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Greg Smith

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Am I Living in the Most Protestant Place in America? (#2068)

2023/07/13 By Greg

Dallas – Arlington – Fort Worth, Texas (aka the D/FW metro area) has been my home for most of my life. Given D/FW’s location, it isn’t surprising that the area is more religious than the United States is on average. But, just how religious is it? And, just how Protestant?

Downtown Dallas on June 25, 2022 (photo by Greg Smith)

Most Religious Counties

Last month sociologist Ryan Burge compiled a list of the Most Religiously Affiliated Highly Populated Counties in America as defined by the percentage of people in the county who are attached to a religious congregation. Using data from the 2020 Religion Census, Burge sorted the nation’s 25 most populous counties by the percentage of residents attached to a religious congregation. And the two largest counties by population in the Dallas – Fort Worth area were close to the top of the list:

  • Tarrant: 61% (#2 overall)
  • Dallas 59% (#3 overall)
Downtown Fort Worth on Mach 29, 2021 (photo by Greg Smith)

Most Protestant Counties

Next Burge looked at religious affiliation among those who were attached to religious congregations, dividing these folks into large categories: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and all others. In just two of the 25 counties were more than 60% of the religiously attached folks attached to Protestant traditions:

  • Tarrant: 67% (#1 overall)
  • Dallas: 63% (#2 overall)

Put differently, there are only 2 places that are both very populous and very Protestant (as expressed in attachment rates among the religious of 60% or greater): Dallas and Tarrant Counties in North Texas. By comparison, six such counties exceed this threshold for Catholic attachment (including two above 70%).

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Downtown Fort Worth on June 3, 2018 (photo by Greg Smith)

So What?

Based on this data, it is clear that I live and work in the most Protestant places in America’s most populous counties (noting that Dallas and Tarrant counties comprise the most Protestant counties within the 25 most populous counties in America – a group of counties that are home to roughly 69.3 million of 333.3 million people in America, based on 2022 Census estimates).

For those in or around Dallas and Tarrant Counties, I’m curious to hear if this data is new to you and how it informs your ministry. For those elsewhere, I’d welcome hearing your observations about this data, especially around the implications for local Protestant congregations and for ecunemical faith-based non-profit organizations supported by local Protestant congregations.

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Greg Smith

Greg is a follower of the Way of Jesus who strives to make the world a better place for all people. Currently, he serves as Chief Executive Officer of White Rock Center of Hope and as Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church. He has served ten congregations, taught religion to undergraduates for eight years, and helped three organizations provide quality healthcare to underserved populations. (Read More)

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