Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 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 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 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
9	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA	347,888	15.8
111	New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA	198,287	1.1
73	Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA	198,172	2.4
66	Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA	169,030	3.0
72	Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA	142,220	2.5
49	Pittsburgh, PA MSA	103,195	4.0
118	Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA	102,088	0.9
36	Milwaukee-Racine, WI CMSA	98,304	6.3
8	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA MSA	91,101	16.5
92	Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA	83,713	1.6
59	Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA CMSA	80,015	3.3
16	Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA MSA	63,762	11.5
4	Reading, PA MSA	62,789	20.1
87	Cleveland-Akron, OH CMSA	52,807	1.8
25	Toledo, OH MSA	51,878	8.4
11	York, PA MSA	47,687	15.2
13	Madison, WI MSA	46,832	14.5
119	San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA	45,917	0.9
1	Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN MSA	45,315	32.9
57	Columbus, OH MSA	42,010	3.5
10	Duluth-Superior, MN-WI MSA	40,761	15.3
50	Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA	38,084	3.9
35	Omaha, NE-IA MSA	38,008	6.3
75	Portland-Salem, OR-WA CMSA	36,899	2.3
79	Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO CMSA	36,891	2.1
54	Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA	34,884	3.7
18	Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI MSA	32,030	11.0
27	Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA	31,107	8.1
71	Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA	31,026	2.5
3	Sioux Falls, SD MSA	30,891	25.0
26	Lancaster, PA MSA	30,336	8.4
2	Grand Forks, ND-MN MSA	27,945	27.7
24	Rockford, IL MSA	27,476	8.4
90	Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA	27,265	1.7
34	Columbia, SC MSA	25,868	6.3
147	Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH NECMA	25,721	0.5
22	Johnstown, PA MSA	25,192	9.5
124	Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA	24,853	0.8
6	Eau Claire, WI MSA	22,408	17.1
82	San Antonio, TX MSA	21,959	2.0
61	Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA MSA	21,413	3.3
60	Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA	21,321	3.3
15	Mansfield, OH MSA	21,003	11.6
5	La Crosse, WI-MN MSA	19,998	18.3
14	Janesville-Beloit, WI MSA	19,925	14.3
41	Des Moines, IA MSA	19,749	5.4
30	Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC MSA	18,647	6.9
88	Hartford, CT NECMA	18,535	1.8
47	Fort Wayne, IN MSA	18,133	4.1
127	St. Louis, MO-IL MSA	17,706	0.7
91	Rochester, NY MSA	17,410	1.7
110	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA	17,229	1.1
116	San Diego, CA MSA	16,894	0.9
142	Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA	15,996	0.5
83	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA	15,985	1.9
50	Canton-Massillon, OH MSA	15,838	3.9
70	Austin-San Marcos, TX MSA	15,023	2.6
42	Erie, PA MSA	14,667	5.2
121	Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN CMSA	14,551	0.8
108	Indianapolis, IN MSA	14,364	1.1
21	Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA	14,263	10.3
91	Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA	14,189	1.7
12	Rochester, MN MSA	13,869	15.1
135	Atlanta, GA MSA	13,617	0.6
7	Bismarck, ND MSA	13,530	16.9
104	Sacramento-Yolo, CA CMSA	13,518	1.2
17	Williamsport, PA MSA	13,304	11.2
116	Kansas City, MO-KS MSA	13,191	0.9
20	Sioux City, IA-NE MSA	12,637	10.8
99	Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC MSA	12,622	1.3
23	Altoona, PA MSA	12,524	9.2
19	Wausau, WI MSA	12,130	10.9
29	Green Bay, WI MSA	12,118	6.9
58	Spokane, WA MSA	11,743	3.4
68	Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI MSA	11,638	2.8
63	Peoria-Pekin, IL MSA	11,454	3.1
40	Lincoln, NE MSA	10,535	5.5
39	Cedar Rapids, IA MSA	9,663	5.7
31	St. Cloud, MN MSA	8,972	6.7
104	Syracuse, NY MSA	8,913	1.2
80	Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA	8,898	2.1
127	Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC MSA	8,762	0.7
123	Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA	8,333	0.8
43	Jamestown, NY MSA	7,017	4.8
37	State College, PA MSA	6,921	6.1
119	Orlando, FL MSA	6,885	0.9
48	Champaign-Urbana, IL MSA	6,859	4.1
102	Tucson, AZ MSA	6,645	1.3
38	Billings, MT MSA	6,527	6.0
85	Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA	6,469	1.8
81	Colorado Springs, CO MSA	6,300	2.0
101	Albuquerque, NM MSA	6,260	1.3
132	Louisville, KY-IN MSA	6,065	0.6
52	Lima, OH MSA	5,931	3.8
113	Fresno, CA MSA	5,927	1.0
53	Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA	5,625	3.8
64	Wheeling, WV-OH MSA	5,623	3.0
28	Rapid City, SD MSA	5,488	7.8
102	Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA	5,243	1.3
128	Jacksonville, FL MSA	5,233	0.7
33	Great Falls, MT MSA	5,122	6.4
86	Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA	5,022	1.8
131	Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC MSA	4,973	0.7
120	West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL MSA	4,919	0.9
45	Cumberland, MD-WV MSA	4,720	4.4
78	Roanoke, VA MSA	4,697	2.1
141	Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI NECMA	4,679	0.5
82	Savannah, GA MSA	4,653	2.0
32	Victoria, TX MSA	4,609	6.7
130	Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA	4,508	0.7
62	Elkhart-Goshen, IN MSA	4,313	3.1
99	Utica-Rome, NY MSA	4,274	1.3
146	Oklahoma City, OK MSA	4,227	0.5
140	Richmond-Petersburg, VA MSA	4,171	0.6
114	Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI MSA	4,085	1.0
46	Dubuque, IA MSA	3,967	4.2
51	Sheboygan, WI MSA	3,944	3.9
152	Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA	3,910	0.4
127	Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA	3,860	0.7
67	Sharon, PA MSA	3,817	3.0
112	Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA	3,789	1.0
56	Bellingham, WA MSA	3,713	3.5
94	South Bend, IN MSA	3,676	1.5
84	Springfield, IL MSA	3,586	1.9
105	Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA MSA	3,572	1.2
163	New Orleans, LA MSA	3,461	0.3
44	Missoula, MT MSA	3,445	4.5
111	Corpus Christi, TX MSA	3,433	1.1
74	Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA MSA	3,404	2.4
155	Nashville, TN MSA	3,304	0.4
136	Knoxville, TN MSA	3,271	0.6
127	Wichita, KS MSA	3,211	0.7
141	Springfield, MA NECMA	3,153	0.5
117	Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA	3,138	0.9
69	Bloomington-Normal, IL MSA	3,069	2.6
55	Iowa City, IA MSA	2,898	3.6
109	Binghamton, NY MSA	2,851	1.1
93	Anchorage, AK MSA	2,690	1.5
112	Boise City, ID MSA	2,670	1.0
154	Tulsa, OK MSA	2,635	0.4
89	Lafayette, IN MSA	2,624	1.7
115	Daytona Beach, FL MSA	2,577	1.0
102	Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL MSA	2,572	1.3
118	Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL MSA	2,428	0.9
122	Salinas, CA MSA	2,418	0.8
98	Yakima, WA MSA	2,338	1.4
144	Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA	2,231	0.5
121	Modesto, CA MSA	2,223	0.8
65	Casper, WY MSA	2,156	3.0
167	Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA	2,127	0.2
103	Waco, TX MSA	2,121	1.2
111	Odessa-Midland, TX MSA	2,086	1.1
100	Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH MSA	2,069	1.3
96	Wilmington, NC MSA	2,058	1.5
144	Bakersfield, CA MSA	2,049	0.5
127	Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY MSA	2,019	0.7
107	Benton Harbor, MI MSA	1,957	1.1
97	Decatur, IL MSA	1,889	1.4
106	Topeka, KS MSA	1,845	1.2
120	Killeen-Temple, TX MSA	1,834	0.9
167	Honolulu, HI MSA	1,733	0.2
73	Lawrence, KS MSA	1,653	2.4
146	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA	1,636	0.5
136	Charleston, WV MSA	1,618	0.6
110	Jackson, MI MSA	1,616	1.1
76	Cheyenne, WY MSA	1,578	2.3
159	El Paso, TX MSA	1,546	0.3
92	Elmira, NY MSA	1,546	1.6
155	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA	1,482	0.4
77	Corvallis, OR MSA	1,465	2.2
158	Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA	1,422	0.3
172	Birmingham, AL MSA	1,420	0.2
138	Huntsville, AL MSA	1,418	0.6
128	Reno, NV MSA	1,399	0.7
139	New London-Norwich, CT NECMA	1,351	0.6
146	Macon, GA MSA	1,341	0.5
113	Muncie, IN MSA	1,323	1.0
119	Pittsfield, MA NECMA	1,252	0.9
123	Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL MSA	1,235	0.8
157	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA	1,199	0.4
101	Santa Fe, NM MSA	1,199	1.3
129	Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV MSA	1,162	0.7
127	San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA MSA	1,134	0.7
154	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA	1,129	0.4
118	Pueblo, CO MSA	1,126	0.9
148	Portland, ME NECMA	1,018	0.5
125	Medford-Ashland, OR MSA	1,009	0.8
163	Lexington, KY MSA	1,004	0.3
140	Asheville, NC MSA	984	0.6
154	Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA MSA	980	0.4
154	Fayetteville, NC MSA	977	0.4
113	Bryan-College Station, TX MSA	968	1.0
151	Lubbock, TX MSA	924	0.4
143	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA	921	0.5
146	Lynchburg, VA MSA	897	0.5
95	Punta Gorda, FL MSA	877	1.5
137	Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA NECMA	871	0.6
131	Ocala, FL MSA	815	0.7
124	Myrtle Beach, SC MSA	807	0.8
171	Mobile, AL MSA	798	0.2
164	Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS MSA	791	0.3
169	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA	783	0.2
141	Chico-Paradise, CA MSA	779	0.5
158	Springfield, MO MSA	778	0.3
118	Naples, FL MSA	768	0.9
126	St. Joseph, MO MSA	765	0.8
147	Terre Haute, IN MSA	743	0.5
130	Kokomo, IN MSA	705	0.7
120	Grand Junction, CO MSA	691	0.9
154	Amarillo, TX MSA	687	0.4
130	Dover, DE MSA	671	0.7
145	Merced, CA MSA	667	0.5
137	Abilene, TX MSA	657	0.6
145	Wichita Falls, TX MSA	644	0.5
132	Columbia, MO MSA	638	0.6
175	Baton Rouge, LA MSA	626	0.1
141	Charlottesville, VA MSA	614	0.5
129	San Angelo, TX MSA	604	0.7
128	Flagstaff, AZ-UT MSA	571	0.7
170	Montgomery, AL MSA	550	0.2
134	Sumter, SC MSA	543	0.6
171	Pensacola, FL MSA	528	0.2
142	Bloomington, IN MSA	521	0.5
150	Danville, VA MSA	502	0.5
152	Redding, CA MSA	496	0.4
165	Tallahassee, FL MSA	474	0.3
177	Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR MSA	465	0.1
157	Rocky Mount, NC MSA	450	0.4
153	Florence, SC MSA	447	0.4
149	Las Cruces, NM MSA	444	0.5
172	Columbus, GA-AL MSA	434	0.2
156	Lawton, OK MSA	424	0.4
167	Longview-Marshall, TX MSA	416	0.2
133	Pocatello, ID MSA	415	0.6
165	Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA	402	0.3
155	Yuba City, CA MSA	399	0.4
145	Yuma, AZ MSA	387	0.5
165	Burlington, VT NECMA	381	0.3
176	Lafayette, LA MSA	379	0.1
172	Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX MSA	359	0.2
159	Jacksonville, NC MSA	359	0.3
161	Anniston, AL MSA	357	0.3
177	Jackson, MS MSA	356	0.1
160	Albany, GA MSA	344	0.3
161	Fort Walton Beach, FL MSA	327	0.3
161	Panama City, FL MSA	293	0.3
162	Greenville, NC MSA	257	0.3
166	Athens, GA MSA	253	0.2
165	Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECMA	251	0.3
165	Goldsboro, NC MSA	247	0.3
175	Lake Charles, LA MSA	217	0.1
167	Sherman-Denison, TX MSA	208	0.2
173	Tyler, TX MSA	195	0.2
168	Owensboro, KY MSA	191	0.2
172	Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR MSA	190	0.2
174	Joplin, MO MSA	179	0.1
176	Monroe, LA MSA	151	0.1
176	Florence, AL MSA	146	0.1
175	Enid, OK MSA	82	0.1
178	Bangor, ME NECMA	0	0.0
178	Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY MSA	0	0.0
178	Dothan, AL MSA	0	0.0
178	Gainesville, FL MSA	0	0.0
178	Jackson, TN MSA	0	0.0
178	Jonesboro, AR 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]