Largest Denomination by County, 1916-1936

While Catholicism and non-denominational churches are gaining adherents within the state, 2010 county patterns of religious affiliation reflect significant stability in North Carolina’s religious landscape. These maps of religious affiliation by county, measured as the denomination with the largest number of adherents according to the United States Census of Religious Bodies for 1916, 1926, and 1936, highlight this stability. As in 2010, Southern Baptist is the largest denominational affiliation statewide, United Methodist has a strong presence, and affiliation patterns are more diverse in the eastern part of the state.

Note: In 1916, “Black Baptist” includes adherents of both the Colored Free Will Baptist Church and the National Baptist Convention, a predominantly black religious organization.