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So... where are all the Jews? Email Print

By Devilstower
04/19/2006 02:34:00 PM EST

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.  


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So... where are all the Jews? | 5 comments (5 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Very interesting (none / 0)
In particular, I thought the separation of UCC and Baptists was a little shocking.

But it gives me hope for the midwest and raises questions about South Dakota.

It serves as some sort of evidence (not sure what kind, that, although the UCC is a relatively tolerant organization, it is hardly a liberal organization.

But it doesn't have to be -- and that is important. They let people live as they see fit and they do not reject people -- as God does not reject people.

May the UCC set the example for religious tolerance -- as Jesus would have hoped.

Political Cortex -- Brain Food for the Body Politic

by Tom Ball on 04/19/2006 02:58:38 PM EST

Should have posted this one before (5.00 / 2)
Among the more interesting maps at the site is this one:

which shows where different religious groups are dominant.  The Baptist south, the Luthern upper Midwest, the Catholic north east -- all these things are more than just legends.  There's a ton of information packed into this map.  Edward Tufte would be proud.

by Devilstower on 04/19/2006 03:07:12 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Nice work, DT. (none / 0)
Interesting and unique data I've not seen anywhere else.

Wonder what Ken Melhman would do with this??!

Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle. FDR

by btyarbro on 04/19/2006 09:11:30 PM EST

Thank Glenmary Research (none / 1)
It looks like all of this came from Glenmary Research, a Catholic organization.  I'm sending them a note to find out what the full dataset would cost me.  I believe I could swim in this data for the next month.

Cool stuff, isn't it?  Take a look at this one:

That's the percentage of religious adherents as a percentage of the total population.  I find this one really surprising.  There is a "bible belt," but it runs north-south, not the way I always thought (and hey, if you're going to live in North Dakota, or the panhandle of Texas, you need to have faith in things unseen).

Equally surprising is just how many southern counties are stuffed with the godless.  From this map, the upper Midwest looks to be the real heart of religion.  Georgia and South Carolina are full of counties where fewer than 1/3 of people list themselves as believers.

by Devilstower on 04/20/2006 07:26:13 AM EST

[ Parent ]
This is (none / 0)
incredibly insightful stuff.

I mean shocking.

Makes me rethink many of my current beliefs about the makeup of the nation and its various regions.

Thanks!

by Embolden on 04/20/2006 07:34:12 AM EST

[ Parent ]
So... where are all the Jews? | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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