THE 2000 NORTH CAROLINA RELIGIOUS ADHERENCE RATE: A DEMOGRAPHIC EXPLANATION

An area's religious adherence rate may be impacted by such factors as community stability, deregulated religious markets, educational attainment, income level, the sex ratio, and a population's age structure. Utilizing 2000 Glenmary and census data for each of North Carolina's 100 counties, the impact of these demographic factors on the religious adherence rate is assessed. North Carolina is an interesting case since it has traditionally been a strong Southern Baptist state. However, in recent years the state has experienced significant growth through migration. As a result Baptist primacy has eroded slightly. Findings indicate that the religious adherence rate varies directly with a community's income level and the percentage of the population that is elderly. More importantly, support is given to Stark's claim that monopolistic and competitive forces may interact within a given religious market to stimulate religious involvement.