Parts of the South with large Catholic populations (transplants, live)

[ral31]

Which parts of the South have significant populations of Catholics.

The most notable area is probably southern Louisiana. I've heard that Lafayette is 90 percent Catholic, although it wouldn't be surprising if that percentage has declined somewhat since Lafayette is growing and many non-Cajuns are moving in. Central Louisiana has somewhat of a Cajun and Catholic influence but not as strong as South Louisiana. Alexandria (pop. 46,000) has six Catholic churches and two of them are predominately African American. Many of the Catholics in Alexandria are Cajun but there are also many Italians and Belgians. North Louisiana is heavily Southern Baptist although it probably has more Catholics than other parts of the South.

I would assume that most larger Southern cities have signficant Catholic populations and also the Hispanic parts of Texas.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by Rmaf623

Which parts of the South have significant populations of Catholics.

The most notable area is probably southern Louisiana. I've heard that Lafayette is 90 percent Catholic, although it wouldn't be surprising if that percentage has declined somewhat since Lafayette is growing and many non-Cajuns are moving in. Central Louisiana has somewhat of a Cajun and Catholic influence but not as strong as South Louisiana. Alexandria (pop. 46,000) has six Catholic churches and two of them are predominately African American. Many of the Catholics in Alexandria are Cajun but there are also many Italians and Belgians. North Louisiana is heavily Southern Baptist although it probably has more Catholics than other parts of the South.

I would assume that most larger Southern cities have signficant Catholic populations and also the Hispanic parts of Texas.

You are correct with Texas, RM. While Protestants outnumber Catholics in the state (with Southern Baptist easily being the largest of the former), the Catholic adherents has grown tremendously over the last decade or so with the huge influx of migrants (legal and illegal). Especially in South Texas.

[Smtchll]

The Atlanta area has a lot of Catholics. These are the statistics from Fulton County (Atlanta) in 2000. Almost 9% of the population was Catholic. If the trend continued, then Catholics have probably surpassed Southern Baptists.

Charlotte, NC was around 8.5% Catholic in 2000 & Raleigh, NC was around 9.5%. The numbers have undoubtebly grown since then.

Most of the Catholic growth comes from Northern transplants and Hispanic immigrants. But there are some areas of the South with large native-born white Catholic populations, like Louisville KY- 22%, Savannah GA- 9%, Mobile AL- 9%, Southern Mississippi, and Southern Louisiana.

Here in Memphis, most of the Catholics were born and raised here. Catholics form a large part of the old-money families in East Memphis.

[Marlin331]

Florida, Texas, and Louisiana have the most Catholics in the South.

[Richmonder27]

I realize Baltimore would RARELY count as the South- but it has a large Catholic influence.
Lousiana is definitely very Catholic. Also to a degree- Atlanta, GA.

[thedudewiththeplan]

I did not meet too many Catholics when I lived in the Atlanta area, mostly Southern Baptists. I have actually met more in Augusta GA.