Want to know where to find the highest concentrations of Muslims in the United States? How about counties that are (yowza) more than 50% Baptist? The
American Ethnic Geography course at Valparaiso university has the question covered.
Having come out of a background in geology, I'm always convinced that no question can be solved without looking at a map, and these maps are fascinating.
Some of the answers you get from looking at the maps are expected. Yes, Utah really is populated by Mormons to an astounding degree, with most counties boasting more 50% adherents to the LDS church. But what explains the high number of Mormons in Liberty County, Florida? What's with that one county in Nebraska that's chock full o' 25% more Mormons than it's neighbors?
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Distribution of Mormons |
The Baptist church is unbelievable concentrated in the south. But though it's geographically restricted, the number of Baptists in these areas is often as dominating as are Mormons in Utah, with dozens of counties where Baptists make up more than half the population. This certainly suggests that anyone seeking political office in these areas had better be on pretty good terms with the Convention.
Oh, and once again there's a single renegade county in Nebraska, this time with 50% more Baptists than surrounding counties.
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Distribution of Baptists |
Having only been a UCC member for a few years, and having only attended small churches, I'm quite impressed by the span of the United Church of Christ. I'm also astonished to see that there are counties where UCC membership ranges to 35% of the population -- and those counties are not where you'd likely expect them to be.
And where do we go for some of the counties with the highest concentrations? One thing's for sure, if a religious shooting war ever starts in this country, I'm staying the heck out of Nebraska.
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Distribution of UCC Members |
Anyone trying to suss out the relationship between regional trends in politics and religion would do well to give these maps a good examination. Aside from the more practical aspects, there's a wealth of fascinating insight. Who knew the Missouri Synod of the Lutherans wasn't centered in Missouri? Did you expect Maryland to have some of the highest percentages of Muslims? Did you know there's a county in Colorado that 20% Quaker?
If you're working in a national campaign, I'd recommend having large versions of these maps tacked to the wall.
Personally, I found that not only is my home county one of the highest percentages of Baptists in the country, the largest second block appears to be Old Order Amish.
Not exactly the wildest place to grow up.
[update]
Here's a map that keeps getting posted in comments. Might as well stick 'er up here. This is the percentage of the population that list themselves as a member of any organized religion. There are some interesting trends here, like the north - south "bible belt" running from Texas up to North Dakota, and the relatively high percentage of non-church goers in some southern states vs. northern states.
And what is it with you people in Oregon? Doesn't anybody out there go to church?
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Religious Adherents as % of tot. pop. |