A sweeping survey of America's Bible-reading habits and beliefs has resulted in what its authors describe as a definitive ranking of "Bible-minded" cities across the US.

The study, conducted by the American Bible Society and Barna Group, an evangelical Christian polling firm, found that the book continues to hold great sway over those living in the Deep South, while people in the Northeast, Southwest, and West Coast tend to be less enthralled with scripture.

Researchers surveyed nearly 63,000 adults nationwide over a 10-year period that ended last August. They focused on only the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the country. Participants were considered "Bible-minded" if they reported reading the Bible at least once in the previous seven days and said they "agreed strongly" with the accuracy of scripture.

By those measures, 27% of Americans qualified as "Bible-minded." And — surprise — very few of them live in San Francisco, New York, or Las Vegas.

via Vocativ

The most Bible-minded cities in the US:

10. Little Rock, Arkansas

9. Greenville, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina

8. Charlotte, North Carolina

7. Jackson, Mississippi

6. Springfield, Missouri

5. Shreveport, Louisiana

4. Roanoke, Virginia

3. Tri-Cities, Tennessee

2. Chattanooga, Tennessee

1. Birmingham, Alabama

The least Bible-minded cities in the US:

91. New York City

92. Phoenix

93. Buffalo, New York

94. Hartford, Connecticut

95. Las Vegas

96. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

97. San Francisco

98. Boston

99. Albany, New York

100. Providence, Rhode Island, and New Bedford, Massachusetts