
31	Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC MSA	18,045	6.2
73	Austin-San Marcos, TX MSA	17,920	2.1
62	Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA	17,515	2.9
4	Bismarck, ND MSA	17,279	20.6
51	Fort Wayne, IN MSA	16,831	3.7
91	Hartford, CT NECMA	16,820	1.5
77	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA	16,681	1.9
8	Rochester, MN MSA	16,468	15.5
149	Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA	15,542	0.5
94	Rochester, NY MSA	15,301	1.4
23	Mansfield, OH MSA	14,952	8.6
122	Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN CMSA	14,706	0.8
49	Canton-Massillon, OH MSA	14,648	3.7
112	Sacramento-Yolo, CA CMSA	14,424	1.0
91	Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA	14,112	1.5
42	Erie, PA MSA	13,701	5.0
15	Wausau, WI MSA	13,682	11.9
16	Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA	13,432	10.9
29	Green Bay, WI MSA	13,302	6.8
121	Kansas City, MO-KS MSA	13,013	0.8
114	Indianapolis, IN MSA	12,741	0.9
37	Lincoln, NE MSA	12,188	5.7
17	Sioux City, IA-NE MSA	12,103	10.5
107	Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC MSA	11,545	1.1
28	St. Cloud, MN MSA	11,085	7.4
24	Altoona, PA MSA	10,946	8.4
60	Spokane, WA MSA	10,781	3.0
21	Williamsport, PA MSA	10,742	9.1
59	Peoria-Pekin, IL MSA	10,318	3.0
132	Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC MSA	10,226	0.7
35	Cedar Rapids, IA MSA	10,051	6.0
67	Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI MSA	9,895	2.5
123	Orlando, FL MSA	9,788	0.8
79	Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA	9,582	1.9
96	Tucson, AZ MSA	9,216	1.4
104	Syracuse, NY MSA	8,808	1.2
95	Albuquerque, NM MSA	8,296	1.4
117	Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA	7,478	0.9
113	Fresno, CA MSA	7,237	1.0
46	Champaign-Urbana, IL MSA	7,166	4.1
82	Colorado Springs, CO MSA	7,084	1.8
34	Billings, MT MSA	6,915	6.1
40	State College, PA MSA	6,783	5.5
124	Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA	6,721	0.8
124	Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC MSA	6,575	0.8
127	West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL MSA	6,546	0.8
45	Lima, OH MSA	6,500	4.2
131	Jacksonville, FL MSA	6,496	0.7
43	Jamestown, NY MSA	6,418	4.5
100	Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA	6,197	1.3
27	Rapid City, SD MSA	6,123	7.5
56	Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA	5,912	3.2
142	Louisville, KY-IN MSA	5,336	0.6
55	Wheeling, WV-OH MSA	5,180	3.3
104	Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA	5,151	1.2
145	Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI NECMA	4,866	0.5
148	Oklahoma City, OK MSA	4,818	0.5
80	Savannah, GA MSA	4,793	1.9
154	Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA	4,608	0.4
33	Victoria, TX MSA	4,554	6.1
106	Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL MSA	4,432	1.1
90	Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA	4,356	1.5
47	Sheboygan, WI MSA	4,212	4.1
109	Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA	4,177	1.0
41	Great Falls, MT MSA	4,167	5.4
101	Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL MSA	4,125	1.2
151	Richmond-Petersburg, VA MSA	4,101	0.5
58	Bloomington-Normal, IL MSA	3,937	3.1
84	Anchorage, AK MSA	3,917	1.7
88	South Bend, IN MSA	3,909	1.6
101	Utica-Rome, NY MSA	3,899	1.2
58	Bellingham, WA MSA	3,893	3.1
85	Roanoke, VA MSA	3,867	1.7
136	Knoxville, TN MSA	3,841	0.7
68	Elkhart-Goshen, IN MSA	3,811	2.4
75	Springfield, IL MSA	3,811	2.0
116	Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI MSA	3,808	0.9
48	Iowa City, IA MSA	3,805	4.0
52	Cumberland, MD-WV MSA	3,734	3.7
126	Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA	3,717	0.8
159	Nashville, TN MSA	3,676	0.4
69	Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA MSA	3,610	2.4
131	Wichita, KS MSA	3,501	0.7
98	Binghamton, NY MSA	3,481	1.3
119	Daytona Beach, FL MSA	3,432	0.9
156	Honolulu, HI MSA	3,419	0.4
150	Tulsa, OK MSA	3,395	0.5
44	Missoula, MT MSA	3,324	4.2
167	New Orleans, LA MSA	3,284	0.3
53	Dubuque, IA MSA	3,115	3.6
117	Corpus Christi, TX MSA	3,065	0.9
66	Sharon, PA MSA	3,058	2.5
150	Springfield, MA NECMA	2,914	0.5
126	Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA MSA	2,858	0.8
112	Boise City, ID MSA	2,857	1.0
95	Wilmington, NC MSA	2,416	1.4
143	Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA	2,407	0.6
135	Salinas, CA MSA	2,390	0.7
102	Waco, TX MSA	2,315	1.2
103	Yakima, WA MSA	2,273	1.2
171	Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA	2,207	0.2
157	Bakersfield, CA MSA	2,170	0.4
54	Casper, WY MSA	2,104	3.4
99	Topeka, KS MSA	2,075	1.3
112	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA	2,055	1.0
129	Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY MSA	2,054	0.7
124	Killeen-Temple, TX MSA	2,028	0.8
71	Lawrence, KS MSA	1,900	2.3
66	Cheyenne, WY MSA	1,850	2.5
105	Lafayette, IN MSA	1,820	1.1
132	Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL MSA	1,776	0.7
172	Birmingham, AL MSA	1,737	0.2
155	Lexington, KY MSA	1,717	0.4
136	Reno, NV MSA	1,692	0.7
105	Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH MSA	1,688	1.1
119	Ocala, FL MSA	1,667	0.9
97	Bryan-College Station, TX MSA	1,657	1.4
165	El Paso, TX MSA	1,635	0.3
92	Punta Gorda, FL MSA	1,627	1.5
96	Decatur, IL MSA	1,620	1.4
107	Myrtle Beach, SC MSA	1,586	1.1
137	Portland, ME NECMA	1,578	0.7
159	Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA	1,574	0.4
145	Huntsville, AL MSA	1,549	0.5
150	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA	1,494	0.5
89	Elmira, NY MSA	1,474	1.6
137	Odessa-Midland, TX MSA	1,472	0.7
139	Charleston, WV MSA	1,466	0.6
158	Modesto, CA MSA	1,436	0.4
137	San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA MSA	1,409	0.7
118	Benton Harbor, MI MSA	1,397	0.9
144	New London-Norwich, CT NECMA	1,375	0.5
161	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA	1,359	0.3
130	Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA NECMA	1,358	0.7
117	Jackson, MI MSA	1,324	0.9
119	Naples, FL MSA	1,306	0.9
160	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA	1,271	0.4
81	Corvallis, OR MSA	1,267	1.8
157	Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS MSA	1,240	0.4
158	Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA MSA	1,221	0.4
163	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA	1,220	0.3
110	Pueblo, CO MSA	1,216	1.0
122	Medford-Ashland, OR MSA	1,180	0.8
115	Muncie, IN MSA	1,086	0.9
158	Springfield, MO MSA	1,030	0.4
132	Fort Walton Beach, FL MSA	1,022	0.7
146	Lynchburg, VA MSA	1,016	0.5
146	Asheville, NC MSA	1,005	0.5
143	Chico-Paradise, CA MSA	1,004	0.6
111	Flagstaff, AZ-UT MSA	998	1.0
162	Macon, GA MSA	974	0.3
133	Pittsfield, MA NECMA	957	0.7
110	Grand Junction, CO MSA	920	1.0
147	Merced, CA MSA	905	0.5
134	Charlottesville, VA MSA	892	0.7
150	Gainesville, FL MSA	875	0.5
128	Santa Fe, NM MSA	874	0.8
140	Terre Haute, IN MSA	852	0.6
129	Columbia, MO MSA	830	0.7
171	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA	820	0.2
141	Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV MSA	806	0.6
161	Tallahassee, FL MSA	785	0.3
167	Montgomery, AL MSA	769	0.3
177	Baton Rouge, LA MSA	753	0.1
143	Las Cruces, NM MSA	743	0.6
162	Lubbock, TX MSA	732	0.3
172	Pensacola, FL MSA	724	0.2
176	Mobile, AL MSA	717	0.2
131	San Angelo, TX MSA	713	0.7
133	Sumter, SC MSA	712	0.7
130	St. Joseph, MO MSA	711	0.7
168	Fayetteville, NC MSA	690	0.3
142	Florence, SC MSA	640	0.6
137	Kokomo, IN MSA	630	0.7
179	Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR MSA	600	0.1
170	Columbus, GA-AL MSA	599	0.2
148	Abilene, TX MSA	597	0.5
157	Redding, CA MSA	593	0.4
153	Wichita Falls, TX MSA	575	0.4
164	Longview-Marshall, TX MSA	570	0.3
148	Dover, DE MSA	556	0.5
177	Jackson, MS MSA	542	0.1
175	Lafayette, LA MSA	540	0.2
164	Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA	514	0.3
152	Danville, VA MSA	488	0.5
163	Tyler, TX MSA	488	0.3
166	Burlington, VT NECMA	478	0.3
155	Bloomington, IN MSA	460	0.4
169	Amarillo, TX MSA	450	0.2
160	Athens, GA MSA	448	0.4
166	Bangor, ME NECMA	398	0.3
164	Rocky Mount, NC MSA	389	0.3
140	Pocatello, ID MSA	385	0.6
169	Jacksonville, NC MSA	366	0.2
160	Goldsboro, NC MSA	364	0.4
164	Panama City, FL MSA	363	0.3
163	Yuma, AZ MSA	339	0.3
166	Anniston, AL MSA	315	0.3
165	Greenville, NC MSA	303	0.3
168	Albany, GA MSA	285	0.3
168	Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECMA	263	0.3
164	Owensboro, KY MSA	251	0.3
180	Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX MSA	229	0.1
174	Yuba City, CA MSA	224	0.2
173	Sherman-Denison, TX MSA	183	0.2
178	Joplin, MO MSA	178	0.1
174	Jackson, TN MSA	165	0.2
178	Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR MSA	160	0.1
179	Dothan, AL MSA	154	0.1
169	Enid, OK MSA	138	0.2
180	Monroe, LA MSA	127	0.1
182	Lake Charles, LA MSA	123	0.1
180	Lawton, OK MSA	103	0.1
182	Florence, AL MSA	95	0.1
183	Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY MSA	61	0.0
181	Jonesboro, AR MSA	55	0.1
184	Laredo, TX MSA	--	0.0
184	Provo-Orem, UT MSA	--	0.0

Source

The data presented in this list were collected by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) and include statistics for 132 religious groups, including number of churches and adherents. Martin B. Bradley, Norman M. Green, Jr., Dale E. Jones, Mac Lynn, and Lou McNeil supervised the collection. These data originally appeared in Churches and Church Membership in the United States, 1990, published by the Glenmary Research Center.

[More information about this data source]