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