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