West of the Rocky Mountains is the place to reach unchurched people, according to a recent study on religious activity. The research found that fewer than one-fourth of residents in some sections of Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and Montana belong to any religious group. The unaffiliated outnumber the affiliated at least three to one in most Western states, with the exception of Utah, New Mexico, and parts of surrounding states, where Mormons are predominant.
At a press conference, sociologist of religion William McKinney from Hartford Seminary in Connecticut called the report “the closest thing we have to a census of American religious church groupings.” The research, compiled by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies and financed by the Lilly Endowment, was based on figures from the 1990 U.S. Census and from data supplied by Jewish and Christian groups.
The study also found there were substantial areas in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Florida where less than half the population claims church membership. Meanwhile, areas having the highest religious affiliation are the southeastern states and middle America, reaching from Texas and Louisiana upwards to North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.
Our digital archives are a work in progress. Let us know if corrections need to be made.
Annual & Monthly subscriptions available.
- Print & Digital Issues of CT magazine
- Complete access to every article on ChristianityToday.com
- Unlimited access to 65+ years of CT’s online archives
- Member-only special issues
- Learn more
More from this Issue
Read These Next
- TrendingAmerican Christians Should Stand with Israel under AttackWhile we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
- From the MagazineWhat Kind of Man Is This?We’ve got little information on Jesus’ appearance and personality. But that’s the way God designed it.españolFrançais
- Editor's PickFor the Warming of the Earth: Worshiping in the Age of Creation CareChristian artists work at the intersection of music and climate change.