Why are most blue-collar industrial cities in America dominated by people who are Catholic and Orthodox?

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by Heel82

My initial guess would be those cities grew out when immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe were at it’s peak.

This. My grandparents were Slavic immigrants. Industries were actively recruiting and sponsoring them in the late 1800s and early 1900s to come to the US because they offered a cheap and plentiful labor source. The vast majority of people from those areas (and other parts of Europe) were Catholic or Orthodox. When they came to the US, they settled near the factories, coal mines, etc. they were brought in to work at. Those were and are largely blue collar towns. Their descendants are still there.

[SunGrins]

Originally Posted by btownboss4

Southern/Eastern Europe sent loads of poor immigrants. Most Protestant immigrants from Germany/England were more well off.

"Sent"? I guess maybe that holds up in a few Irish immigration stories. Some were paid to leave. Most immigrants came under their own intent. Some came in stages -- one came over and worked and then sent or went back for others in the family. That goes on now. They brought their religion with them. They brought language and customs as well.

[Nearwest]

I'm an Orthodox Christian and am a member of a blog for the Orthodox Church in the USA.

An analysis of the 2020 Census data was posted on this blog. According to this report, the top 5 states, in descending order (by percentages), of Orthodox Christians in this country are California, New York, Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey.