Surprise, surprise! Incredible map reveals Mormon refuge Salt Lake City is the most religious town in America... with trendy Portland coming in last

The most comprehensive study of religious bodies in America has been released by the United States Census Bureau, revealing and detailing the most and least religious regions and cities across the U.S..



The 2010 US Religious Census: Religious Congregations and Membership Study provides a county-by-county assessment of 236 different faiths, naming the most and least religious cities by followers.



'National polls rarely give any religious data below the national level. This study gives a picture of county-level religious affiliation nationwide,' the study reports.



America's religious: A map released by the 2010 U.S. Religious Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study shows the United States' religious population with blue having the least and yellow the most

City size: As per location, the majority of religious adherents, at over 54 per cent, were found to make up metropolitan areas having more than one million people

Analyzing congregations, members, adherents and attendance, the study found of metropolitan areas, having over one million residents, Utah's Salt Lake City is the most religious city in the U.S.



According to the data collected, 73 per cent of the city's population identified themselves as a religious adherent who are defined in the study as a religious member, a child of a member or other attendee.

One in three Mormons according to the study are also found in the state which reported a population of 1,029,655 in 2010.

Following in second place was Birmingham, Alabama, having 70,990 religious adherents for every 100,000 persons; Oklahoma's Oklahoma City came in third place, with 60,249 religious adherents for every 100,000 persons reported; Memphis, Tennessee was in fourth with 58,847 for every 100,000 persons; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania came in fifth with 57,695 for every 100,000 persons reported.

Religious: Utah's Salt Lake City has been found as the most religious city in the United States with one in three Mormons found in the state

Least religious: Portland, Oregon was named the least religious city in the country, tallying just 32 per cent of its population who associate themselves with a religion

Portland, Oregon was named the least religious city in the country, tallying just 32 per cent of its population who associate themselves with a religion.



Tampa, Florida came just one place before Portland, having 34,761 religious adherents for every 100,000 persons, and Seattle, Washington came in one place ahead of them at 35,643 religious adherents for every 100,000.



The two most popular religious traditions reported in the U.S. were by Catholics and Evangelical Protestants. They had a reported population of 735,334 in 2010.

As per location, the majority of religious adherents, at just over 54 per cent, were found to make up metropolitan areas - having a population over one million.

Highest group: Catholics, who dominate the US religious population, have dipped by 5 per cent in the past ten years according to the study

Naming the country's largest religious group, Catholics dominated the states making up 19.1 per cent, though found least common in the rural south.

Evangelical and Conservative Protestants were found making up 14.3 per cent and Mainline protestants making up 7.3 per cent.

Among smaller populations of religious faiths, the 2010 release updates the 1952, 1971, 1990 and 2000 studies, adding Buddhist and Hindu congregations and adherents as well as expanding their coverage of Muslim congregations and including four Jewish adherents.

Muslim growth: Muslim Communities in America were found to be increasing, more than Christian religions were in seven states alone

Mormons' map: The location of Mormons or those who affiliate themselves with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are seen in 2010

Among these newly added or expanded religions, America's Muslim communities were found increasing while pacing beyond the largest-growing Christian groups in the seven states of Texas, Florida, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, New York and New Jersey.



The Muslim population was found at 2.6 million, in all fifty states.



The Hindu population was found at nearly 650,000, in 49 states with an absence in North Dakota.

